Middle Level Social Studies (Grades 5–8)
Subtest 1 Sample Items
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Passage For Questions 1 and 2
Read the passage below; then answer the questions that follow.
The national government that emerged immediately following the American Revolution was based on the
Articles of Confederation. Adopted during the war, the Articles provided for a single branch of government,
the Congress, with no executive or judiciary. As initially drafted, the Articles placed few limitations
on Congress and contained no guarantee of state powers. But this soon changed, as the states had no
intention of exchanging one form of oppression for another. To state political leaders, power remained
power, whether wielded by a distant Parliament or a Congress closer to home. Opposition was particularly
intense from wealthy states that objected to the broad authority Congress had over state boundaries
and the disposition of western lands.
As a result, the Articles were revised so that they explicitly subordinated the power of the central
government to that of the states. Any major actions by Congress required the agreement of 9 of the 13
states. Congress also lacked the authority to levy taxes, regulate trade, or resolve disputes among
the different states. Nor were the Articles easy to revise; any amendments had to be ratified by all
of the state legislatures. In addition to these structural limitations, government under the Articles
suffered from other deficiencies. One was nonattendance. Even during the war, gathering sufficient delegates
to conduct business proved extremely difficult; afterward, the problem worsened. Some also questioned
the quality of the representatives. As the national government became weaker and weaker, there was little
incentive for talented men to go to the trouble and expense of attending the sessions of what many felt
was no more than a functionless debating society.
Question 1
1. The author's main purpose in the passage is to:
- describe the weaknesses of the government created by the Articles of Confederation.
- analyze relations between state governments and the national government under the Articles of Confederation.
- criticize the policies of the government created by the Articles of Confederation.
- raise questions about the competence of representatives to the government under the Articles of Confederation.
Answer to question 1
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0001) After relating how
state pressure forced revisions that weakened the powers of the government created by the Articles of
Confederation, the author describes the negative effect that these changes had on the functioning of
that government.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0001) After relating how state pressure forced
revisions that weakened the powers of the government created by the Articles of Confederation, the author
describes the negative effect that these changes had on the functioning of that government.
Question 2
2. Based on information presented in the passage, it is reasonable to infer that state leaders during
the early republic were strongly committed to which of the following political principles?
- checks and balances
- due process of law
- separation of powers
- limited government
Answer to question 2
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0001) The opposition of state
leaders to a powerful central government provides evidence of their strong commitment to the principle
of limited government.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0001) The opposition of state leaders to a powerful
central government provides evidence of their strong commitment to the principle of limited government.
Question 3
3. An economics researcher is interested in studying the issue of employee absenteeism. Which of the
following statements would provide the most appropriate hypothesis to guide the researcher's work?
- The more employees view a workplace as being fair and equitable, the lower their level of absenteeism
is likely to be.
- To explain the amount of absenteeism that occurs in a given workplace, a variety of complex factors
must be considered.
- Less supportive workplaces are likely to experience higher rates of absenteeism among employees than
more supportive workplaces.
- A company's polices tend to be most influential in determining the amount of absenteeism in the company's
workforce.
Answer to question 3
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0001) Key criteria for constructing
a workable hypothesis for a social science research project include formulating a clear and specific
statement about a plausible relationship between variables and identifying variables that are measurable
or potentially measurable. The extent to which employees view a workplace as being fair and equitable
can be measured through surveys, and the rate of absenteeism is an observable variable.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0001) Key criteria for constructing a workable
hypothesis for a social science research project include formulating a clear and specific statement
about a plausible relationship between variables and identifying variables that are measurable or potentially
measurable. The extent to which employees view a workplace as being fair and equitable can be measured
through surveys, and the rate of absenteeism is an observable variable.
Question 4
4. Read the passage below; then answer the question that follows.
To explain the "revolutionary fever" that swept across much of Europe in 1848, one must begin with the
economic crises of the late 1840s resulting from a series of bad grain harvests, along with the blight
that decimated the potato crop. The failure of the potato, a staple in the European peasant's diet,
was felt most acutely in Ireland but had repercussions throughout Europe, where even with industrialization
much of life remained wedded to the vagaries of the agricultural cycle. Thus the economic woes were
felt in urban areas among the shopkeepers, skilled workers, and day laborers as much as in the countryside.
The increased food prices that resulted from the poor harvests and potato blight placed even greater
pressure on small-scale manufacturers and artisans already struggling to compete with the more cost-efficient
factories.
Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage?
- The European revolutions of 1848 that began in rural areas soon spread to cities as urban workers became
increasingly dissatisfied with their lives.
- Social inequalities between rural and urban populations and between the working class and the middle
class ultimately led to the European revolutions of 1848.
- Distress in the farm economy of rural Europe played an important role in prompting the widespread misery
that caused the European revolutions of 1848.
- The European revolutions of 1848 illustrate the strong relationships between agriculture and industrialization
in the development of European society.
Answer to question 4
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0001) The passage describes
how failures of potatoes and other crops in rural areas of Europe in the late 1840s caused severe economic
problems that led to higher food prices in urban industrialized areas. The passage asserts that the
resulting economic pressure on urban manufacturers and artisans was a contributing factor to the "revolutionary
fever" that characterized Europe in 1848.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0001) The passage describes how failures of potatoes
and other crops in rural areas of Europe in the late 1840s caused severe economic problems that led
to higher food prices in urban industrialized areas. The passage asserts that the resulting economic
pressure on urban manufacturers and artisans was a contributing factor to the "revolutionary fever"
that characterized Europe in 1848.
Question 5
5. A middle level social studies teacher uses both verbal explanations and nonverbal representations
(e.g., relevant diagrams, graphic organizers) to introduce students to new content-specific vocabulary
from an academic article they will be reading. Which of the following student activities would be most
effective in supporting the students' comprehension of the article by reinforcing their understanding
of the new vocabulary?
- defining the new vocabulary in their own words
- developing a word search using the new vocabulary
- underlining the new vocabulary as they read the article
- listing the new vocabulary in their social studies notebooks
Answer to question 5
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0002) Restating a definition
in one's own words, or paraphrasing, requires students to reflect on the meaning of the word and use
synonyms and/or explanations for key concepts that differ from those used in the definition, while still
conveying the same idea. To accomplish this successfully, students need to think about the meaning of
the word at a fairly deep level, which enhances both understanding and retention of the new vocabulary
word.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0002) Restating a definition in one's own words,
or paraphrasing, requires students to reflect on the meaning of the word and use synonyms and/or explanations
for key concepts that differ from those used in the definition, while still conveying the same idea.
To accomplish this successfully, students need to think about the meaning of the word at a fairly deep
level, which enhances both understanding and retention of the new vocabulary word.
Question 6
6. A social studies teacher regularly preteaches key vocabulary words from a text before having students
read the text independently. As part of this instruction, the teacher writes several sentences on the
board, highlighting the target words' spelling and relevant morphological features (e.g., affixes, roots).
Which of the following rationales best explains why this practice would be effective in promoting students'
ability to read and comprehend the text?
- The ability to use cognitive and metacognitive reading strategies is enhanced when students are also
taught when and how to use the strategies in the context of authentic texts.
- Accurate, rapid word identification allows students to focus their attention during reading on learning
the text's content rather than on trying to decode individual words.
- A word may have both a general meaning and a context-specific meaning, and students need to be able
to determine which meaning is relevant in a particular situation.
- Social language and academic language often differ, so students need to recognize similarities and
differences between language structures used in spoken and written language.
Answer to question 6
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0002) The instruction described
promotes development of accurate, rapid identification of the target words during reading by integrating
instruction in the meaning of the words with explicit instruction and practice in recognizing the written
form of the words. Careful attention to the spelling of the words and the morphological "chunks" within
words promotes accurate decoding, and repeated exposure to the written word in a meaningful context
builds automatic word recognition during reading. Convergent research indicates that automaticity is
essential to reading fluency and comprehension.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0002) The instruction described promotes development
of accurate, rapid identification of the target words during reading by integrating instruction in the
meaning of the words with explicit instruction and practice in recognizing the written form of the words.
Careful attention to the spelling of the words and the morphological "chunks" within words promotes
accurate decoding, and repeated exposure to the written word in a meaningful context builds automatic
word recognition during reading. Convergent research indicates that automaticity is essential to reading
fluency and comprehension.
Question 7
7. Several students in a social studies class are English language learners who have advanced-level
(i.e., Level 5—bridging level) English language proficiency and demonstrate good foundational
reading skills and subject-matter knowledge. The teacher will be assigning the class to read a new social
studies text. Given this scenario, which of the following strategies would be most appropriate for the
teacher to use to differentiate the lesson for the English language learners in the class?
- arranging for the English language learners to read a translation of the text or a similar text written
in their primary language
- providing the English language learners with a text about similar content that was written in English
for students at a lower grade level
- explicitly preteaching the English language learners any idiomatic expressions and vocabulary essential
for comprehending the text in English
- teaching the content of the text to the English language learners using an oral-presentation format
rather than requiring them to read the assigned text
Answer to question 7
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0002) The English language
learners in this scenario are at the advanced level (i.e., Level 5—bridging level) of English
language proficiency and have good literacy skills and content knowledge. English language learners
with this background should be able to read grade-level texts in English with support, including comprehending
the texts at the literal and inferential levels. The teacher may need to introduce new academic language
to all the students prior to assigning the text. However, unlike their peers who are proficient in English
or who were raised in homes where English was the primary language, the English language learners are
also likely to be unfamiliar with idiomatic expressions and everyday vocabulary used in the text that
are essential for comprehension. Thus, preteaching such words and expressions is an appropriate way
to differentiate the lesson for advanced-level English language learners.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0002) The English language learners in this scenario
are at the advanced level (i.e., Level 5—bridging level) of English language proficiency and have
good literacy skills and content knowledge. English language learners with this background should be
able to read grade-level texts in English with support, including comprehending the texts at the literal
and inferential levels. The teacher may need to introduce new academic language to all the students
prior to assigning the text. However, unlike their peers who are proficient in English or who were raised
in homes where English was the primary language, the English language learners are also likely to be
unfamiliar with idiomatic expressions and everyday vocabulary used in the text that are essential for
comprehension. Thus, preteaching such words and expressions is an appropriate way to differentiate the
lesson for advanced-level English language learners.
Question 8
8. A sociologist who is conducting an analysis of the social structure of twenty-first century Minneapolis
is gathering data on the age, occupation, wealth, place of residence, and family ties of hundreds of
individuals in the city. Which of the following types of software would best enable the sociologist
to organize and interpret this information?
- inventory software
- presentation graphic software
- database software
- word processing software
Answer to question 8
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0003) Database software systems
are designed to help users organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of data. Researchers often rely
on such systems to organize and interpret information when gathering data on multiple parameters.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0003) Database software systems are designed to
help users organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of data. Researchers often rely on such systems
to organize and interpret information when gathering data on multiple parameters.
Question 9
9. Which of the following references cites a primary source?
- Lorenzo Sabine, start italics Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution with an Historical
Essay end italics , 2 vols. ([1864], rpt. Port Washington, NY: Kennikat Press, 1966).
- John M. Murrin, "The Legal Transformation: The Bench and Bar of Eighteenth-Century Massachusetts,"
in Stanley N. Katz and John M. Murrin, eds., start italics Colonial America: Essays in Political and Social Development end italics ,
3rd ed. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983).
- William Duane, ed., start italics Extracts from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, 1774– to 1781 end italics ([1877], rpt. New York: New York Times, 1969).
- Richard Alan Ryerson, start italics The Revolution Is Now Begun: The Radical Committees of Philadelphia, 1765– to 1776 end italics (Philadelphia: University
of Pennsylvania Press, 1978).
Answer to question 9
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0003) Primary sources are
accounts or narratives that provide firsthand information about an event or development from someone
who participated in or witnessed the event or development, or had knowledge of what was taking place
at the time it happened. A good example is the day-to-day accounts of events that can be found in diaries.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0003) Primary sources are accounts or narratives
that provide firsthand information about an event or development from someone who participated in or
witnessed the event or development, or had knowledge of what was taking place at the time it happened.
A good example is the day-to-day accounts of events that can be found in diaries.
Question 10
10. Which of the following historical developments best illustrates the phenomenon of globalization?
- the spreading influence of the university system in the thirteenth century
- the Taiping Rebellion, German wars of unification, and U.S. Civil War of the 1860s
- the effects of communication and transportation technologies in the late nineteenth century
- the expansion of Communist-inspired governments in Asia and Latin America after 1950
Answer to question 10
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0003) Globalization is characterized
by four basic aspects: trade and transactions, capital and investment movements, migration and movement
of people, and the dissemination of knowledge around the world. While earlier eras such as the Pax Mongolica
of the thirteenth century and the Columbian Exchange of the sixteenth century embody several of these
aspects, the proliferation of technologies such as railroads, steamships, and telegraphy in the several
decades before World War I most conspicuously increased the interaction and integration of people in
different nations.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0003) Globalization is characterized by four basic
aspects: trade and transactions, capital and investment movements, migration and movement of people,
and the dissemination of knowledge around the world. While earlier eras such as the Pax Mongolica of
the thirteenth century and the Columbian Exchange of the sixteenth century embody several of these aspects,
the proliferation of technologies such as railroads, steamships, and telegraphy in the several decades
before World War I most conspicuously increased the interaction and integration of people in different
nations.
Question 11
11. A British historian of the late nineteenth century refers to the outbreak of violent resistance
within the ranks of soldiers of the British East India Company to British rule as the "Mutiny of 1857."
An Indian historian of the mid-twentieth century refers to the same events as the "Revolution of 1857."
Which of the following statements provides the most likely explanation for this difference in terminology?
- The British historian had access to only British sources and thus presented a biased version of the
events.
- The Indian historian wrote about a century after the events and thus had access to less reliable information.
- The British historian sought to emphasize the necessity for reforms within the colonial army to prevent
further violence.
- The Indian historian interpreted the events as more significant than reflections of problems within
colonial military forces.
Answer to question 11
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0003) The difference in terminology
over the events in India in 1857 reflect a difference in the interpretation of their meaning and significance.
The British historian likely sought to emphasize that the outbreak of violence was primarily a result
of problems that could be fixed by administrative reforms and not the elimination of British rule, whereas
the Indian historian likely sought to emphasize the events as the beginning of an Indian independence
movement and the point of origin of Indian national identity.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0003) The difference in terminology over the events
in India in 1857 reflect a difference in the interpretation of their meaning and significance. The British
historian likely sought to emphasize that the outbreak of violence was primarily a result of problems
that could be fixed by administrative reforms and not the elimination of British rule, whereas the Indian
historian likely sought to emphasize the events as the beginning of an Indian independence movement
and the point of origin of Indian national identity.
Question 12
12. In which of the following areas did the achievements of the ancient Romans have a greater influence
on the development of European civilization than the accomplishments of the ancient Greeks?
- visual art and theater
- law and engineering
- mathematics and philosophy
- economics and manufacturing
Answer to question 12
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0004) The ancient Romans
developed laws and procedures for administering their expansive dominions. The laws and legal system
of Ancient Rome served as a foundation of the legal systems of much of Western Europe, and also influenced
English common law. The ancient Romans also excelled in engineering, as seen in their architecture and
large-scale civil engineering projects, such as aqueducts, highways, bridges, and tunnels. Some of these
works remain objects of wonder today.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0004) The ancient Romans developed laws and procedures
for administering their expansive dominions. The laws and legal system of Ancient Rome served as a foundation
of the legal systems of much of Western Europe, and also influenced English common law. The ancient
Romans also excelled in engineering, as seen in their architecture and large-scale civil engineering
projects, such as aqueducts, highways, bridges, and tunnels. Some of these works remain objects of wonder
today.
Question 13
13. The political organization of ancient Sumerian society was primarily based on a:
- centralized theocracy ruled by an oligarchy of religious leaders.
- series of city-states ruled by powerful kings.
- federation of semiautonomous states ruled by a governing council.
- series of ethnic clans ruled by groups of respected elders.
Answer to question 13
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0004) Ancient Sumerian civilization
consisted of a series of city-states, whose priestly rulers were thought to be responsible to the gods
for maintaining public services and ensuring general prosperity.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0004) Ancient Sumerian civilization consisted of
a series of city-states, whose priestly rulers were thought to be responsible to the gods for maintaining
public services and ensuring general prosperity.
Question 14
14. Which of the following activities provided the primary economic foundation for the civilizations
that emerged in Mesoamerica during the two millennia after 2000 BCE?
- cultivating corn, beans, and squash
- mining gold and silver
- producing cloth, pottery, and metal goods
- raising cattle and sheep
Answer to question 14
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0004) By around 1500 BCE,
Mesoamericans lived in agricultural villages based on the cultivation of corn, beans, and squash. Although
they also engaged in hunting and fishing, the commodities obtained through farming formed the main basis
of regional food supplies.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0004) By around 1500 BCE, Mesoamericans lived in
agricultural villages based on the cultivation of corn, beans, and squash. Although they also engaged
in hunting and fishing, the commodities obtained through farming formed the main basis of regional food
supplies.
Question 15
15. The conflict between ancient Sparta and Athens can best be described as:
- a dynastic conflict based on the political claims of competing noble families.
- a religious conflict based on differences concerning the proper interpretation of sacred texts.
- an ideological conflict stemming from divergent social and political ideals
- an economic conflict based on competition to control major regional resources.
Answer to question 15
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0004) Unlike ancient Sparta
with its warrior ethic and military government, Athens was a commercial and cultural center that established
a democratic government and stressed the development of individual talents. These differing perspectives
became a major source of tension between the two city-states and ultimately led to war.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0004) Unlike ancient Sparta with its warrior ethic
and military government, Athens was a commercial and cultural center that established a democratic government
and stressed the development of individual talents. These differing perspectives became a major source
of tension between the two city-states and ultimately led to war.
Question 16
16. Muslim intellectuals most influenced the revival of learning in medieval Europe through their:
- composition of poetry and literature.
- translation and publication of East Asian scholarship.
- composition of theological treatises.
- recovery and study of ancient Greek scholarship.
Answer to question 16
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0005) One result of the major
emphasis that Muslim rulers placed on scholarship was the translation and study of ancient Greek works.
These translations later formed the basis of the revival of learning that took place in Europe during
the Renaissance.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0005) One result of the major emphasis that Muslim
rulers placed on scholarship was the translation and study of ancient Greek works. These translations
later formed the basis of the revival of learning that took place in Europe during the Renaissance.
Question 17
17. The great empires that arose in western Africa between 800 and 1600 CE shared which of the following
characteristics?
- a common form of social stratification in which status was based mainly on educational attainment
- a similar pattern of economic organization based on the mining of precious metals and the control of
major trade routes
- a common form of political organization in which rulers consulted regularly with local councils of
elders
- a similar pattern of territorial expansion that focused on the conquest and acquisition of lands in
central and eastern Africa
Answer to question 17
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0005) The great western African
empires that emerged between 800 and 1600 CE, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, obtained much of their
wealth from the gold extracted from regional mines and their control and taxation of the trans-Saharan
salt and gold trade.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0005) The great western African empires that emerged
between 800 and 1600 CE, including Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, obtained much of their wealth from the
gold extracted from regional mines and their control and taxation of the trans-Saharan salt and gold
trade.
Question 18
18. Which of the following statements, if inserted into the blank line below, would correctly complete
the chronology of historical events?
- Charlemagne is crowned "Emperor of the Romans."
- The Song Dynasty comes to an end in China.
- _________________________________________blank
- The Hundred Years' War begins.
- Portuguese navigators reach India.
- Gutenberg develops the printing press.
- China's Ming dynasty is overthrown.
- Mongol forces overrun Eastern Europe.
Answer to question 18
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0005) Mongol forces overran
Eastern Europe during the 1230s, more than 400 years after Charlemagne's coronation, about 100 years
after the Norman Conquest of 1066, and a century before the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War in 1337.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0005) Mongol forces overran Eastern Europe during
the 1230s, more than 400 years after Charlemagne's coronation, about 100 years after the Norman Conquest
of 1066, and a century before the outbreak of the Hundred Years' War in 1337.
Question 19
19. An immediate cause of the Protestant Reformation during the 16th century was:
- the breakdown of papal authority as a result of the Great Schism.
- concerns regarding the legitimacy of the sale of indulgences.
- scientific and philosophical challenges to Catholic doctrine.
- legislation permitting the confiscation of clerical land by the state.
Answer to question 19
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0005) Martin Luther criticized
the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences from the perspective of Christian doctrine. This led him to
question other areas of Church teaching and practice that ultimately, according to Luther, did not have
justification in the Christian scriptures. Luther's criticisms and the Papal and Imperial reactions
to them marked the beginning of the Reformation.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0005) Martin Luther criticized the Catholic Church's
sale of indulgences from the perspective of Christian doctrine. This led him to question other areas
of Church teaching and practice that ultimately, according to Luther, did not have justification in
the Christian scriptures. Luther's criticisms and the Papal and Imperial reactions to them marked the
beginning of the Reformation.
Question 20
20. Which of the following excerpts from the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
(1789) best illustrates the influence of the Baron de Montesquieu's writings on major political developments
of the eighteenth century?
- "Every citizen, when summoned or seized by virtue of the law, ought to obey instantly; he renders himself
culpable by resistance."
- "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights."
- "A society in which a guarantee of rights is not assured, nor the separation of powers determined,
has no constitution at all."
- "The law should establish only such punishments as are strictly and evidently necessary . . . ."
Answer to question 20
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0006) In his major work,
The Spirit of the Laws (1748), Baron de Montesquieu introduced the principle of separating
the legislative, executive, and judicial roles of government as a way of preventing any one power from
dominating the others.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0006) In his major work, start italics The Spirit of the
Laws end italics (1748), Baron de Montesquieu introduced the principle of separating the legislative, executive,
and judicial roles of government as a way of preventing any one power from dominating the others.
Question 21
21. Creole leaders of the Latin American wars of independence and leaders of the American Revolution
were most alike in their:
- desire to prohibit the extension of slavery.
- opposition to royal policies concerning indigenous peoples.
- opposition to increased imperial taxation.
- desire to broaden popular participation in government.
Answer to question 21
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0006) A major cause of the
American Revolution was the colonists' resistance to the taxes imposed by the British crown, and in
particular to taxation by governmental bodies—like the British Parliament—that did not include
their own elected representatives. Similarly, the Creole leaders of the Latin American wars of independence
strongly objected to the high taxes that the Spanish government imposed on them.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0006) A major cause of the American Revolution
was the colonists' resistance to the taxes imposed by the British crown, and in particular to taxation
by governmental bodies—like the British Parliament—that did not include their own elected
representatives. Similarly, the Creole leaders of the Latin American wars of independence strongly objected
to the high taxes that the Spanish government imposed on them.
Question 22
22. Which of the following statements best describes a major consequence of industrialization in late
nineteenth-century western Europe?
- Child labor increased substantially.
- Income differences between social classes narrowed.
- Birth rates began to decline.
- There was a marked improvement in the status of women
Answer to question 22
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0006) What geographers describe
as stage three of the demographic transition—a stage in which an increasing number of people seek
to control family size—began during the last quarter of the nineteenth century in western Europe.
Whereas children had a vital economic role in agricultural communities, their economic utility was far
less in the factories of the Industrial Revolution. Growing understanding of the diminished economic
importance of children, versus the continued expense of raising them, led increasing numbers of couples
to restrict the size of their families.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0006) What geographers describe as stage three
of the demographic transition—a stage in which an increasing number of people seek to control
family size—began during the last quarter of the nineteenth century in western Europe. Whereas
children had a vital economic role in agricultural communities, their economic utility was far less
in the factories of the Industrial Revolution. Growing understanding of the diminished economic importance
of children, versus the continued expense of raising them, led increasing numbers of couples to restrict
the size of their families.
Question 23
23. The global depression of the 1930s most influenced which of the following political developments?
- the rise of authoritarian regimes in Germany and Japan
- the emergence of nationalist movements in West Africa
- the spread of communist ideology in China and Russia
- the consolidation of power by landed elites in Latin America
Answer to question 23
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0007) The Great Depression,
which began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939, led to nationalist responses in a number of countries.
In Germany, which was still struggling to recover from its defeat in World War I, Hitler rose to power
with the promise of economic improvement and a highly nationalistic message that led to the establishment
of an authoritarian dictatorship. Meanwhile, Japan recovered from the global depression more rapidly
than Western countries, but it did so in the context of military expansion and authoritarian rule.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0007) The Great Depression, which began in 1929
and lasted until about 1939, led to nationalist responses in a number of countries. In Germany, which
was still struggling to recover from its defeat in World War I, Hitler rose to power with the promise
of economic improvement and a highly nationalistic message that led to the establishment of an authoritarian
dictatorship. Meanwhile, Japan recovered from the global depression more rapidly than Western countries,
but it did so in the context of military expansion and authoritarian rule.
Question 24
24. The Battle of Stalingrad is considered a major turning point in World War II primarily because of
the:
- massive number of German military personnel killed or taken prisoner.
- effect of the German defeat on Germany's relations with its major allies.
- impact of the battle on civilian morale within Germany.
- unwillingness of the German commander to obey Hitler's orders.
Answer to question 24
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0007) In addition to losing
an entire army and the equivalent of five squadrons of aircraft in the Battle of Stalingrad, Germany
suffered between 500,000 and 850,000 casualties, many of them experienced soldiers who could not be
replaced. After Stalingrad, a German victory over the Soviet Union was impossible.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0007) In addition to losing an entire army and
the equivalent of five squadrons of aircraft in the Battle of Stalingrad, Germany suffered between 500,000
and 850,000 casualties, many of them experienced soldiers who could not be replaced. After Stalingrad,
a German victory over the Soviet Union was impossible.
Question 25
25. In the late twentieth century, the economic development policies adopted by Asian Pacific Rim nations
differed most from those followed by Western industrial economies in the greater emphasis placed by
Asian nations on:
- production for the domestic consumer market.
- government planning and direction.
- the outsourcing of industrial production.
- capital-intensive forms of manufacturing.
Answer to question 25
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0007) In rebuilding their
economies after World War II, the governments of Pacific Rim nations such as Japan, South Korea, and
Taiwan targeted specific industries for expansion and provided them with low-interest loans, state-subsidized
research and development assistance, and protection against foreign imports.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0007) In rebuilding their economies after World
War II, the governments of Pacific Rim nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan targeted specific
industries for expansion and provided them with low-interest loans, state-subsidized research and development
assistance, and protection against foreign imports.
Question 26
26. Following decolonization in Africa, political stability and economic growth were made difficult
primarily by which of the following legacies of the colonial period?
- demographic decline as a result of emigration to Great Britain and France
- ethnic and tribal conflicts as a result of arbitrary colonial-era boundaries
- religious violence as a result of the persecution of minority religious populations
- damage to colonial-era infrastructure as a result of wars of independence
Answer to question 26
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0007) During the colonial
period, borders between colonial territories were frequently drawn quite arbitrarily. European states
sometimes either split traditionally unified ethnic groups or tribes, or included traditionally hostile
groups within one border. This created considerable problems for the newly independent states of Africa
beginning in the 1950s, as they struggled to forge a national identity in order to maintain political
stability and promote economic growth.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0007) During the colonial period, borders between
colonial territories were frequently drawn quite arbitrarily. European states sometimes either split
traditionally unified ethnic groups or tribes, or included traditionally hostile groups within one border.
This created considerable problems for the newly independent states of Africa beginning in the 1950s,
as they struggled to forge a national identity in order to maintain political stability and promote
economic growth.
Question 27
27. Which of the following best describes an important global consequence of the information revolution
of the last quarter of the twentieth century?
- It increased the pace and scope of cultural diffusion.
- It caused major changes in international patterns of population movement.
- It reduced the level of conflict between nations of the world.
- It expanded the range of functions performed by major international agencies.
Answer to question 27
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0008) The information revolution
refers to the development and widespread use of computers, the Internet, and other technologies. These
technological changes have dramatically reduced the cost of obtaining, processing, storing, and transmitting
information and led to a rapid increase in the availability of information in all forms to people everywhere.
The information revolution has meant that information and ideas are able to spread across the globe
faster than ever before and to more people in more cultural settings than ever before. Cultural diffusion,
which involves the spread of cultural beliefs and behaviors across groups, has thereby greatly increased
in pace and scope as a result of the information revolution.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0008) The information revolution refers to the
development and widespread use of computers, the Internet, and other technologies. These technological
changes have dramatically reduced the cost of obtaining, processing, storing, and transmitting information
and led to a rapid increase in the availability of information in all forms to people everywhere. The
information revolution has meant that information and ideas are able to spread across the globe faster
than ever before and to more people in more cultural settings than ever before. Cultural diffusion,
which involves the spread of cultural beliefs and behaviors across groups, has thereby greatly increased
in pace and scope as a result of the information revolution.
Question 28
28. Which of the following responses accurately matches an ancient civilization with a major scientific
or technological contribution of that civilization?
- China: the creation of the decimal system
- India: the development of papermaking processes
- Kush: the construction of reservoirs
- Maya: the invention of an accurate calendar
Answer to question 28
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0008) The 365-day calendar
developed by Mayan priest-astronomers and adopted subsequently by other Mesoamerican civilizations was
one of the most accurate ever created.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0008) The 365-day calendar developed by Mayan priest-astronomers
and adopted subsequently by other Mesoamerican civilizations was one of the most accurate ever created.
Question 29
29. The many technological innovations associated with the Industrial Revolution most influenced changes
in how people viewed the:
- possibility of social progress.
- value of moral behavior.
- desirability of cultural diversity.
- limits of political freedom.
Answer to question 29
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0008) Before the Industrial
Revolution, most people in agricultural societies believed in a cyclical theory of social gains and
losses based on the changing seasons of the year. It was only with the onset of industrialization and
the profound changes brought about by technology that growing numbers of people glimpsed the possibility
of ongoing social progress.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0008) Before the Industrial Revolution, most people
in agricultural societies believed in a cyclical theory of social gains and losses based on the changing
seasons of the year. It was only with the onset of industrialization and the profound changes brought
about by technology that growing numbers of people glimpsed the possibility of ongoing social progress.
Question 30
30. The growing popularity of East Asian foods in the United States can best be seen as an example of
cultural:
- convergence.
- diffusion.
- accommodation.
- assimilation.
Answer to question 30
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0009) Cultural diffusion
is a geographic term that refers to the movement of ideas, products, or practices over space or through
time. A good example of the phenomenon would be the movement of East Asian foods to the United States
and their growing popularity in U.S. culture.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0009) Cultural diffusion is a geographic term that
refers to the movement of ideas, products, or practices over space or through time. A good example of
the phenomenon would be the movement of East Asian foods to the United States and their growing popularity
in U.S. culture.
Question 31
31. A geographer who is monitoring climate-induced changes in Arctic glaciers would likely find which
of the following tools most useful for gathering data?
- remote sensing technologies
- geographic information systems
- map projections
- global positioning systems
Answer to question 31
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0009) Remote sensing technologies
permit researchers to gather information in difficult-to-reach regions, such as the Arctic, by means
of imaging devices installed in aircraft or spacecraft.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0009) Remote sensing technologies permit researchers
to gather information in difficult-to-reach regions, such as the Arctic, by means of imaging devices
installed in aircraft or spacecraft.
Question 32
32. A globe would be more useful than a world map for an individual who wishes to:
- compare the physical features of two widely separated regions.
- make an accurate calculation of the distance between cities in a country or a region.
- view many different areas of Earth's surface at the same time.
- develop an accurate picture of the relative size and shape of the continents.
Answer to question 32
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0009) Because maps are flat
representations of the curved surface of Earth, they inevitably distort the shape and relative sizes
of land areas. A globe, on the other hand, more closely reflects the actual shape of Earth and thus
is able to provide a more accurate representation of the shape and relative size of the continents.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0009) Because maps are flat representations of
the curved surface of Earth, they inevitably distort the shape and relative sizes of land areas. A globe,
on the other hand, more closely reflects the actual shape of Earth and thus is able to provide a more
accurate representation of the shape and relative size of the continents.
Question 33
33. Which of the following physical processes most influenced the formation of the Great Lakes?
- volcanic activity
- mechanical weathering
- glacial erosion
- crustal folding
Answer to question 33
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0010) The Great Lakes, which
contain about 85 percent of the surface fresh water in North America and 20 percent of the world's surface
freshwater, resulted from glaciers advancing and retreating over many thousands of years. They began
to form at the end of the last glacial period when retreating ice sheets eroded the land and the resulting
spaces filled with water from the melting glaciers.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0010) The Great Lakes, which contain about 85 percent
of the surface fresh water in North America and 20 percent of the world's surface freshwater, resulted
from glaciers advancing and retreating over many thousands of years. They began to form at the end of
the last glacial period when retreating ice sheets eroded the land and the resulting spaces filled with
water from the melting glaciers.
Question 34
34. Use the map below to answer the question that follows.
A marks somewhere in north-central Brazil. B marks somewhere in far east Brazil, close to the Atlantic
Ocean. C marks somewhere in southeast Brazil. D marks somewhere southwest of all the other markers,
roughly in the area of Paraguay.
Which letter on the map identifies the location of the Amazon Basin?
- letter A
- letter B
- letter C
- letter D
Answer to question 34
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0010) The area of South America
drained by the Amazon and its tributaries, the Amazon Basin, encompasses a vast region stretching westward
and southward from the northeast corner of Brazil. Letter A on the map corresponds with the basin's
geographic center.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0010) The area of South America drained by the
Amazon and its tributaries, the Amazon Basin, encompasses a vast region stretching westward and southward
from the northeast corner of Brazil. Letter A on the map corresponds with the basin's geographic center.
Question 35
35. Which of the following physical factors has most influenced population distribution in North Africa?
- the location of timber resources
- average annual rainfalls
- the location of energy resources
- average annual temperatures
Answer to question 35
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0010) The primary climatic
characteristic of North Africa is aridity. Large numbers of people can be found solely along or near
the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, which are the only areas in the region that receive reasonably
adequate amounts of rainfall each year.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0010) The primary climatic characteristic of North
Africa is aridity. Large numbers of people can be found solely along or near the Atlantic and Mediterranean
coasts, which are the only areas in the region that receive reasonably adequate amounts of rainfall
each year.
Question 36
36. Which of the following issues is most often cited as a concern arising from the disappearance of
tropical rain forests due to human activity?
- altered global surface and air temperatures
- loss of habitat for many potentially useful species
- reduced availability and quality of global water supplies
- loss of access to high-quality land for agricultural expansion
Answer to question 36
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B. (Objective 0010) Scientists estimate
that at least 40 to 50 percent of all plant and animal species on Earth are native to tropical rain
forests. Tropical rain forests are home to many plants that have become staple food crops for human
populations, as well as many plants and animals that have been used to develop drugs that fight diseases.
Tropical rain forests are believed to contain many more plant and animal species, as yet undiscovered,
that could be potentially useful to humans for food and other purposes.
Correct Response: B. (Objective 0010) Scientists estimate that at least 40 to 50
percent of all plant and animal species on Earth are native to tropical rain forests. Tropical rain
forests are home to many plants that have become staple food crops for human populations, as well as
many plants and animals that have been used to develop drugs that fight diseases. Tropical rain forests
are believed to contain many more plant and animal species, as yet undiscovered, that could be potentially
useful to humans for food and other purposes.
Question 37
37. Which of the following responses best matches an Asian country with a pattern of work commonly found
in that country?
- Afghanistan: high-yield cultivation of staple crops
- Pakistan: "slash and burn" subsistence agriculture
- Mongolia: nomadic herding
- Malaysia: open range livestock grazing
Answer to question 37
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C. (Objective 0011) Outside of urban centers,
herding sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and Bactrian camels remains the principal way in which large numbers
of Mongolians continue to make their living.
Correct Response: C. (Objective 0011) Outside of urban centers, herding sheep,
goats, cattle, horses, and Bactrian camels remains the principal way in which large numbers of Mongolians
continue to make their living.
Question 38
38. Since 1600 CE, the most persistent cause of human migrations has been:
- climatic change.
- ethnic conflict.
- epidemic disease.
- economic hardship.
Answer to question 38
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0011) Even before the massive
migrations prompted by the Industrial Revolution and the transformation of traditional economic systems,
economic hardship had long been the most frequent cause of population movement. Many of the Europeans
who established settlements in North America, for example, were fleeing adverse economic conditions
in the hopes of improving their economic status and the well-being of their families.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0011) Even before the massive migrations prompted
by the Industrial Revolution and the transformation of traditional economic systems, economic hardship
had long been the most frequent cause of population movement. Many of the Europeans who established
settlements in North America, for example, were fleeing adverse economic conditions in the hopes of
improving their economic status and the well-being of their families.
Question 39
39. Which of the following best describes a shared function of both religious and political institutions
in most Western societies?
- providing psychological support
- arbitrating conflicts
- promoting personal development
- maintaining social order
Answer to question 39
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D. (Objective 0011) Where religious institutions
help maintain social order by inculcating values designed to restrain individuals from behaving in ways
that society considers improper or inappropriate, political institutions do so by enacting laws covering
a broad range of human conduct and providing the means to punish actions that have been designated as
illegal.
Correct Response: D. (Objective 0011) Where religious institutions help maintain
social order by inculcating values designed to restrain individuals from behaving in ways that society
considers improper or inappropriate, political institutions do so by enacting laws covering a broad
range of human conduct and providing the means to punish actions that have been designated as illegal.
Question 40
40. Which of the following factors best helps to explain the rapid decline that occurred in China's
birth rate during the 1970s?
- changes in government policy
- increased average family income
- evolving cultural values
- reduced availability of resources
Answer to question 40
- Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A. (Objective 0011) Until the 1960s, the
Chinese government encouraged families to maximize the number of children they had. Then in 1970, the
government began encouraging people to marry later and have fewer children. This effort culminated in
the implementation of the government's one-child policy in 1979, by which time the birth rate had fallen
by over fifty percent from its peak in the 1960s. Further declines in fertility during the following
three decades can likely be attributed to urbanization and increased prosperity related to the government's
"reform and opening" policies.
Correct Response: A. (Objective 0011) Until the 1960s, the Chinese government encouraged
families to maximize the number of children they had. Then in 1970, the government began encouraging
people to marry later and have fewer children. This effort culminated in the implementation of the government's
one-child policy in 1979, by which time the birth rate had fallen by over fifty percent from its peak
in the 1960s. Further declines in fertility during the following three decades can likely be attributed
to urbanization and increased prosperity related to the government's "reform and opening" policies.