Praxis 5089 Form 2
The Supreme Court's ruling in the case Brown v Board of Education of Topeka (1954) overturned which of the following? A.The legality of racial segregation in public education B.The ability of states to allocate property taxes for school districts C.The legality of all-male public schools D.The ability of the federal government to impose regulations on schools that accept federal funding
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. In the Brown v Board of Education of Topeka case, the Supreme Court ruled that the legal separation of racial groups as established under the Plessy v Ferguson decision of 1896 was illegal and that laws that enforced "separate but equal" facilities were unconstitutional.
In which of the following map projections are the intersections between lines of latitude and longitude all at right angles? A.Mercator B.Azimuthal C.Goode Homolosine D.Robinson
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Lines of latitude and longitude in the Mercator projection intersect at right angles, making a rectangular map that is useful for plotting directions but distorts the sizes of landmasses near the poles.
During the French Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobins were directly responsible for A.instituting the Reign of Terror to root out counterrevolutionaries B.protecting freedom of religious expression, including Catholicism C.establishing the Directory to stabilize the French government D.leading the French army in conquest of central Europe
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Robespierre and the Jacobins led France during the most radical portion of the French Revolution, known as the Terror. As leaders of the Committee of Public Safety they presided over campaigns of mass arrest and mass executions, often without trial, of those who opposed the policies of the revolutionary Republic.
A student is contemplating whether to go to the school football game or to a movie on Saturday evening. Which economic concept is illustrated by whatever decision the student makes? A.Trade-off B.Comparative advantage C.Diminishing utility D.Negative externality
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Since the game and the movie occur concurrently in the same evening, the student must make a choice, and whichever choice the student makes, the student will give up the opportunity to enjoy the option he or she did not take.
The methods of Mohandas Gandhi in India had the most direct influence on the methods adopted by which of the following? A.Martin Luther King, Junior. B.Ho Chi Minh C.Mao Zedong D.Emiliano Zapata
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The American Civil Rights movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr ., and others, adopted methods of disobedience and nonviolent resistance similar to those used by Gandhi's independence movement.
The Himalaya Mountains in Asia were formed by which of the following occurrences? A.The movement and collision of tectonic plates B.The growth and eruption of volcanoes C.The buildup of sediment layers over time D.A rift zone where a tectonic plate is tearing apart
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The Himalayas are the result of the tectonic movement of the Indian Plate and its collision with the Eurasian Plate.
The Know-Nothing Party emerged in the mid-1800 as a reaction in part to the substantial increase in immigration to the United States from which of the following regions? A. Ireland B. Mexico C. India D. England
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The Know-Nothing Party was an American nativist political organization opposed to immigrants and Roman Catholics, like the majority of immigrants to the United States from Ireland.
By the end of the nineteenth century the use of pools, trusts, and holding companies by big businesses resulted in A.a more even distribution of wealth B.a concentration of economic power in the hands of a few C.an increase in social welfare benefits D.a slowing in the growth of the economy
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Through the use of mergers and takeovers to consolidate large corporate entities, business owners such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie gained great influence over entire sectors of the economy at the end of the nineteenth century.
When tropical rain forests are cut down, which part of the hydrologic cycle is diminished, leading to changes in the local climate? A.Groundwater flow B.Transpiration C.Condensation D.Surface runoff
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Transpiration, the movement of water through the leaves of trees and into the air as water vapor, is diminished by deforestation. The removal of the low-level atmospheric moisture reduces local rainfall and leads to increased local temperatures.
Which of the following best describes the lifestyle of Native American peoples in Mexico before the arrival of European colonizers? A.They hunted buffalo for food and were nomadic. B. They farmed maize and built permanent settlements. C. They gathered wild plants for food and were seminomadic. D.They farmed diverse crops and engaged in seasonal migration.
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. With the domestication and cultivation of maize, large-scale agriculture was able to support the development of large cities and sophisticated political and social structures in the area that is now Mexico.
Which TWO of the following actions did certain states take to keep individuals from exercising the right to vote in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries? A.Requiring identification cards to enter polling places B.Collecting poll taxes C.Requiring literacy tests D.Suspending habeas corpus E.Holding elections on religious holidays
Correct Answer: B, C Options (B) and (C) are correct. States that sought to disenfranchise African Americans during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries often used poll taxes and literacy tests.
Which of the following is an exclusive constitutional power of the United States Senate? A.Origination all revenue bills B.Approval of the presidential budget C.Ratification of treaties made by the president D.Ratification of constitutional amendments before they are sent to the states for ratification
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Only the Senate has confirmation and ratification power over treaties that the president negotiates with foreign nations.
What Canadian province has a majority French-speaking population? A.Ontario B.Alberta C.Quebec D.Nova Scotia
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Quebec was originally a French colonial settlement, and today a majority of residents speak French as their primary language.
Which of the following is considered to be a polytheistic religion? A.Sikhism B.Islam C.Shinto D.Zoroastrianism
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Shinto religious practice includes the worship of numerous deities.
Which of the following protections found in the United States Bill of Rights is cited most often by death-penalty opponents? A.Protection against self-incrimination B.Protection of freedom of speech C.Protection from cruel and unusual punishment D.Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution bans "cruel and unusual punishment" and is often cited by activists and scholars seeking to end the death penalty.
Which of the following is responsible for supervising and regulating banks? A.The United States Department of the Treasury B.The Financial Services Committee C.The Federal Reserve D.The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The Federal Reserve has three main functions: controlling the money supply (monetary policy), facilitating the payment system, and supervising and regulating banks.
In response to the spread of Soviet influence during the Cold War, the United States A. adopted a policy of isolationism and refused to form alliances with other countries B. declared that it would forcibly overthrow communist governments in Eastern Europe C. canceled all economic aid to Europe to fund increases in military spending D. armed and aided local anticommunist movements in foreign countries
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. During the Cold War, the United States directly and indirectly supported governments and groups that actively opposed domestic communist and left-wing movements in places such as Greece, Afghanistan, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
Which of the following best describes the concept of federalism? A.All political power in a nation belongs to the people. B.The central government of a nation-state derives its authority from local governments. C.The people have the right to change their government if that government abuses its authority. D.Central, local, and regional governments share powers in a single nation-state.
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Federalism entails the sharing of political authority between a central government and local governments, which are subordinate to the central government, within a single political system.
Which of the following occurred following the death of Muhammad in 632 C.E.? A.Muslims lost control of Egypt to the Byzantine Empire. B.His cousin, Ali, was immediately elected the leader of the ummah, the community of believers. C.His followers created differing versions of the Quran. D.Tribes that renounced Islam rebelled against those who followed the caliph.
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Following the death of Muhammad, Bedouin tribes took the opportunity to rebel against Muslim rule before Muhammad's successor, Abu Bakr, reasserted Islamic authority, suppressed the rebellion, and began a series of military campaigns to expand Islamic rule beyond the Arabian Peninsula.
The concept of a nation-state in its ideal form is a political state populated entirely by one nation of people who share a single religion, language, and cultural heritage. Which of the following best represents the ideal nation-state? A.Indonesia B.China C.India D.Japan
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Japan is an island country that has not been invaded and has little immigration from other countries. Japan's culture and language are similar across the country.
Longitude indicates a place's absolute location in terms of which of the following? A.Degrees north or south of the equator B.Degrees east or west of the equator C.Degrees north or south of the prime meridian D.Degrees east or west of the prime meridian
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Longitude is the measurement of a location's position in degrees east or west of the prime meridian.
Capital as a factor of production refers to which of the following? A.Money used to pay wages B.Products made for consumption C.The money needed to start a business D.Manufactured tools and equipment used for production
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Physical capital refers to the manufactured tools that people use to make goods and/or to perform particular tasks.
Which of the following best describes the central aim of Renaissance humanism? A. To study medieval religious authorities in the arts, law, medicine, and theology B. To develop and test hypotheses about nature based on experiments and inductive reasoning C. To centralize political authority and sovereign power within the hands of the monarchy D. To recover the learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome through use of reason and empirical evidence
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Renaissance humanism was a philosophical approach to learning that emphasized the rational ability of the human mind and empiricism over established authorities. Humanists studied ancient Greek and Roman sources in the fields of poetry, grammar, history, moral philosophy, and rhetoric in order to rediscover ancient knowledge and to develop a modern sensibility.
Which of the following investment instruments offers an individual a professionally managed, diversified financial portfolio as a single investment? A.Common stocks B.Preferred stocks C.Bonds D.Mutual funds
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Risk-averse individuals can minimize the risk of loss by purchasing a pool of diversified portfolios consisting of stocks, bonds, and real estate called mutual funds.
Despite initial failures, the eventual success of the English settlement at Jamestown can best be attributed to which of the following economic activities? A.Serving as a penal colony for political prisoners B.Building ships for the British navy C.Transporting enslaved Africans to the Caribbean D.Cultivating tobacco as a cash crop
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The Jamestown colony, established in 1607, was not able to produce financial returns for the Virginia Company, which funded the expedition, until English settlers began to experiment with growing tobacco in 1612. This led to a flourishing export economy by the 1620s sixteen twenties
Which of the following was a significant weakness of the League of Nations? A.It was dominated by the United States and the USSR, whose opposition to each other led to an inability to act. B.It required member states to maintain high levels of military readiness and funding, which led to conflict. C.It developed a mandate system to oversee colonized regions in order to foster human rights and self-determination. D.It lacked the participation of several significant world powers and had no armed force to enforce its resolutions.
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The League of Nations was formed by the Allied victors of the First World War and originally excluded Germany and the USSR U S S R among others. Most significantly, the United States did not join. The League also lacked an armed force to enforce its resolutions and was further weakened as major nations like France and Britain abandoned collective security in favor of appeasement.
Which of the following was a direct effect of the Meiji Restoration in Japan? A. Adoption of constitutional democracy B. Reestablishment of samurai political power and social status C. Elimination of the position of emperor from the Japanese political hierarchy D. Promotion of rapid industrialization and military expansion
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 replaced the samurai-dominated Tokugawa Shogunate and established the Meiji emperor as the central political power in Japan. The Meiji government policies led to the industrialization of Japan and its expansion as an imperialist power in the early twentieth century.
The Monroe Doctrine, which expressed core precepts of United States foreign policy for over a century, held that the country should A.intervene militarily on the side of France in wars between the European powers B.intervene militarily on the side of Great Britain in wars between the European powers C.appropriate the former colonies of Spain in the Western Hemisphere D.disallow further European colonization in the Western Hemisphere
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The Monroe Doctrine (1823) stated that further efforts by European powers to establish new colonies were prohibited and that interference with independent states in North or South America would be viewed as threats to the United States.
A main purpose of the Royal Proclamation of 1763 was to A.set a date in 1807 for the end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the British colonies B.prohibit Native American allies of British colonists from trading with French colonists C.establish a trade boycott of British goods by the North American colonies D.forbid British colonial settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 restricted settlement beyond the Appalachian Mountains after the British acquisition of French territory after the Seven Years War. The proclamation was meant to organize the newly acquired territory and facilitate trade relations with the Native Americans in the area
Which of the following is a disadvantage of a command economy? A.Resources are often wasted. B.Market forces control the price of goods. C.Large-scale projects can be completed relatively quickly. D.Resources can be quickly mobilized on a large scale.
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. In command economies, resources are often wasted because of large-scale planning, and innovation does not exist.
Which of the following describes a mixed Native American and European ethnic heritage in Latin America? A.Mestizo B.Inca C.Maya D.Garifuna
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. In many parts of Latin America, peoples or cultures that are derived from both Native American and European heritage can be described as mestizo.
Which religion is most common in North Africa? A.Judaism B.Christianity C.Islam D.Animism
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. North Africa has a predominantly Muslim population. Islam spread to the region, from the Arabian Peninsula, during the seventh and eighth centuries.
Which of the following statements about immigration to the United States between 1907 and 1927 is best supported by the chart above? A.Total immigration from southern Europe increased significantly. B.Total immigration from North America increased significantly. C.Total immigration from eastern Europe increased significantly. D.Total immigration from northern Europe increased significantly.
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Between 1907 and 1927, immigration from Europe to the United States fell significantly, while immigration from Canada and Mexico to the United States increased.
Which of the following concepts of American government has been most directly attributed to the Magna Carta? A.Limited government B.Representative government C.Federated government D.Democratic government
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Although the English kings and nobility claimed divine rule and had traditionally shared governance in practice, and although future English kings and the papacy repudiated the Magna Carta, American revolutionaries and modern scholars often attributed the American concept of limited government to the Magna Carta.
Which of the following statements is true of authoritarian regimes? A.There may be elections, but they are usually not competitive. B.The government is transparent and shares information with the public. C.Civil society is robust with many active nongovernmental organizations. D.Citizens are free to protest policies that they believe are unfair.
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Elections are often held in authoritarian regimes, but they are not free, fair, or competitive. Authoritarian regimes are not transparent, do not have vibrant civil societies, and often curtail protests by citizens in order to maintain power.
Which of the following would most likely have supported Andrew Jackson for president in the 1820s and 1830s? A.Western farmers and craftsmen B.Middle-class women reformers C.New England businessmen D.Free African Americans
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. First elected to the presidency in 1828, Andrew Jackson drew the bulk of his support from ordinary White farmers, craftsmen, and laborers, many of whom first gained voting rights in the 1820s eighteen twenties Jackson's popularity with this electorate led him to be widely regarded as a champion for the "common man."
When President Dwight Eisenhower warned of the growth of the "military-industrial complex" in his farewell address, he was referring, in part, to the dangers of the A.potential for defense contractors and arms manufacturers to exert influence on political leaders B.threat that the rise of Arab nationalism posed to Western democracies during the Cold War C.necessity of intervention in the Middle East due to economic dependence on imported oil D.growing costs of the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Having overseen the growth of the United States nuclear arsenal and air force during his presidency in the 1950s nineteen fifties, President Dwight Eisenhower in his 1961 farewell address sought to inform the country to be aware of the possible effects of maintaining a permanent military, dependent on a defense manufacturing industry. He believed this development was unprecedented in United States history and could lead to the commercial interests of defense contractors exerting an undue power over the nation's government.
From the point of view of Marxist theory, which of the following was a significant problem with developing a communist revolution in Russia in 1917? A.Russia had not developed an industrialized capitalist economy, which limited the formation of the proletariat. B.Russia was engaged in the First World War, which weakened the military and alienated many of its citizens. C.Russia was a land-based continental state and lacked an overseas colonial empire. D.Russia was an empire composed of different nationalities and ethnicities.
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The Marxist view of history described revolutionary transitions from feudalism to capitalism to socialism or communism. Russia had not developed a large urban industrialized capitalist system and therefore, from a Marxist perspective, lacked the proletariat that would band together in class conflict and communist revolution.
Which of the following mountain ranges separates Europe from Asia? A.Urals B.Himalayas C.Alps D.Pyrenees
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The Ural Mountains are the physical feature that separates Europe and Asia, beginning at the Arctic Ocean and ending near the Caspian Sea.
Which of the following helps explain why incumbents have high reelection rates in the House of Representatives? A.Representatives claim credit for projects in their districts. B.The House of Representatives as an institution has high approval ratings. C.The winner-take-all system makes it difficult for challengers to win. D.Voters know how their representative votes on most issues.
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The ability of incumbent members of the House of Representatives to show the tangible benefits they bring to their home district, such as special federally financed projects or tax benefits for local industries, helps make it difficult for them to be defeated by challengers in an election.
According to the data in the table, the government of Country X is running a budget A.deficit equal to $65 billion B.deficit equal to $75 billion C.surplus equal to $100 billion D.surplus equal to $240 billion
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The government's income is equal to the total tax revenue it collects. Each year, if the government income (tax revenue) falls short of its spending, the government's budget is running a deficit. The deficit in this case is equal to $175-$240 or -$65 billion.
The Inca Empire used which of the following to organize taxation and labor? A.The mit'a system B.The devshirme system C.The hacienda system D. The casta system
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The mit'a was a system of mandatory service or corvée labor to the Inca Empire, which was used to construct the Inca road network for military service, other infrastructure projects, religious monuments, and even religious rituals. Mit'a labor dominated a major portion of the productive labor of all males from age fifteen to age fifty.
In the long run, the growth in the money supply is a primary cause of A.inflation B.rapid economic growth C.deflation D.comparative advantage
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The primary cause of inflation is growth in the money supply.
The expansion of tobacco cultivation in colonial Virginia encouraged which of the following developments? A.An increase in the demand for cheap agricultural labor B.A transition from commercial farming to subsistence farming C.The expansion of urban metropolitan areas funded by taxes on agricultural exports D.An increased dependence on domestic markets for the sale of agricultural goods
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. The production of tobacco in seventeenth-century Virginia increased colonial labor demands, leading to the expanded recruitment of European indentured servants and, by 1700, the nearly exclusive use of enslaved Africans for work on plantations.
For most people, personal wealth is accumulated most directly by A.saving B.spending C.working long hours D.borrowing
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Though people can also accumulate more wealth by investing their savings in financial or real assets, for most people the accumulation of wealth most directly comes from their ability to save.
47. Which of the following was a significant weakness of the Articles of Confederation? A.The Articles were difficult to amend. B.The Articles granted the federal government too much power. C.The Articles did not allow states to print their own money or conduct their own trade policies. D.The Articles granted the federal government sole authority to establish relationships with foreign nations.
Correct Answer: A Option (A) is correct. Under the Articles of Confederation, implementing congressional decisions and making changes to the Articles themselves required a unanimous decision among the states, which made it difficult to operate the federal government and resolve any potential problems.
President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points addressed which THREE of the following ideas for establishing world peace? A.Reduction of armaments B.Free navigation of the seas C.Independence of African colonies D.Relaxation of trade restrictions E.Restoration of prewar European borders
Correct Answer: A, B, D Options (A), (B), and (D) are correct. In a speech to the United States Congress in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson outlined a set of principles to end the First World War. Wilson proposed that reducing armaments, freeing maritime navigation, and relaxing trade restrictions should be part of the terms for negotiating peace after the war.
Economic systems can be classified as market, command, and mixed. Which THREE of the following are characteristics of a market economy? A.Decentralized decision making B.Centralized decision making C.Protection of private property rights D.Price system allocating resources E.Equality of income distribution
Correct Answer: A, C, D Options (A), (C), and (D) are correct. In a market economy, resources are allocated by decentralized decisions that organize resources with the goal of making a profit. Private property and the protection of property rights are important for the market to function properly.
Which climate zone covers the largest surface area within Africa? A.Mediterranean B.Arid C.Humid subtropical D.Wet and dry tropical
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Arid climate zones, which include deserts such as the Sahara and Kalahari, cover the largest amount of land in Africa.
The argument that women's special role as guardians of morality necessitated their involvement in the public sphere was asserted during the A.colonial period B.Progressive Era C.Great Depression D.late twentieth century
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. During the Progressive Era in the early twentieth century, some women sought to use the moral authority afforded to them by the cult of domesticity to become involved in public reform movements, such as the settlement house movement, prohibitionism, and the woman suffrage movement.
Which of the following was a predominant attitude among Americans toward foreign affairs before the First and Second World Wars? A.The United States should expand its colonial holdings overseas. B.The United States should remain neutral in conflicts between European powers. C.The United States should avoid commercial exchanges with Latin American countries. D.The United States should join international organizations to guarantee collective security.
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Following from precedents established under George Washington, many Americans opposed direct military intervention in European conflicts during the early years of the First and Second World Wars. President Woodrow Wilson declared United States neutrality at the outset of the First World War in 1914, and in the 1930s nineteen thirties Congress passed a series of neutrality acts intended to keep the country from being drawn into another war in Europe.
Which of the following is true of public opinion in the aggregate? A.There is no measurement error. B.It is stable and reliable over time. C.Politicians do not use it to guide policy making. D.It is a reflection of the media's influence on the public.
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. In the aggregate, public opinion has proven to be stable and reliable over time. There is always some margin of error when conducting polls. Politicians often use public opinion to guide policy making.
Which of the following was an advantage of the colonists over the British during the Revolutionary War? A. The colonial army had more experienced military leaders than the British army. B. The British army was often overwhelmed by the guerrilla tactics of the colonial army. C. British soldiers were not as well disciplined as colonial soldiers. D. Colonial soldiers used more advanced weaponry than British soldiers.
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Knowledge of terrain and a willingness to indirectly attack British troops gave the colonial army a tactical advantage in the Revolutionary War.
Pastoral nomadism is a form of subsistence agriculture primarily practiced in the A.Arctic climate of northern Canada B.arid climate of North Africa and the Middle East C.Mediterranean climate of southern Europe D.tropical climate of Latin America and the Caribbean
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Nomadic pastoralists, migratory peoples who herd animals, are found in North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Siberia, Mongolia, and the Arctic areas of northern Europe.
In the long run, which of the following have been shown to have the greatest effect in improving a nation's standard of living? A.Increases in the minimum wage B.Advances in technology C.Increases in interest rates on mortgage loans D.Increases in tariffs on imported goods
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. Technological advances raise the productivity of the factors of production, raising the incomes of people over time as well as improving the flow of information and communications.
Which of the following is a constitutional check made by the president in the legislative process? A. The president introduces a bill onto the floor of Congress. B. The president vetoes a bill that has been passed by Congress. C. The president votes on a bill when there is a tie in the House of Representatives. D. The president approves committee leadership in Congress.
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The Constitution gives the president the power to veto laws that have been passed by Congress. The president cannot introduce legislation, vote on a bill when there is a tie in the House of Representatives, or approve committee leadership.
Which of the following is protected by the First Amendment? A.Shouting "Fire!" in a crowded movie theater B.Burning the United States flag C.Threatening the president of the United States D.Writing untrue articles about a celebrity in a newspaper
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The First Amendment does not protect all types of speech and actions. In Texas v versus Johnson the Supreme Court ruled that burning the United States flag was protected speech under the First Amendment. Other types of speech are not protected, such as speech that is libelous or that may incite violence.
The March 2011 tsunami that originated off the coast of Japan was the result of A.a typhoon B.an undersea earthquake C.heavy summer monsoons D.a volcanic eruption
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The Great Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011 originated at an epicenter located off the coast of Sendai in Japan.
The climates of Chile and coastal Peru are much cooler than other areas in South America because A.cold winds blow unimpeded from the Antarctic continent B.the Humboldt Current brings cold ocean waters C.arid conditions create cooler weather near the ocean D.cold winds flow down from the Andes mountain range
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The Humboldt Current is a cold-water ocean current that brings waters from near Antarctica northward along the western coast of South America. This results in lower temperatures along the coasts of Peru and Chile.
Which of the following was a direct cultural consequence of the First World War in Europe? A.The continuing dominance of imperial ruling elites in Germany, Austria, Russia, and Turkey B.The creation of a disillusioned, lost generation that questioned the progress of modernity C.The rejection of nationalism and racism in Europe because they had only fostered war D.The rapid decline of American cultural influence around the world
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The generation that came of age during the First World War questioned the ideals of modernity, progress, and technology as tools that had also led to mass violence and suffering during the war. Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway popularized the term "Lost Generation."
Which of the following combinations includes an example of each of the factors of production? A.Forest, tractor, factory B.Oil, factory, worker C.Minerals, money, worker D.Money, output, technology
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The question tests students' ability to identify and associate an example of each of the factors of production (which are land, labor, and physical capital). "Oil" corresponds to land, "factory" corresponds to physical capital, and "worker" corresponds to labor.
Which of the following most limited the outbreak of open war during the Cold War? A.Efforts by the USSR to establish communist governments in Asia B.Nuclear weapons and the threat of mutual assured destruction C.Nonaligned nations that resisted joining opposing sides in the conflict D.Successful independence movements in colonized nations in Africa
Correct Answer: B Option (B) is correct. The threat of the use of nuclear weapons and mutual assured destruction was the most significant deterrence against violent military conflict between the United States and the USSR during the Cold War.
Which TWO of the following reforms were part of the New Deal in the United States during the 1930s? A.Establishing a progressive income tax B.Recognizing the right of workers to bargain collectively C.Guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race D.Creating aid programs for tenant farmers and migrant workers E.Eliminating national origins quotas in immigration
Correct Answer: B, D Options (B) and (D) are correct. During the New Deal, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, also known as the Wagner Act, which guaranteed workers the right to collectively bargain with their employers. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) was established to enforce the law. Congress also passed legislation to help agricultural workers, such as the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933, which sought to create an artificial scarcity of crops in order to raise prices for farm produce. Additionally, Congress created programs like the Farm Security Administration, which sought to improve the standard of living of tenant farmers by resettling them on more suitable farmlands.
Which of the following is an example of a referendum? A.A nonpartisan election for a circuit court judge B.An election in which citizens vote directly for members of a state's senate C.An election in which citizens vote whether or not to support a law that legalizes marijuana D.A statewide election to remove an elected official, such as a governor, from office
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. A referendum is a statewide election that gives voters the power to approve or disapprove proposed legislation.
Which of the following best characterizes the primary purpose of the United Nations intervention in the Korean peninsula in 1950? A.To rebuild Korea after the devastation of decades of Japanese imperial rule B.To enforce the UN policy of democratic government in East Asia C.To prevent North Korea from conquering South Korea and spreading communism D.To eliminate the nuclear threat on the Asian continent
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. After the Second World War, Korea was occupied by the USSR in the north and the United States in the south, resulting in a de facto but not internationally recognized partition. North Korea invaded South Korea in June 1950. The UN security Council identified this as an unlawful invasion and sent UN forces, predominantly from the United States, to preserve the South Korean government and prevent the spread of communism.
Erasmus of Rotterdam is best known as an advocate of which of the following? A. The creation of the Jesuit order B. A formal break with the Catholic Church C. Christian humanism D. Crusades against the Ottoman Turks
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) was a Dutch Christian humanist whose pursuits included the use of new scholarly techniques with ancient texts to produce improved Greek and Latin translations of the Bible.
The Landsat satellite imagery, which shows land cover on the surface of Earth, is an example of which of the following technologies? A.Geographic information systems (GIS) B.Global positioning systems (GPS) C.Remote sensing D.Cartography
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Digital imaging from space satellites is a type of geographic data collection known as remote sensing.
Which of the following best describes the Italian city-states of Milan, Florence, and Venice during the period from 1400 to 1600? A.They were well integrated within a centralized political and economic system centered around Rome. B.They were democratic states ruled by assemblies of citizen legislators, and they tolerated religious dissent. C.They were independent, prosperous urban settlements that competed economically and politically against one another. D.They were decentralized fiefs of the Holy Roman emperor, each ruled by competing vassals who occupied manors farmed by serfs.
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. During the Renaissance the Italian city-states of Milan, Florence and Venice were each independent states with dominant prosperous urban cores. Each city-state differed in its commercial specializations and markets, religious policies, and political environments. They competed with one another in all of these fields.
In which of the following ways did the Black Death most directly affect economic development in medieval Europe? A. It strengthened the dominance of landed elites. B. It introduced the need for slavery. C. It inflated the value of laborers' wages and many commodities. D. It sparked ideas of class-based equality and utopian socialism.
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. High mortality and mobility from the Black Death led directly to scarcity of food and labor, which caused inflation in wages and commodity prices. In Western Europe this contributed to the decline of serfdom and feudalism by 1500.
Which of the following Supreme Court decisions most directly established its power of judicial review? A.Gibbons v Ogden B.McCulloch v Maryland C.Marbury vMadison D.Schenck v United States
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. In 1803 the Supreme Court declared that the courts had the ability to rule on the constitutionality of laws and actions, thereby allowing courts to strike down or reinforce policy, not just apply and interpret it.
When government expenditures exceed tax revenues in any given year, the result will most likely be A.an increase in taxes B.a decrease in taxes C.a budget deficit D.a budget surplus
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. In any given year, if government spending exceeds tax revenues, the budget will be in a deficit.
Which of the following was a primary goal of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs in the 1960s nineteen sixties? A.Increasing United States involvement in foreign affairs B.Curtailing federal government spending C.Reducing poverty in the United States D.Guaranteeing free higher education for all citizens
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. In the 1960s nineteen sixties President Lyndon B. Johnson pushed for the implementation of programs such as Medicare and Medicaid as part of his War on Poverty in the United States.
Which of the following statements best represents a moral justification for the expansion of the United States in the 1800s under the idea of Manifest Destiny? A. The United States could achieve peace with Native Americans living west of the Mississippi River. B. The United States needed to prevent the French from colonizing the Pacific coast of North America. C. The United States should spread civilization and progress to the undeveloped West. D. The United States should ensure that people moving to the West were Catholics.
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Manifest Destiny was a nineteenth-century justification for the expansion of the United States throughout the North American continent. Central to the concept of Manifest Destiny was a strong belief in the virtues of the United States and its institutions.
Which of the following was a cause of the Great Migration of African Americans out of the southern United States in the years following the First World War? A. Racial segregation was not being enforced in the northern and midwestern states. B. The federal government promised free homesteads to African American families in the Midwest. C. Discrimination and violence pushed African Americans to seek employment in the North. D. Heavy recruiting by labor unions encouraged African American workers to move to western states.
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The Great Migration, occurring between the 1910s nineteen tens and 1960s nineteen sixties , was principally motivated by the desire of African Americans to escape segregation and oppression in the southern United States and to seek better job opportunities in the North and the West.
Which of the following best describes the major significance of the 1648 treaty known as the Peace of Westphalia? A. It centralized the governance of the Holy Roman Empire. B. It led to a century of Habsburg domination of European affairs. C. It cemented the nation-state as the source of collective security and international law. D. It reaffirmed the central role played by the Vatican in international affairs.
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The Peace of Westphalia brought an end to the Thirty Years' War (1618-to1648) within the Holy Roman Empire and Eighty Years' War (1568-to1648) between Spain and the Netherlands. The peace began to establish principles of national sovereignty and international law by including provisions recognizing the right of countries to choose whether they would practice Catholicism or Protestantism and recognizing the independence of the Dutch Republic from the Spanish Empire.
In the western United States, the Sierra Nevada influence the downwind climate such that the ecosystem to the east of the mountain range is a A.prairie B.wetland C.desert D.rain forest
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The Sierra Nevada cause a rain shadow effect that results in the leeward areas east of the mountain range receiving little rain, which led to the development of deserts such as Death Valley and the Black Rock Desert.
Which of the following best describes the primary motive of fifteenth-century Portuguese and Spanish explorers for finding a water route to Asia? A.To establish settler colonies in Asia to remedy overpopulation in Europe B.To conquer Muslim states and convert Asia and the Middle East to Christianity C.To circumvent the Middle East to establish direct trade with Asian markets D.To find and take new resources from the Americas to enrich their own governments
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The earliest Spanish and Portuguese explorers were searching for India and China in order to gain direct access to the goods, particularly spices, from those regions. By the fifteenth century, Asia's economies were rich and well-established centers of production of spices, silks, cottons, porcelain, and other valuable commodities.
Jeff earns $10 per hour working at the local bakery. The current consumer price index (CPI) is 125. Based on the information, Jeff's real wage per hour is equal to which of the following? A.$12.50 B.$10.00 C. $8.00 D. $1.25
Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. The real wage is money earned adjusted for inflation. This is calculated by dividing (or deflating) the nominal wage by the current consumer price index in hundredths. The real wage is therefore equal to $10/1.25 = $8
Which of the following types of income taxes imposes the biggest burden on minimum-wage earners? A.Flat B.Progressive C.Proportional D.Regressive
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. A tax is regressive if the percent of income that goes toward the tax increases as a person's income decreases. For example, a tax on necessities would be regressive because low-income families spend a larger percentage of their income on necessities than high-income families.
Which of the following was a Southern advantage over the North during the United States Civil War? A.A larger population B.A developed railroad system C.A stronger industrial base D.A knowledge of local geography
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. As the majority of battles were fought in the South, Confederate forces usually had the tactical advantage of knowing the terrain in areas where battles were to take place.
Which of the following was the most direct political result of the Protestant Reformation? A.Revitalized Christian states resisted the Ottoman Empire's advance. B.The Spanish and Portuguese colonized the Americas. C.Catholic crusaders sacked the Greek Orthodox capital of Constantinople. D.Wars of religion fractured the ideal of Christian unity.
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Between the 1520s and the 1640s Roman Catholic and Protestant princes, nobles, and monarchs frequently fought one another in the European wars of religion. The Peace of Westphalia ended these conflicts in Europe by establishing the right of princes to choose which religious denominations their subjects could follow.
Which of the following represents the most accurate explanation for the spread of Buddhism into Southeast Asia? A. Conquest of the region by imperial powers from the Indian subcontinent B. Missionary activity supported by the Chinese imperial government C. Persecution of Buddhists in Japan resulting in mass emigration D. Extensive trade and mercantile activity within the Indian Ocean basin
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Buddhism spread to Southeast Asia from South Asia, particularly Sri Lanka, via trade and diplomatic ties fostered through the Indian Ocean commercial zone.
Which of the following best illustrates the concept of divided government? A.A state constitution creates a bicameral legislature. B.The federal government shares a responsibility with the state governments. C.In the Senate, all Republicans vote for a bill while all Democrats vote against it. D.Congress has a majority of Republicans while the president is a Democrat.
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Divided government exists when the executive and legislative branches of government or the houses of a bicameral legislature are controlled by different political parties at the same time.
Indentured servitude became a widespread practice in the English North American colonies during the 1600s due primarily to A. the need to employ a growing population of indebted prisoners B. trade restrictions imposed under the Navigation Acts C. rising costs associated with chattel slavery D. the lack of an available supply of labor
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. Due to factors such as the harsh conditions in early English North America, colonies experienced a shortage of labor. European indentured servants were encouraged to emigrate with promises of paid passage to America and land grants after the term of their servitude.
Which of the following is a true comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate? A.The constitutional minimum age for the House is twenty-one years, while it is thirty years for the Senate. B.The length of one term in the House is four years, while the length of one term in the Senate is six years. C.House members may be naturalized citizens, while Senate members must be natural-born citizens. D.House membership is based on the total population of individual states, while Senate membership is based on equal representation from each state.
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The United States Constitution created a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives representation based on individual states' population and the Senate with equal representation of two members for each state.
A decrease in the cost of producing oranges will lead to which of the following changes in the equilibrium quantity and equilibrium price in the orange market? A.A decrease in quantity and an increase in the price of oranges B.A decrease in both the quantity and the price of oranges C.An increase in both the quantity and the price of oranges D.An increase in the quantity and a decrease in the price of oranges
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The decrease in the cost of producing oranges allows sellers to offer more oranges at each possible price, thus causing the supply curve for oranges to shift to the right. With an unchanged demand curve, the result will be a larger equilibrium quantity and a lower equilibrium price for oranges.
The pyramid above is most likely to represent the current population of A.Italy B.Sweden C.the United States D.Mexico
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. The population pyramid shows the age demographics of Mexico, where population growth has stabilized in recent decades.
An increase in business confidence about the profitability of projects leads to an increase in gross domestic product due to an increase in which of the following? A.Imports B.Exports C.Government spending D.Investment spending
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. With an increased level of confidence due to optimistic expectations, businesses will spend more on capital goods. This spending is counted as investment in the national income approach
The invention of the cotton gin in the 1790s most directly resulted in which of the following? A.The election of Thomas Jefferson B.The emergence of the temperance movement C.The outbreak of the War of 1812 D.The increased use of slave labor on plantations
Correct Answer: D Option (D) is correct. With the invention of the cotton gin, the processing of raw cotton became much easier and therefore more profitable. This resulted in the increased cultivation of cotton on southern plantations and increased demand for slave labor to grow, harvest, and process the crop.
Short Essay: "...Matthew Lyon of Fairhaven in the said District of Vermont, being a malicious and seditious person and of a depraved mind and wicked and diabolical disposition and deceitfully wickedly & maliciously contriving to defame the government of the United States and with intent and design to defame the government of the United States and John Adams the President of the United States and to bring the said government and President into contempt and disrepute and with intent and design to excite against the said Government and President the hatred of the good people of the United States and to stir up sedition in the United States..." Indictment of Matthew Lyon, October 5, 1798 Identify the crime Matthew Lyon was accused of in the passage. Identify the legislation passed by the United States government that criminalized Lyon's actions. Using principles found in the United States Constitution, explain how some
Correct responses for Part A may include: Lyon published a newspaper article criticizing John Adams Lyon committed what was then understood as sedition Correct responses for Part B may include: The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1978 Correct responses for Part B may include: Some political figures argued against Mathew Lyon's charges by appealing to the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees the rights of free speech and freedom of the press. Some political figures argues that the charges violated the Constitution because some of the publications took place before the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed.
Short Essay: Describe the pattern of trade represented on the map. Identify one product that was transported on each leg of the route represented on the map. What geographical or climatological factors shaped the pattern of the trade routes represented on the map?
Correct responses for Part A may include: The trade routes form a triangle pattern in which trade runs from North America and the Caribbean to Europe to West Africa and back to the Americas. Correct responses for Part B may include: North America/Caribbean to Europe: tobacco, cotton, rice, sugar Europe to West Africa: manufactured goods, textiles, rum West Africa to North America/South America/Caribbean: slaves Correct responses for Part C may include: Atlantic "trade winds" naturally carried vessels east from the coast of Africa to the Caribbean, and the Gulf Stream brought trade vessels back in a northwestern path across the North Atlantic to Europe.
Short Essay: "[Leeds, England exhibited] the many marks by which a manufacturing town may always be known . . . the wretched, stunted, decrepit, and, frequently, the mutilated appearance of the broken-down labourers, who are generally to be seen in the dirty, disagreeable streets; the swarms of meanly-clad women and children, and the dingy, smoky, wretched-looking dwellings of the poor. . . . We see, on the one hand, a few individuals who have accumulated great wealth by means of the factory system; and, on the other hand, hundreds of thousands of human beings huddled together in attics and cellars, or crawling over the earth as if they did not belong to it." William Dodd, English factory worker, 1842 Describe two economic causes of the conditions described in the passage. Explain how the conflict between wealthy individuals and factory workers characterizes the period in which the passage was written.
Correct responses for Part A may include: Urban areas become more densely populated due to high demand for factory labor. Urban dwellings and living conditions were not well maintained, and tended to be overcrowded due to high population of low wage workers. Increased demand for cheaply and mass-produced manufactured goods. Factory labor was sometimes dangerous or destructive to workers' health, which caused them to endure injuries or chronic medical conditions. Factory labor work spaces were not thoroughly maintained, causing workers to become covered in soot or other by-products on the job. Correct responses for Part B may include: Wage disparities between workers and wealthy factory owners widened during the industrial era in places like England and the United States. Industrial labor was often so dangerous or unsanitary that wage workers looked drastically different than those who amassed wealth from their labor. Living conditions for factory workers were often cramped and dirty, as compared to the living quarters of wealthy individuals. This characterizes the time period as one of economic disparity.
Number of Lanes to Be Added Marginal Cost Marginal Benefit None $0 $0 One $7 million $16 million Two $10 million. $11 million Three $15 million. $8 million A local government is considering adding lanes to a ten-mile stretch of highway to alleviate traffic congestion. Given the data in the table, what is the socially optimal number of lanes the government should add? A.None B.One C.Two D.Three
`Correct Answer: C Option (C) is correct. Benefit is maximized when the marginal benefit of an additional lane is greater than or equal to the marginal cost of building the lane. The government should choose to have two additional lanes built. The third lane will not be chosen because the marginal cost exceeds the marginal benefit for the third lane.
