Social Studies Sample Test

In which of the following regions is Islam the predominant religion? A. Northern Africa B. Western Europe C. Northern South America D. Eastern Asia

A

An agricultural town experiences a drought and is not able to produce as many crops as it typically does. As a result, the farmers are unable to provide grocery stores the amount of products they had promised. Which of the following economic situations does the scenario create? A. competition B. scarcity C. opportunity cost D. absolute advantage

B

Which of the following accurately compares two ancient civilizations? A. The Egyptians and Aztecs both practiced monotheistic religions. B. The Sumerian civilization used cuneiform, and the Egyptians used hieroglyphics. C. The Phoenicians traded mostly by land routes, and the Chinese traded mostly by sea routes. D. The Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations lacked reliable sources of water.

B

Which of the following demonstrates one way the government can promote competition? A. Implementing a tariff on foreign products. B. Enacting and enforcing antitrust legislation. C. Providing tax breaks for consumers. D. Creating a national minimum wage.

B

Which of the following rights did Thomas Jefferson believe John Adams violated when he signed the Alien and Sedition Acts into law? A. The right to bear arms. B. Freedom of the press. C. The right to assemble peacefully. D. Unreasonable searches and seizures.

B

In which of the following types of economies does the government have the most control of the country's resources? A. Traditional B. Free Market C. Command D. Mixed

C

How did the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota people acquire the name Sioux? A. through their culture B. through their religion C. through their region D. through their enemies

D

How was 90% of the native populations destroyed? A. by the use of guns B. by being fired out of their homes C. by enslaving and torturing them D. by disease

D

Which of the following is a responsibility of the executive branch? A. Ratifying proposed amendments to the Constitution B. Declaring war on countries that threaten national security C. Signing proposed bills into law D. Declaring laws that infringe on personal freedoms unconstitutional

C

Which of the following is a shared power between state and federal governments? A. Making treaties with nations. B. Appointing local judges. C. Raising taxes. D. Passing city ordinances.

C

Which of the following is believed to have occurred during the last Ice Age as a result of a land bridge created between what are now Siberia and Alaska? A. The invention of new technologies for sheltering humans against sustained cold. B. The blockage of important trade routes. C. The establishment of human settlements in North America. D. Widespread famine.

C

Which of the following is the best example of how humans impact topography? A. Using technology to predict earthquakes B. Mapping a local river system C. Strip-mining an area for minerals D. Migrating from rural to urban areas

C

What percent of the seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election every two years? A. 33% B. 50% C. 66% D. 100%

D

What was the most significant cause of death among Native Americans following contact with Europeans? A. European firearms B. slavery C. work in the mines D. disease

D

Which of the following actions would be taken by the Federal Reserve? A. Printing money to introduce into circulation. B. Restricting the buying and selling of stocks on Wall Street. C. Creating a national budget to present to Congress. D. Adjusting interest rates to prevent inflation.

D

Which of the following amendments to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote? A. 13th B. 15th C. 17th D. 19th

D

Which of the following best explains the significance of the Suez Canal? A. It is an important shipping gateway in Europe linking the North Sea to the Black Sea. B. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, expediting trade between North America, South America, and Asia. C. It is an important shipping route connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf Mexico. D. It connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, expediting trade between Europe and Asia.

D

Which of the following statements describes a characteristic of Turkey's largest city? A. It has a very high altitude. B. It has a tropical climate. C. It is the country's largest manufacturing center. D. It is considered part of Europe and Asia.

D

Which of the following statements describes an advantage the South had over the North during the Civil War? A. They had a larger population to provide troops for their army. B. They had greater access to railroads to move their troops. C. They had more manufacturing centers to produce munitions. D. They had more experienced generals to lead their troops.

D

Why were the tribes that included the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole considered to be civilized? A. Because they could learn quickly. B. Because they could self-sustain. C. Because they could be relocated anywhere. D. Because they adopted customs of the colonists.

D

In which of the following nations did the conflict between the Hutu and the Tutsi take place? A. Rwanda B. South Africa C. Ethiopia D. Uganda

A

"Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is a greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the Negro group... Any language in contrary to this finding is rejected. We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." - Earl Warren, chief justice of the United States Supreme Court Which of the following court cases did the ruling overturn? A. Plessy v. Ferguson B. Regents of the University of California v. Blake C. Dred Scott v. Sandford D. Korematsu v. United States

A

A local clothing store offers customers fifty percent off the price of all inventory items. Which of the following economic terms best describes this example? A. Incentive B. Production C. Consumption D. Scarcity

A

Following the Civil War, poll taxes were primarily used in the South to deny access to which of the following? A. voting B. public education C. employment D. military service

A

Held the first Olympics. Polytheistic. Practiced direct democracy. Which of the following ancient civilizations is described? A. Greece B. Egypt C. Rome D. China

A

How did European metal affect the lives of Native Americans? A. European metal tools were superior to their tools B. Native Americans quickly adopted European methods of metal working C. European metal was thought to have supernatural power and intimidated the Natives D. European metal was adopted to protect their horses in battle

A

Jane is saving to buy a new car. Her friends are planning a weekend trip to the beach. She wants to go, but decides that saving for the car is more important. Jane's choice best demonstrates which of the following economic concepts? A. Opportunity Cost B. Supply and Demand C. Scarcity of Resources D. Comparative Advantage

A

The destruction of the USS Maine led to the start of which of the following events? A. Spanish-American War B. First World War C. Mexican-American War D. War of 1812

A

What led Columbus to find the 'New World'? A. he was in search of a faster and easier way to Asia B. he was an adventurer at heart C. he was trying to prove the world is round D. he wanted to spread Christianity

A

Which of the following European nation was the first to colonize the southwestern United States? A. Spain B. Portugal C. France D. England

A

Which of the following actions contained a controversial fugitive slave provision? A. The Compromise of 1850 B. The Missouri Compromise C. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 D. The Three-Fifths Compromise

A

Which of the following best describes one result of the introduction of robotics into manufacturing centers? A. Workers will need to be retrained to perform different jobs. B. Additional assembly-line workers will be needed work in automated factories. C. The price of goods created through automation will increase. D. Additional management personnel will be needed to make decisions about production levels.

A

Which of the following best describes the Iroquois social structure? A. At the time of marriage, a man joins his wife's family. B. New married couple create a new family name by combining the pronunciation of their family names. C. Children born in a marriage are considered a part of their fathers family. D. At the time of marriage, a woman joins her husband's family.

A

Which of the following best explains how intensive agriculture, poor irrigation practices, and overgrazing have affected the environment? A. They have contributed to the desertification of areas. B. They have increased the potential for droughts to occur. C. They have prevented deforestation from occurring in tropical regions. D. They have caused carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to decline.

A

Which of the following countries have territorial claims in Kashmir? A. India, Pakistan, and China B. Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran C. Iran, Iraq, and Russia D. Russia, China, and India

A

Which of the following countries is known as the breadbasket of Europe? A. Ukraine B. France C. Ireland D. Poland

A

Which of the following countries received its independence from Great Britain in 1947? A. India B. Argentina C. The Philippines D. Peru

A

Which of the following describes the compromise over slavery that the delegates agreed upon during the Constitutional Convention? A. Delegates agreed on how slaves would be counted in the census. B. People in a territory could vote on whether slavery would be permitted. C. Once a territory became a state, slavery would not be permitted. D. The government agreed to use federal troops to capture escaped slaves.

A

Which of the following events most contributed to the start of the American Revolution? A. The British taxing the colonists to pay for the French and Indian War B. The blockade of the American colonies by the British navy C. The drafting of the Constitution by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia D. The commissioning of George Washington as commander of the Continental army

A

Which of the following helped many homesteaders to establish farms on the Great Plains during the 1800s? A. Windmills to pump water for irritation. B. Levees to control flooding. C. Steel to construct cities to withstand earthquakes. D. Cars to transport crops to market.

A

Which of the following is accurate about the geography of Peru? A. It's coastal region is compromised of desert. B. The majority of the country is made up of grasslands. C. The country has mostly rolling hills and very few mountains. D. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and has few water features.

A

Which of the following mountain ranges crosses through the state of Washington? A. The Cascades B. The Himalayas C. The Appalachians D. The Alps

A

Which of the following statements best describes indentured servants during the American colonial period? A. They obtained their freedom once their contract was completed. B. They consisted primarily of young women and children. C. The majority served in wealthy homes in the northern colonies. D. They paid higher taxes to offset the cost of their trip to the Americas.

A

Which of the following time zones is located between California and Texas? A. Mountain B. Central C. Eastern D. Pacific

A

Which of the following regions is the vast, cold, dry region of eastern Russia? A. Beringia B. Siberia C. The Ural Mountains D. The Baltic Coast

B

Boston Tea Party. Boston Massacre. Intolerable Acts. The actions listed contributed to which of the following events? A. The French and Indian War B. The American Revolution C. The Proclamation of 1763 D. The War of 1812

B

Historically, India's society has been organized into hierarchical groups known as A. tribes B. castes C. clans D. denominations

B

How did the reintroduction of horses affect the lives of American tribes? A. horses were bred and sold to noble families at very high prices B. horses were used for war and hunting C. horses were sacrificed in animalistic rituals D. horses were worshipped as gods by many animalistic tribes

B

In the United States, the division of power between the national and state governments demonstrates the principle of A. checks and balances B. federalism C. separation of powers D. the rule of law

B

The Old world 'received' _____ from the Columbian Exchange. A. horses and habanero peppers B. tomatoes and habanero peppers C. guns, germs and steel D. slaves, germs and steel

B

The Ring of Fire region is best known for which of the following characteristics? A. Slash-and-burn agriculture B. High levels of seismic activity C. Severe drought conditions D. High number of wildfires

B

The legal doctrine known as "separate but equal" was overturned by the Supreme Court's ruling in which of the following cases? A. Plessy v. Ferguson B. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka C. Miranda v. Arizona D. Mapp v. Ohio

B

Which of the following did Thomas Malthus theorize? A. An increase in population will stimulate society to increase food production. B. If left unchecked, a population will exhaust its available resources, resulting in naturally occurring checks on the population, such as famine, disease, and war. C. Overpopulation can lead to unsuitable farming practices that may degrade the land. D. Optimum population is achieved when the number of people working with available resources produces the highest economic return, resulting in the highest standard of living.

B

Which of the following documents was the initial attempt by the American colonists to establish an independent government? A. The Bill of Rights B. The Articles of Confederation C. The Declaration of Independence D. The Constitution of the United States

B

Which of the following elements is contained in the United States Constitution but not in the Articles of Confederation? A. A process to propose and approve amendments. B. The power for Congress to declare war. C. The establishment of an executive branch. D. A unicameral legislative structure.

B

Which of the following events had the greatest impact on the size of the United States? A. The Gadsden Purchase B. The Louisiana Purchase C. The Oregon Treaty D. The annexation of Texas.

B

Which of the following illustrates how people were part of the Columbian Exchange process? A. people were victims of disease B. people were removed from their homes in the west of Africa C. people had to use technology D. people had to consume food from the old world

B

Which of the following is a key component in determining the economic growth of a country? A. The landmass of the country. B. The per capita national output. C. The amount of natural resources. D. The size of the country's population.

B

Which of the following is true of the lifestyle developed by the Hopi tribe? A. The tribe depended heavily on fishing. B. The tribe depended on agriculture. C. The tribe depended wholly on hunting. D. The tribe was mostly traders.

B

Which of the following reasons explains why Russia withdrew from the First World War? A. The Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated. B. The Bolshevik Revolution started. C. Nicolas II was crowned czar. D. Warsaw was captured by Germany.

B

Which were the most common motivators for European exploration in the time of Columbus? A. guns, slaves and gold B. gold, glory and God C. precious metals and glory D. God, slaves and fame

B

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Which of the following amendments to the Constitution contains this text? A. 13th B. 14th C. 15th D. 19th

C

Founded by people who escaped religious persecution in England. Engaged in farming, fishing, and whaling. Led by John Winthrop. Which of the following American colonies does the information describe? A. Georgia B. Virginia C. Massachusetts D. Pennsylvania

C

How were the first settlers of the Americas believed to have been influenced by Beringia? A. Beringia is an ancient grain native to Alaska, which is believed to be solely responsible for the survival of the settlers in the winter months B. Beringia was an island between Eurasia and the Americas which provided a midway stop for supplies, making travel between the areas possible C. Beringia was a frozen land bridge caused by lower water levels during the last ice age, creating a new path of travel between Eurasia and the Americas D. Beringia was land mass connecting Eurasia with the Americas, until it sunk completely, stranding a portion of the population in the Americas

C

Since the end of the United States Civil War in 1865, all of the following have been successful have been successful efforts of groups seeking civil rights for African Americans EXCEPT A. passage of affirmative action legislation B. desegregation of public educational facilities C. creation of a major national political party D. establishing anti lynching campaigns

C

Spear tips that were first found in _____ were offered as evidence for the Land Bridge theory because similar points have been discovered in the area around Beringia. A. Fairbanks, Alaska B. Sendai, Japan C. Clovis, New Mexico D. Hokkaido, Japan

C

Which of the following American Civil War battles immediately preceded the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation? A. Battle of Gettysburg B. Battle of Bull Run C. Battle of Antietam D. Battle of Vicksburg

C

Which of the following ancient civilizations used hieroglyphics as a way to communicate? A. Greece B. Rome C. Egypt D. China

C

Which of the following are the main religions in Nepal? A. Sikhism and Buddhism B. Buddhism and Confucianism C. Hinduism and Buddhism D. Christianity and Judaism

C

Which of the following are the most common geological threats to the country of Mexico? A. Hurricanes and Tsunamis B. Tornadoes and Blizzards C. Volcanoes and Earthquakes D. Tsunamis and Landslides

C

Which of the following forms of government consists of a union of several countries with some or most power shared between them? A. Dictatorship B. Republic C. Confederation D. Monarchy

C

Which of the following individuals helped end the system of apartheid in South Africa? A. Mohandas Gandhi B. Mother Teresa C. Nelson Mandela D. The Dalai Lama

C

Which of the following major world religions is monotheistic? A. Taoism B. Buddhism C. Islam D. Shintoism

C

Which of the following regions has the greatest frequency of tornadoes? A. The Middle East B. The east coast of Australia C. The midwestern United States D. The Far East

C

Which of the following rulers was most responsible for ending the persecution of Christians in Ancient Rome? A. Alexander the Great B. Julius Caesar C. Constantine D. Nero

C

Which of the following statements is correct about the Battles of Lexington and Concord? A. The battles convinced the French to aid the Continental army. B. General Washington crossed the Potomac to engage in the battles. C. The battles marked the start of the war with Great Britain. D. General Cornwallis agreed to surrender after the battles.

C

Which of the following types of maps shows the boundaries of countries, states or municipalities? A. Thematic B. Topographic C. Political D. Meterological

C

Which of the following was a reaction by the American public to tensions created by the Cold War? A. A decline in entrepreneurship. B. The mass migration of minorities to rural areas. C. The construction of private bomb shelters. D. A reduction in consumer spending.

C

Which of the following best explains why the expansion of the American colonies was limited under British rule? A. The Spanish held the territory west of the Appalachian Mountains. B. Bad weather and poor soil prevented crops from growing south of the colonies. C. Most of the American colonists were fishermen and lived along the eastern shoreline. D. The Proclamation of 1763 prevented the colonists from migrating west.

D

Which of the following events of the American Revolution occurred last? A. The passage of the Intolerable Acts B. The dumping of tea into Boston Harbor C. The signing of the Declaration of Independence D. The Battle of Yorktown

D

Which of the following events took place as a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830? A. Members of the Seminole tribe B. The United States Army relocated members of the Creek Nation to Georgia. C. The Sioux were the only remaining tribes in the southeastern United States. D. Members of the Cherokee Nation were forced to move to the western United States.

D

Which of the following has occurred as a result as a result of China's rapid economic growth? A. China is no longer one of the world's largest miners of natural resources. B. China has become the world's largest exporter of agricultural products. C. China has become the world's largest importer of consumer goods. D. China has become one of the world's largest emitters of carbon dioxide.

D

Which of the following individuals is most known for his contributions to aviation? A. Henry Ford B. Andrew Carnegie C. Mark Twain D. Charles Lindbergh

D

Which of the following is correct based on the law of supply? A. A decrease in the demand of a product will result in an increase in supply. B. An increase in the demand for one product leads to a fall in the demand for another. C. A decrease in the value of a currency will cause the value of another currency to decline. D. An increase in the price of a product will result in an increase in supply.

D