Which type of reference source is best suited for finding annual statistics, chronological summaries of major events, and popular records from a specific historical year or time period?

### Why this is right An **almanac** is a reference source that gathers facts and statistics for a particular year, often including a calendar of events, notable records, and summaries of major developments. Because its contents are tied to a year or period, it is suited to looking up what happened or what was recorded then. ### The concept Reference sources are designed for different kinds of questions. An almanac gives compact, date-based facts and statistics; editions from different years can help you compare or investigate a historical period. An **atlas** is a collection of maps, while a **gazetteer** is a place-name reference that describes locations, often with details such as where they are. A **thesaurus** groups words by related meaning so you can find synonyms or other word choices. | Source | Best suited for | |---|---| | Almanac | Annual statistics, events, and records | | Atlas | Maps and geographic information | | Gazetteer | Information about named places | | Thesaurus | Synonyms and related words | ### The other options - **A. Atlas**: An atlas is used to find maps and geographic information. It may show historical boundaries, but it is not mainly a year-by-year source of statistics and records. - **B. Gazetteer**: A gazetteer helps you look up places and their locations or descriptions. It is tempting because historical events often involve places, but it does not primarily organize annual statistics and records. - **D. Thesaurus**: A thesaurus helps you find words with similar meanings. It is useful for choosing vocabulary, not for researching events or facts from a particular year. ### Terms - **Almanac**: A reference book or source that gathers facts, statistics, dates, and records, often organized by year. - **Atlas**: A collection of maps. - **Gazetteer**: A reference source that lists named places and gives information about them. - **Thesaurus**: A reference source that groups words by related meaning, including synonyms. ### Remember For facts and records tied to a year, choose an almanac; for maps, places, or word meanings, choose an atlas, gazetteer, or thesaurus.