Secondary sources are defined as:

• A. Written by someone with direct knowledge of the event
• B. Based on primary literature but written by someone without direct knowledge
• C. Literature twice removed from the original source
• D. Original data report

Answer: (B)

Secondary sources interpret and synthesize information from primary sources, and they’re created by people who did not directly observe the events or perform the original work. That’s why the description “based on primary literature but written by someone without direct knowledge” fits best. It captures the idea that the material is derived from original studies or documents, yet the author wasn’t a direct participant.

For contrast, a primary source is an original document or data report created by someone with direct involvement, like the original study or an eyewitness account. A work that’s two steps removed from the original source is a tertiary source, which compiles or summarizes secondary sources.