Questions: Oral History — Interviewing Grandparents
5 questions to test your understanding
Score: 0 / 5
Question 1 Multiple Choice
What is 'oral history'?
AHistory about teeth and mouths
BLearning about the past by listening to people tell their stories
CA book written by a famous historian
DA type of test in school
Oral history means learning about the past through spoken stories. When someone who lived through an event tells you about it, they are sharing oral history. The word 'oral' means spoken or related to the mouth.
Question 2 True / False
A good interview question is one that can be answered with just 'yes' or 'no.'
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
The best interview questions are open-ended, which means they invite the person to tell a story or explain something in detail. Instead of asking 'Did you like school?' (yes/no), ask 'What was school like when you were my age?' to get a richer answer.
Question 3 Short Answer
Why is it important to interview older family members about the past?
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Older family members lived through times we did not experience, so their stories help us understand what life was really like. If we do not collect their stories, those memories could be lost.
A good answer explains that older people are living links to the past. Their firsthand experiences provide details and feelings that books might not capture. Once those people are gone, their stories may be lost forever unless someone records them.
Question 4 Multiple Choice
Which is the best question to ask a grandparent in an oral history interview?
ADid you eat food? Yes or no.
BTell me about a favorite memory from when you were growing up.
CWhat is 2 plus 2?
DDo you like the color blue?
'Tell me about a favorite memory' is an open-ended question that invites the person to share a detailed story. The other options are either yes/no questions or unrelated to history.
Question 5 True / False
Oral history is not real history because it is not written in a book.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
Oral history is absolutely real history. For thousands of years, before most people could read and write, spoken stories were the main way history was passed down. Oral history provides personal details and emotions that written records often miss.