Which item is a foundational reference work listing sources cited by authors?

• A. NCE Prep Guide
• B. Eight Basic Areas
• C. Oral and Written Boards
• D. Bibliography

Answer: (D)

A bibliography is a compiled list of sources that an author has cited or consulted in a work, placed at the end to guide readers to the original materials and show where ideas came from. This makes it a foundational reference work, since its purpose is to document and connect readers to the sources that underpin the authors’ writing. The other items are study aids or exam-related materials, not collective lists of cited sources: a prep guide is meant for studying the test, a framework like eight basic areas outlines content domains, and oral and written boards refer to exam components. In scholarly writing, you’ll often see references or works cited sections, which serve a similar purpose, but a bibliography specifically emphasizes the range of sources the author consulted or cited.