1. World War One Practice Exam Questions
Tanks

2. Hints and clues to answering exam questions
Read through all the questions.
If the question asks you to use Source and Recall, write SR, (Source and Recall), next to it.
If the question asks you how useful, or how reliable the source is, write WWWW, (Who, What, When, Why), next to it.
If the question asks you to compare two sources, Write CS (Compare Sources), next to it.
This gives you a clue about how to answer the question.

3. Start answering the questions:
Always read through the source, and then the question.
Go back and read through the source again, and underline any bits you think would be useful to use as a quote in your answer.
Think carefully about what sort of answer is expected. Is it SR, WWWW or CS?

4. Source C is a photograph from the Imperial war Museum collection of a tank in action in 1916.
How useful is Source C as evidence of the use of tanks in the First World War?

5. If the question is a WWWW question:
Your answer MUST be structured, (written out), in the proper way:
Introduction sentence
First paragraph about the Origin of the source, (who wrote the source, when it was written, and what the source is),
Second paragraph about the Purpose of the source, (why it was written),
Third paragraph to include quotes from the Source to back up what you have said about why it was written.
v. Conclusion where you directly answer the question about how useful/reliable the Source is, (do not say it is not useful).
You must include relevant quotes from the Source.
You must include relevant information from Recall, (your own memory).

6. [write the topic you have been asked about]
e.g. Source A is of value as evidence of the use of tanks in the First World War,
Source ____ is of value in____________________________________________________
Origin
[say who wrote the source, when, and what the source is]
If it is a primary source ADD “The author had the benefit of being there at the time”
If it is a secondary source, the writer has the benefit of hindsight, so you should ADD something like: “As a historian he has more evidence from which to draw conclusions”
because it is an extract from ________________________________ .
e.g. because it is a photograph of a tank in action in As an original photograph taken at the time it is a primary source, so shows what it was like at the time.

7. e.g. This source was produced possibly to keep a record of tanks being used on the Western Front, or as publicity to show the new invention in action.
e.g. The source shows a tank with a muddled mess of barbed wire behind it. It looks as though the barbed wire is in a grassy trench. Tanks were useful as they could roll over barbed wire, and reduce German defences, whereas infantry would get caught up in the wire.
This source was possibly written to ___________________________ .
The source shows ________________________________________ .
Purpose
[write why you think the source was written e.g. to place the blame] Always write “possibly”.
Content
quote from the source OR give a detailed description of the picture
Your quotes from the source should back up why the source was written.
You can add additional information to explain what has been said/shown in the source.

8. e. g. The photograph was taken in 1916
e.g. The photograph was taken in The Battle of the Somme in 1916 was the first time that tanks were used, two years after the start of the war. Of the 49 available, 13 of them broke down before the attack. The first major use of tanks was in 1917 at the Battle of Cambrai when 476 were used. The British pushed forward 9km.
Recall
Add additional information from your own memory

9. e.g. In conclusion this source is of limited use as evidence of the use of tanks as although it shows a tank in the field, it does not show how tanks were used , (with infantry support), or the problems the early tanks had. It was probably a publicity shot, so does not explain that tanks were really used effectively in the last two years of the war.
In conclusion this source is very useful as evidence of ___________as it is a _______________ by ________________. He uses the ________ to show ___________________________________.
Answer the question:
Summarise what you have already written into one sentence.
Try to include WHO, and WHY.

10. 4. How far do Sources C and D agree about the tank?
Source D is from a modern history textbook.
Source D
The tank had a maximum speed –on a good road-of about six kilometres an hour. It was driven by caterpillar tracks, protected by steel armour and could carry four machine guns. They were to be used against entanglements of barbed wire. Tanks had a crew of eight who had to face many problems.
4. How far do Sources C and D agree about the tank?

11. If the question asks you to compare two sources, Write CS (Compare Sources), next to it.
Describe the first source, (WWWW),
Describe the second source, (WWWW),
Summarise the differences,
Write a Conclusion

12. WWWW Source C Who In Imperial War Museum Collection. What
Photograph of a tank in action, showing it being used against barbed wire. Can see the armour around the tank clearly, but does not help with what weapons were carried
When
1916. Primary source. Benefit of being there – photograph could show what it was actually like. Tanks first used in 1916, but first used effectively in 1917, three years into the war
Why
Possibly a publicity photograph to show the new weapon in action.
Limitations
Only shows one use of the tank. Doesn’t show problems.

13. WWWW Source D Who Modern text book. Written by historian. What
Description of how tanks were used. Explains that they were slow, (6km per hour on a good road), but protected by steel armour & had good weapons, (four machine guns). Says the crew of eight had many problems, but does not say what problems were, (hot, cramped, broke down).
When
Secondary source. Benefit of research and hindsight.
Why
Explain what tanks were like & how they were used.
Limitations
Doesn’t give detail of problems or the different ways tanks were used.

14. Compare Sources C & D
Agree
Differences
Source C
Protected by armour
Used against entanglements of barbed wire
Can’t see weapons or crew
Can see what tank looked like
Source D
Caterpillar tracks
Gives speed
Says there were problems
Explains weaponry
Conclusion: Some agreement. Both limited as sources.

15. Source E was written in the memoirs of Lieutenant F
Source E was written in the memoirs of Lieutenant F. Mitchell who was in charge of a tank in 1917.
Source E
The trenches stretched from the Swiss Alps to the English Channel. In these trenches, soldiers were often knee-deep in mud. Many were drowned when they slipped into flooded shell holes. When the temperature dropped they suffered from frost-bite.
5. How fully does Source E describe the use of tanks in the First World War?

16. “How fully” question What does the Source include? Stuck in mud
Killed Germans in pill box
Saved British casualties
What does it miss out?
Used against barbed wire
Mechanical failure
First used 1916
Not used effectively until 1917
Trenches could be a problem
Include Introduction sentence and a Conclusion where you directly answer the question, (very fully, not very fully etc.)