Information Literacy Practice Test

This item tests finding authoritative demographic statistics for comparing city populations. The best source is the United States Census Bureau because it is the official provider of population counts and estimates for cities and other geographic areas, updated after the decennial census and through annual population estimates. Using the Census Bureau ensures Aaron is using verifiable, standardized numbers that governments and researchers rely on for planning and comparisons. Periodicals or trade journals can discuss trends but don’t give exact current figures for a specific city. An encyclopedia offers general background but not up-to-date, precise population data. Social media is not a reliable source for precise population counts. To compare his city with others in the state, Aaron should consult data from data.census.gov or other Census Bureau resources.