Avoiding Plagiarism Practice Test
1. Which of the following is the best definition for plagiarism?
Options Information
A. Plagiarism is the act of passing off another's work or product as your own.
-Correct- The UVU course catalog defines plagiarism as "the act of appropriating any other person's or group's ideas or work (written, computerized, artistic, etc.) or portions thereof and passing them off as the product of one's own work in any academic exercise or activity.
B. Plagiarism is the careful and correct documentation of research in your essay.
-Incorrect- The UVU course catalog defines plagiarism as "the act of appropriating any other person's or group's ideas or work (written, computerized, artistic, etc.) or portions thereof and passing them off as the product of one's own work in any academic exercise or activity.
C. Plagiarism is the intentional act of cheating on a test in the testing center.
-Incorrect- The UVU course catalog defines plagiarism as "the act of appropriating any other person's or group's ideas or work (written, computerized, artistic, etc.) or portions thereof and passing them off as the product of one's own work in any academic exercise or activity.
D. Plagiarism is the act of spreading diseases (such as the plague) through improper hand washing.
-Incorrect- The UVU course catalog defines plagiarism as "the act of appropriating any other person's or group's ideas or work (written, computerized, artistic, etc.) or portions thereof and passing them off as the product of one's own work in any academic exercise or activity.
2. Which of the following is NOT a form of plagiarism?
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A. Claiming that any portion of another person's writing or ideas is your own work.
-Incorrect- Claiming another's work as your own is considered plagiarism regardless of whether the material is purchased, borrowed, or stolen.
B. Summarizing, paraphrasing, or quoting from sources without accurately citing information.
-Incorrect- If you use any idea or information from another author, you must document it. C. Using information from a source in a way
that is inconsistent with the original author's intentions.
-Incorrect- Avoid changing the meaning of the author's words to fit your purposes.
Misrepresenting the author's intentions is dishonest and is considered plagiarism.
D. Using common knowledge information in your paper without documenting your source.
-Correct- You do not need to give credit for anything considered common knowledge. Common knowledge is information that can be found in a wide variety of sources.
3. Some benefits of citing sources include:
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A. Maintaining credibility as an author. -All of the above- Documenting your sources shows that you have done your research and know what others are saying about your topic. B. Helping your reader locate your research
materials to continue the research process.
-All of the above- If you want to contribute to the academic discussion of your topic, you must provide a way for your readers to refer to your research. Documentation allows this to happen.
C. Feeling pride and ownership of your work. -All of the above- Plagiarism and failure to cite sources are dishonest.
D. All of the above. -Correct-
4. Which of the following is NOT a typically accepted format for documenting academic papers?
Options Information
A. MLA -Incorrect- MLA documentation is commonly
used in English and humanities-based classes.
B. APA -Incorrect- APA documentation is commonly
used in psychology and the social sciences.
C. Turabian -Incorrect- Turabian documentation is
commonly used for history papers.
D. Arabian -Correct- Arabian is not an accepted form of
documentation. Try MLA, APA, or Turabian instead.
5. Which of the following is NOT a situation that requires documentation?
Options Information
A. When using common knowledge facts. -Correct- You do not need to give credit for anything considered common knowledge. B. When summarizing. -Incorrect- When you summarize, you use
another author's ideas. Thus, you must document the source of the information. C. When paraphrasing. -Incorrect- When you paraphrase, you use
another author's ideas. Thus, you must document the source of the information. D. When quoting. -Incorrect- When you use a quotation, you use
another author's ideas. Thus, you must document the source of the information.
6. What does it mean to paraphrase?
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A. Paraphrasing is using the exact same words as the original author.
-Incorrect- Using the same words as the original author is a direct quotation. B. Paraphrasing is restating the original
author's ideas using your own words.
-Correct- A paraphrase is typically the same length as the original text but stated in your own words.
C. Paraphrasing is briefly stating the original author's main ideas.
-Incorrect- A summary is a brief recap of the author's main ideas.
D. Paraphrasing is an extreme sport where you sail over the water attached to a large
parachute.
-Incorrect- Don't confuse paraphrasing with parasailing.
7. A summary differs from a paraphrase in that it:
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A. Does not need to be cited. -Incorrect- Both a summary and a paraphrase need to be cited.
B. Is shorter than a paraphrase and focuses on the original author's main points.
-Correct- A summary is very brief. A paraphrase is roughly the same length as the original text.
C. Is not allowed in academic writing. -Incorrect- You may use both paraphrase and summary in academic writing.
D. Has more information than what is found in the original text.
-Incorrect- A summary is based entirely on the text of the original author.
8. A direct quote consists of:
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A. The specific words and sentences used by a source.
-Correct- When you use the exact wording of the original author, you are using a direct quote, and you should enclose it in quotation marks.
B. Information you read in your material. -Incorrect- When you use the exact wording of the original author, you are using a direct quote, and you should enclose it in quotation marks.
C. Information you hear directly from a source. -Incorrect- When you use the exact wording of the original author, you are using a direct quote, and you should enclose it in quotation marks.
D. A sentence directed explicitly at the reader of your paper.
-Incorrect- When you use the exact wording of the original author, you are using a direct quote, and you should enclose it in quotation marks.
9. Plagiarism can either be intentional or unintentional.
Options Information
A. True -Correct- Whether you mean to or not, passing
off someone else's work as your own is plagiarism.
B. False -Incorrect- Whether you mean to or not,
passing off someone else's work as your own is plagiarism.
10. Buying a paper on the internet means that it is mine; therefore, using it is not plagiarism.
Options Information
A. True -Incorrect- Claiming that another's work is
your own is plagiarism regardless of whether the material is purchased, borrowed, or stolen.
B. False -Correct- Claiming that another's work is your
own is plagiarism regardless of whether the material is purchased, borrowed, or stolen. 11. Information and quotations taken from television and radio reports do not need to be cited.
Options Information
A. True -Incorrect- All information taken from another
source needs to be cited. You can find out how to document television and radio sources in an APA, MLA, or Turabian manual.
B. False -Correct- All information taken from another
source needs to be cited. You can find out how to document television and radio sources in an APA, MLA, or Turabian manual.
12. If I don't know how to cite a source, I can make up my own format as long as I remain consistent in my paper.
Options Information
A. True -Incorrect- Most academic papers use the
MLA, APA, or Turabian documentation formats. Check with your professor if you are unsure of which one to use.
B. False -Correct- Most academic papers use the MLA,
APA, or Turabian documentation formats. Check with your professor if you are unsure of which one to use.
13. I must cite information and quotations taken directly from a class lecture.
Options Information
A. True -Correct- All information taken from another
source needs to be cited. You can find out how to document lecture notes in an APA, MLA, or Turabian manual.
B. False -Incorrect- All information taken from another
source needs to be cited. You can find out how to document lecture notes in an APA, MLA, or Turabian manual.
14. As long as I have documentation, I can use the exact words of another author without using quotation marks.
Options Information
A. True -Incorrect- Use quotation marks for direct
quotations unless the documentation style guide dictates that you leave them off (as in an MLA style block quotation). Refer to the style guide manual for specific instructions.
B. False -Correct- Use quotation marks for direct
quotations unless the documentation style guide dictates that you leave them off (as in an MLA style block quotation). Refer to the style guide manual for specific instructions.
15. The sentence--George Washington was the first president of the United States--is an example of:
Options Information
A. Common Knowledge -Correct- You can find this information in many sources, so it is considered common knowledge.
B. Paraphrasing -Incorrect- You can find this information in many sources, so it is considered common knowledge.
C. Summarizing -Incorrect- You can find this information in many sources, so it is considered common knowledge.
D. Direct Quotation -Incorrect- You can find this information in many sources, so it is considered common knowledge.
