AP GOV MCQ unit 4
Which of the following statements are illustrated by the data in table? A The Silent Generation is more likely to say they have become more liberal over time politically than Millennials. B Millennials are more likely to say they have become more liberal politically over time than Baby Boomers. C Generation X is more likely to say their political views have not changed or been mixed over time compared to the Silent Generation. D Baby Boomers are more likely to say they have become more conservative politically over time than the Silent Generation.
B Millennials are more likely (48%) to say they have become more liberal than Baby Boomers are (35%).
The polling in the summer of 2016 shows a sharp increase in popular support for Clinton, followed by a sharp increase in popular support for Trump. Which of the following factors most likely accounts for these increases in popular support? A A change in the use of sampling techniques employed by polling organizations B The timing of political events covered by the news which temporarily influenced preferences C The effect of political socialization on individuals responding to poll questions D Sampling errors that affected polling results
B The timing of certain campaign events or news stories can usually be detected in poll results. For example, the sharp increases in preferences, as shown in the graph, can be heavily influenced by events covered by the media, such as announcements of vice-presidential picks, the introduction of new public policy proposals, the coverage of political scandal, or, in this case, party conventions.
Which of the following best explains how the format affected the polls? A The closed-ended format limited respondents to fewer options, which forced respondents to focus on the most important issue of those options. B The closed-ended format decreased participation because it was more difficult for respondents to think of a response. C The open-ended format increased the number of respondents who mentioned energy policy because the poll reminded them of the issue. D The open-ended format limited the number of potential responses, which affected the accuracy of the poll.
A Limiting the options available increases the chances of one of the five options being selecting.
A large national survey of young Americans recently released by CIRCLE shows young Obama and Romney voters had strikingly similar levels of political knowledge. The survey also shows a clear relationship between respondents' high school civics education experiences and their knowledge of campaign issues and political participation in the 2012 presidential election. However, taking high school civics had little or no relationship with young adults' choice between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. "Young people who recalled experiencing more high-quality civic education practices in schools were more likely to vote, to form political opinions, to know campaign issues, and to know general facts about the US political system," said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE. "Civics education was not related to partisanship or choice of candidate. These results should allay political concerns about civic education being taught in schools." Source: CIRCLE, 2013. Which of the following explains how the scenario described in the passage relates to political behavior? A Globalization has influenced how individuals participate in politics. B Taking part in civic education affects whether or not an individual participates politically. C Generational differences account for major differences in political participation rates. D Individuals are likely to form opinions about politics that correspond to their parents' views.
B Civic education is an event that can have a profound effect on participation rates.
According to the bar graph, which of the following is true about the influence of the general environment on political traits? A The general environment is the greatest influence in the acquisition of political knowledge in twins. B The general environment accounts for about 20 percent of the influence on political party identification in twins. C The general environment plays the biggest role in whether twins will participate and turn out to vote. D The general environment accounts for about 50 percent of the influence on attitudes about race in twins.
B Political party identification in twins is about 20 percent influenced by the general environment.
A large national survey of young Americans recently released by CIRCLE shows young Obama and Romney voters had strikingly similar levels of political knowledge. The survey also shows a clear relationship between respondents' high school civics education experiences and their knowledge of campaign issues and political participation in the 2012 presidential election. However, taking high school civics had little or no relationship with young adults' choice between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. "Young people who recalled experiencing more high-quality civic education practices in schools were more likely to vote, to form political opinions, to know campaign issues, and to know general facts about the US political system," said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE. "Civics education was not related to partisanship or choice of candidate. These results should allay political concerns about civic education being taught in schools." Source: CIRCLE, 2013. Which of the following concepts is most closely related to the passage? A Public opinion polling B Partisanship C Political socialization D Ideology
C The passage relates to the concept of political socialization and how students develop political knowledge and attitudes about governmental processes.
A large national survey of young Americans recently released by CIRCLE shows young Obama and Romney voters had strikingly similar levels of political knowledge. The survey also shows a clear relationship between respondents' high school civics education experiences and their knowledge of campaign issues and political participation in the 2012 presidential election. However, taking high school civics had little or no relationship with young adults' choice between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. "Young people who recalled experiencing more high-quality civic education practices in schools were more likely to vote, to form political opinions, to know campaign issues, and to know general facts about the US political system," said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE. "Civics education was not related to partisanship or choice of candidate. These results should allay political concerns about civic education being taught in schools." Source: CIRCLE, 2013. The students mentioned in the passage did not have a strong preference in candidates or increased levels of partisanship, despite their exposure to civics education. Which of the following explains this type of political socialization? A Political socialization does not include the formation of political beliefs but rather refers only to the likelihood of participation. B Younger people are less likely to understand politics; therefore, the civics courses were unlikely to lead to strong preferences regarding partisanship or candidates. C Public schools are prohibited by law from discussing political issues and current events, which limits the effect of political socialization. D Some life experiences that socialize individuals into politics affect specific behaviors but not partisanship or ideology.
D Agents of political socialization can affect beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, but in the case of civics education in the passage, it seemed to most affect behaviors.
In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won the election despite losing the popular vote by about two percent. The line graph illustrates which of the following about presidential election polling? A The trend appears to indicate that Clinton is more likely to win, but factors such as margin of error and the electoral system also need to be taken into account. B Most polling used by the media is biased and lacks scientific rigor, leading to incorrect assumptions about who will win elections. C Even though polls reach many people, it is not useful to make inferences about the general population because most people are not being polled. D Polling the same group of people over a long period of time leads to incorrect polling results.
A Clinton is ahead by wide margins at some points, but her lead shrinks, possibly to within the margin of error. The presidential election uses a state-by-state system in the electoral college which determines the winner.
Based on the twin studies data shown in the bar graph, which of the following political traits are most influenced by genetics? A Political knowledge B Attitudes about race C Participation and voter turnout D Political party identification
A According to the data on the bar graph, political knowledge is the trait most influenced by genetics.
The trend in late October and early November showing Clinton ahead but an increase in support for Trump most likely would be A used by Clinton to assure her supporters of a likely victory B described as momentum by the trailing Trump campaign to encourage supporters to vote C the result of the margin of error, which might lead one to believe Trump was possibly ahead D a result of unscientific polling practices by polling organizations
B Trailing candidates prefer to highlight gains in the polls close to the election to encourage supporters that it is possible to win if they turn out.
According to the bar graph, which of the following statements is true about the influence of family on political traits? A The family has about a 30 percent rate of influence on the acquisition of political knowledge. B Foreign policy preferences are about 40 percent influenced by family. C Political party identification is about 70 percent influenced by family. D Attitudes about immigration are about 60 percent influenced by the family.
C By measuring the length of the family segment of the bottom bar, we can observe that around 70 percent of political party identification is influenced by family.
Which of the following elements of polling likely created the difference in the poll results? A The difference was likely a result of the margin of error. B One poll is a tracking poll, and the other is a benchmark poll. C The formats of the survey questions are different. D The questions are worded differently.
C One of the polls uses an open-ended format, while the other gives five choices.
The data from the two polls, which ask the same question, illustrate which of the following? A Public opinion can influence policy debates and election results. B Polls that do not use scientific methods will not be replicable in another setting. C Those making inferences from polling results should understand the methods used by pollsters. D Scientific polling is not an appropriate way to measure public opinion.
C The difference can be explained by the fact that open-ended or closed-ended question methods produce different results.
Which of the following are supported by the data in the table? A Very few people change their views on social or political issues over time. B Younger people are more apt to identify as politically liberal rather than socially liberal. C As people get older, they tend to become more liberal on social issues but not on political issues. D More people become more socially conservative over time than more socially liberal.
D Over time, 49% of respondents became more conservative on social issues compared to 42% who said they became more liberal on social issues.
