Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification Practice Exam

What is the main purpose of a bibliography?

1. Summarizing key points

2. Citing sources

3. Collecting data

4. Analyzing information

The correct answer is: Citing sources

The primary purpose of a bibliography is to provide a list of sources that were cited or referenced in the creation of a document or research project. It serves as a comprehensive record of the works consulted in developing your ideas, arguments, or conclusions. By citing sources in a bibliography, it not only gives credit to the original authors but also allows readers to locate those sources for further reading or verification. This is essential in academic and professional settings, as it upholds the integrity of the work and enables others to understand the foundation of the presented ideas. While summarizing key points, collecting data, and analyzing information are all important aspects of research and documentation, they do not define the specific purpose of a bibliography. Summarizing focuses on condensing information, collecting data refers to the gathering of information for analysis, and analyzing information involves interpreting or drawing conclusions from data. Each of these plays a role in research but does not encapsulate the bibliographic function of source citation.