Lost Power to 4 Outlets?

I have lost power to 4 outlets in 2 bedrooms in my older house. All of the breakers are good. I pulled all 4 outlets out to check. There is no power and no breaker problems. I have 2 questions: was it typical in older homes to feed outlets from overhead lights? I can not tell if the power to the receptacles is coming from the enclosed ceiling in the basement or from light fixtures in the 2 rooms where I have lost power to the outlets. The lights work. How can I do a continuity test from breaker to outlet to check for broken or disconnected wire?

Someone suggested that I shut the main breaker off, then leave the outlet breaker on and read across black and white to see if I have a complete circuit (continuity). Also I should mention there might be juntion boxes between the breaker and the outlets which are in a closed ceiling in the basement. I hope not to find broken or disconnected wire in the circuit, as I have no access.

By Michael