GED Social Studies Practice Test 1: Reading and Historical Analysis

1) Questions are based on the following graph.

The survey mentions all of the following media EXCEPT

2) Questions are based on the following graph.

The most likely computer user according to the graph would be

3) Questions are based on the following graph.

The dominant medium for children from 2 to 18 is

4) A primary source is an eyewitness account of an event or events in a specific time period. Which would be an example of a primary source of information about life in the 18th-century American colonies?

5) Questions are based on the following graph.

Between 1980 and 1998, weekly earnings fell the most for women with

6) Questions are based on the following graph.

By background, women’s earnings for whites and Hispanics exceeded that of blacks who had

7) Questions are based on the statements made by Speakers A, B, C, D, and E.

Speaker A: Government could not function
very well without them. The flow of
information they provide to Congress
and the federal agencies is vital to the
functioning of our democratic system.

Speaker B: Yes, but the secrecy under which
they generally operate makes me
suspicious that they are influencing
lawmakers in improper ways.

Speaker C: Don’t forget that they not only try to
influence Washington opinion but
also attempt to shape public opinion
across the nation in order to create a
favorable climate for their views.

Speaker D: That’s true. Any politician who
ignores 40,000 letters does so at
great risk. We have to pay attention
to them whether we accept their
views or not.

Speaker E: I agree with Speaker C. Public
opinion is essential to the functioning
of our American way of life.

Which group are the speakers most likely discussing?

8) Questions are based on the statements made by Speakers A, B, C, D, and E.

Speaker A: Government could not function
very well without them. The flow of
information they provide to Congress
and the federal agencies is vital to the
functioning of our democratic system.

Speaker B: Yes, but the secrecy under which
they generally operate makes me
suspicious that they are influencing
lawmakers in improper ways.

Speaker C: Don’t forget that they not only try to
influence Washington opinion but
also attempt to shape public opinion
across the nation in order to create a
favorable climate for their views.

Speaker D: That’s true. Any politician who
ignores 40,000 letters does so at
great risk. We have to pay attention
to them whether we accept their
views or not.

Speaker E: I agree with Speaker C. Public
opinion is essential to the functioning
of our American way of life.

Which speaker is most concerned about the impact of the methods used by this group upon democratic government?

9) Questions are based on the statements made by Speakers A, B, C, D, and E.

Speaker A: Government could not function
very well without them. The flow of
information they provide to Congress
and the federal agencies is vital to the
functioning of our democratic system.

Speaker B: Yes, but the secrecy under which
they generally operate makes me
suspicious that they are influencing
lawmakers in improper ways.

Speaker C: Don’t forget that they not only try to
influence Washington opinion but
also attempt to shape public opinion
across the nation in order to create a
favorable climate for their views.

Speaker D: That’s true. Any politician who
ignores 40,000 letters does so at
great risk. We have to pay attention
to them whether we accept their
views or not.

Speaker E: I agree with Speaker C. Public
opinion is essential to the functioning
of our American way of life.

Which speaker implies that lawmakers frequently must deal with a great many issues about which they know very little?

10) This Question is based on the following cartoon.

Which statement best summarizes the main point of the above cartoon?

11) Questions are based on the following passage.

The people and groups that provide the stimulation and contact necessary for social development—the socializing agents—usually fall into two classes: (1) those people with authority over the individual, such as parents and teachers, and (2) those in positions of equality with him or her—age peers, such as playmates or a circle of friends. Since the family is the socializing agent during the critical first years of life, it naturally has had great influence. But because of the increased specialization of the functions of the family, the rapidity of social change that tends to divide the generations, and the high degree of mobility and social fluidity, the peer group is of growing importance in modern urban life.

Parents, teachers, and age peers share the role of

12) Questions are based on the following passage.

The people and groups that provide the stimulation and contact necessary for social development—the socializing agents—usually fall into two classes: (1) those people with authority over the individual, such as parents and teachers, and (2) those in positions of equality with him or her—age peers, such as playmates or a circle of friends. Since the family is the socializing agent during the critical first years of life, it naturally has had great influence. But because of the increased specialization of the functions of the family, the rapidity of social change that tends to divide the generations, and the high degree of mobility and social fluidity, the peer group is of growing importance in modern urban life.

All of these reasons are given for the increased role of peers in an individual’s social development EXCEPT

13) Questions are based on the following passage.

The people and groups that provide the stimulation and contact necessary for social development—the socializing agents—usually fall into two classes: (1) those people with authority over the individual, such as parents and teachers, and (2) those in positions of equality with him or her—age peers, such as playmates or a circle of friends. Since the family is the socializing agent during the critical first years of life, it naturally has had great influence. But because of the increased specialization of the functions of the family, the rapidity of social change that tends to divide the generations, and the high degree of mobility and social fluidity, the peer group is of growing importance in modern urban life.

The family, in modern urban life, is

14) Questions  refer to the following statements made by Speakers A, B, and C

Speaker A: Increased contact among nations
and peoples is characteristic of
our times. A single decision by
OPEC or a multinational
corporation can send ripples of
change throughout our global
society.

Speaker B: If we are to survive, all
passengers on our Spaceship
Earth must participate in efforts to
solve the issues that threaten
humankind—poverty, resource
depletion, pollution, violence,
and war.

Speaker C: We must understand that no
single culture’s view of the world is
universally shared. Other people
have different value systems and
ways of thinking and acting. They
will not see the world as we do.

Which concept is discussed by both Speakers A and B ?

15) Questions  refer to the following statements made by Speakers A, B, and C

Speaker A: Increased contact among nations
and peoples is characteristic of
our times. A single decision by
OPEC or a multinational
corporation can send ripples of
change throughout our global
society.

Speaker B: If we are to survive, all
passengers on our Spaceship
Earth must participate in efforts to
solve the issues that threaten
humankind—poverty, resource
depletion, pollution, violence,
and war.

Speaker C: We must understand that no
single culture’s view of the world is
universally shared. Other people
have different value systems and
ways of thinking and acting. They
will not see the world as we do.

Speaker C indicates a desire to reduce

16) This Question is based on the following cartoon.

The cartoon is concerned primarily with determining responsibility for which situation?

17) Questions are based on the following chart:

The Preamble to the Constitution states that “We the People of the United States . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This statement embodies the principle of ________

18) Questions are based on the following chart:

In 1920, the U.S. Senate voted against ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. What principle did this vote exemplify?

19) Questions are based on the following chart:

When the Bill of Rights was added to the U.S. Constitution, what principle was given greater strength?

20) Why does supply go up when new technology lowers production costs?

21) Questions are based on the following passage:

Between 1865 and 1870, in the five years following the end of the Civil War, a number of amendments were added to the United States Constitution. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments are collectively known as the Civil War Amendments or the Reconstruction Amendments. These amendments were designed to provide equality under the law for the recently emancipated slaves.

• The Thirteenth Amendment, passed in 1865, abolishes slavery throughout the United States.
• The Fourteenth Amendment, passed in 1868, has four basic provisions:
  1. Defines citizenship and the rights of citizens
  2. Protects voting rights of all citizens or the population basis for representation will be reduced
  3. Bars certain former members of the Confederate government from elected office
  4. Repudiates the public debt obligations of the Confederate government
• Finally, the Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870, extends the right to vote to African American men.

The Fourteenth Amendment declares the following: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Which provision of that amendment does that statement reflect?

Write the provision number in the blank.

22) Questions are based on the following passage:

Between 1865 and 1870, in the five years following the end of the Civil War, a number of amendments were added to the United States Constitution. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth amendments are collectively known as the Civil War Amendments or the Reconstruction Amendments. These amendments were designed to provide equality under the law for the recently emancipated slaves.

• The Thirteenth Amendment, passed in 1865, abolishes slavery throughout the United States.
• The Fourteenth Amendment, passed in 1868, has four basic provisions:
  1. Defines citizenship and the rights of citizens
  2. Protects voting rights of all citizens or the population basis for representation will be reduced
  3. Bars certain former members of the Confederate government from elected office
  4. Repudiates the public debt obligations of the Confederate government
• Finally, the Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870, extends the right to vote to African American men.

The Fourteenth Amendment declares the following: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Which provision of that amendment does that statement reflect?

Which statement best explains the sequence of these amendments?

23) Which level of government has the power to create local governments?

24) This Question is based on the following graph:

Income taxes paid by individuals account for approximately how much more of Internal Revenue Service receipts than business income taxes?

25) The following sentence contains a blank marked 
Select
. Beneath it is a set of choices. Indicate the choice that is correct and belongs in the blank.

The law of supply and demand states that as the price for a product increases, the supply of that product__________________.

26) Questions are based on the following chart:

Based on the information in the chart, which type of economy is most likely the second most productive?

27) Questions are based on the following chart:

Which aspect of the U.S. economy reflects its roots in a capitalist, or market, economic system?

28) Which of the following illustrates a complementary good for dry cleaning, such that a decrease in the price of the good would cause increased demand for that service?

29) Questions are based on the following graph:

How much did the U.S. urban population change from 1950 to 2010?

30) Questions are based on the following graph:

Which decade saw no growth in urbanization?

31) Questions are based on the following maps:

The election of shows the best result for a third-party candidate of the four elections

Write the election year in the blank.

32) Questions are based on the following maps:

Which statement explains why Arizona and New Mexico are not included in the election results in 1908?

33) Questions are based on the following quotation:

“If we apply the principle for which the State of Maryland contends, to the constitution generally, we shall find it capable of changing totally the character of that instrument. We shall find it capable of arresting all the measures of the government, and of prostrating it at the foot of the States. The American people have declared their constitution, and the laws made in pursuance thereof, to be supreme; but this principle would transfer the supremacy, in fact, to the States.

If the States may tax one instrument, employed by the government in the execution of its powers, they may tax any and every other instrument. . . . This was not intended by the American people. They did not design to make their government dependent on the States. . . .

. . The States have no power, by taxation or otherwise, to retard, impede, burden, or in any manner control, the operations of the constitutional laws enacted by Congress to carry into execution the powers vested in the general government. This is, we think, the unavoidable consequence of that supremacy which the constitution has declared.

We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void.”

—Chief Justice John Marshall, McCullough v. Maryland (1819)

In this decision, Chief Justice John Marshall set what precedent?

34) Questions are based on the following quotation:

“If we apply the principle for which the State of Maryland contends, to the constitution generally, we shall find it capable of changing totally the character of that instrument. We shall find it capable of arresting all the measures of the government, and of prostrating it at the foot of the States. The American people have declared their constitution, and the laws made in pursuance thereof, to be supreme; but this principle would transfer the supremacy, in fact, to the States.

If the States may tax one instrument, employed by the government in the execution of its powers, they may tax any and every other instrument. . . . This was not intended by the American people. They did not design to make their government dependent on the States. . . .

. . The States have no power, by taxation or otherwise, to retard, impede, burden, or in any manner control, the operations of the constitutional laws enacted by Congress to carry into execution the powers vested in the general government. This is, we think, the unavoidable consequence of that supremacy which the constitution has declared.

We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void.”

—Chief Justice John Marshall, McCullough v. Maryland (1819)

On which part of the U.S. Constitution did Marshall base his decision?

35) The next Two Questions are based on the following graphs:

Which is the longest river in the United States, and which has the largest drainage basin?

36) The next Two Questions are based on the following graphs:

Which statement best explains why rivers that are longer than other rivers nevertheless may have smaller drainage basins?

37) Next Two Questions are based on the following map:

How and when did the United States gain what is now Florida?

38) Next Two Questions are based on the following map:

Put these four states in the order in which they were acquired

• Florida
• California
• Pennsylvania
• Missouri

Write the correct states in the following box.

39) Next Two Questions are based on the following map:

Which states that are now part of the United States do not appear on this map?

40) This Question is based on the following graph:

Write the price for breakfast sandwiches in this market reaches equilibrium.