C H A P T E R

Practice Exam 2,

56 GED Social
Studies

Directions: Read each question carefully. The questions are multiple choice and may be based on a passage, table,
or illustration. Select the one best answer for each question. Note: On the GED, you are not permitted to write
in the test booklet. Make any notes on a separate piece of paper.

Questions 1 and 2 are based on the following table.

25 Largest Employers in Douglas County

The University of Kansas Institution of higher education that offers undergraduate/graduate
studies and professional training

Pearson Government Solutions Information services company for business, educational,

financial, and professional assessment markets

Lawrence Public Schools City school system

City of Lawrence City government service

Lawrence Memorial Hospital Acute care hospital with skilled nursing unit and broad outpatient program
covering several clinical services

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Hallmark Cards, Inc. Manufactures social expression products

The World Company Operates the Lawrence Journal World daily newspaper and the Sunflower
Broadband cable/internet/telephony company

Baker University Four-year private liberal arts college with a master’s degree program

Amarr Garage Doors Manufacturer of garage door components

K-Mart Distribution Center Distribution center for K-mart retail stores in the Midwest

DCCCA Center Alcohol and drug abuse counseling and information

Berry Plastics Manufacturer of injection molded plastic containers and lids

Douglas County County government services

Allen Press Commercial typesetting, printing, and publishing company for clients in the
scientific, technical, and medical publishing fields

Lawrence Paper Company Manufacturer of corrugated cardboard boxes

Community Living Provides residential and vocational services for adults with severe and
Opportunities, Inc. profound developmental disabilities

Hamm Companies Rock production and sales, highway construction asphalt production, and
waste management

Sauer Danfoss Manufacturer of hydrostatic transmissions and pumps

Cottonwood, Incorporated Cottonwood, Inc. is a provider of employment, residential, and support

services for people with developmental disabilities in Douglas and Jefferson
counties in Kansas

Haskell Indian Nations Native American university operated by the federal government
University

Bert Nash Community Community mental health services

Mental Health Center

Astaris Phosphorus chemicals plant

Westar Energy Electric utility

DST, Inc. Financial processing services

Del Monte Foods Pet food manufacturing plant

1. The table best supports which of the following 2. Which of the following would likely have the
conclusions? biggest negative impact on the economy of
a. Douglas County is a major manufacturing center. Douglas County?
b. Education is a major contributor to the Douglas a. severe cutbacks in government spending
County economy. b. a nationwide newspaper strike
c. Lawrence is the state capital of Kansas. c. an increase in spending on government consultants
d. There are no farms in Douglas County. d. a campaign to promote healthy lifestyles
e. The healthcare system in Douglas County is e. an increase in enrollment at the University of
insufficient for the population. Kansas

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Question 3 is based on the following table.

APPORTIONMENT POPULATION AND NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES,
BY STATE: CENSUS 2000
Number of Apportioned
State Apportionment Population Representatives Based on Census 2000

Alabama 4,461,130 7

Alaska 628,933 1

Arizona 5,140,683 8

Arkansas 2,679,733 4

California 33,930,798 53

Colorado 4,311,882 7

Connecticut 3,409,535 5

Delaware 785,068 1

Florida 16,028,890 25
Georgia 8,206,975 13

Hawaii 1,216,642 2

Idaho 1,297,274 2

Illinois 12,439,042 19

Indiana 6,090,782 9

Iowa 2,931,923 5

Kansas 2,693,824 4

Kentucky 4,049,431 6

Louisiana 4,480,271 7

Maine 1,277,731 2

Maryland 5,307,886 8

Massachusetts 6,355,568 10

Michigan 9,955,829 15

Minnesota 4,925,670 8
Mississippi 2,852,927 4

Missouri 5,606,260 9

Montana 905,316 1

Nebraska 1,715,369 3

Nevada 2,002,032 3

New Hampshire 1,238,415 2

New Jersey 8,424,354 13

New Mexico 1,823,821 3

New York 19,004,973 29

North Carolina 8,067,673 13

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North Dakota 643,756 1

Ohio 11,374,540 18

Oklahoma 3,458,819 5

Oregon 3,428,543 5

Pennsylvania 12,300,670 19

Rhode Island 1,049,662 2

South Carolina 4,025,061 6

South Dakota 756,874 1

Tennessee 5,700,037 9

Texas 20,903,994 32

Utah 2,236,714 3

Vermont 609,890 1

Virginia 7,100,702 11

Washington 5,908,684 9

West Virginia 1,813,077 3

Wisconsin 5,371,210 8

Wyoming 495,304 1

Total Apportionment Population1 281,424,177 435

1
Includes the resident population for the 50 states, as ascertained by the Twenty-Second Decennial Census under
Title 13, United States Code, and counts of overseas U.S. military and federal civilian employees (and their
dependents living with them) allocated to their home state, as reported by the employing federal agencies. The
apportionment population excludes the population of the District of Columbia.
NOTE: As required by the January 1999 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (Department of Commerce v. House of Repre-
sentatives, 525 U.S. 316, 119 S. Ct. 765 (1999)), the apportionment population counts do not reflect the use of sta-
tistical sampling to correct for overcounting or undercounting.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau.

3. Which of the following is used to determine the

number of representatives each state is allotted in
the House of Representatives?
a. the population of the state
b. the distance of the state from Washington D.C.
c. the amount of taxes the state pays to the federal
government
d. the size of the state, in square miles
e. the number of senators each state is allotted

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Questions 4–6 are based on the following campaign poster 4. The campaign poster suggests that voters in 1872
and paragraph. were most concerned about
a. the corruption of the first Grant administration.
b. Grant’s record as a Civil War hero.
c. whether Reconstruction should continue.
d. which candidate was more patriotic.
e. which candidates could best relate to their
concerns.

5. Greeley’s campaign accused Grant of corruption.

Based on the campaign poster, how did Grant
respond to these accusations?
a. He accused Greeley of making dishonest
accusations.
b. He argued that he could not be corrupt because
he had once been a tanner.
c. He chose not to address the accusations.
d. He refuted Greeley’s accusation point by point.
e. He accused Greeley, a newspaperman, of
corrupt business practices.

6. People who voted for Grant in 1872 almost cer-

tainly expected that a Grant victory would have
which of the following results?
a. Reconstruction would continue.
b. Grant and Wilson would rebuild the White
House.
c. Horace Greeley would be offered a position in
the Grant administration.
In 1872, Ulysses S. Grant ran for the presidency as d. The Radical Republicans and Liberal
the incumbent. Grant was the leader of the Rad- Republicans would split permanently.
ical Republicans, a faction of the Republican Party e. Grant would start a new war with the South.
that felt the South should continue to be punished
for its rebellion during the Civil War. His oppo-
nent, Horace Greeley, was also a Republican.
Greeley believed that the South had suffered
enough for the war and that Congress should end
Reconstruction, a program under which federal
troops occupied the South. Greeley formed the
Liberal Republican Party; the Democratic Party
also adopted Greeley as its candidate. Greeley’s
campaign attempted to paint the first Grant
administration as deeply corrupt; this strategy
failed with voters, and Grant won the election of
1872 in a landslide.

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Question 7 refers to the following photograph. 8. Isolationism refers to the national policy of avoid-
ing political or economic relations with other
countries. Which of the following is an example of
American isolationist policy?
a. the Neutrality Act of 1935, an arms embargo
designed to try to keep the United States out of
a European war
b. bombing al-Qaeda training camps in
Afghanistan after the terrorist attack on the
World Trade Center
c. the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Cuban
leader Fidel Castro in 1961
d. joining with 11 nations to form the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949
“Following evacuation orders, this store was closed. The
e. the Open Door Policy, a policy that allowed all
owner, a University of California graduate of Japanese
descent, placed the I AM AN AMERICAN sign on the storefront countries equal trading rights in China in the
after Pearl Harbor.” late 1800s
—Dorothea Lange, Oakland, CA, April 1942
Source: National Archives and Records Administration.
Questions 9–11 are based on the following passage.

7. Which of the following statements would the pho- Even though acid rain looks, feels, and even tastes
tographer most likely support? like clean rainwater, it contains high levels of pollu-
a. People of Japanese descent feel loyal to Japan tants. Scientists believe car exhaust and smoke from
first, the United States second. factories and power plants are the main causes of
b. The store owner felt that his rights as an acid rain, but natural sources like gases from forest
American citizen were denied. fires and volcanoes may also contribute to the prob-
c. The security of the majority outweighs the lem. Pollutants mix in the atmosphere to form fine
rights of a minority. particles that can be carried long distances by wind.
d. Japanese Americans were not established Eventually they return to the ground in the form of
members of the community. rain, snow, fog, or other precipitation. Acid rain
e. Unusual measures like internment camps are damages trees and causes the acidification of lakes
necessary during wartime. and streams, contaminating drinking water and
damaging aquatic life. It erodes buildings, paint, and
monuments. It can also affect human health.
Although acid rain does not directly harm people,
high levels of the fine particles in acid rain are linked
to an increased risk for asthma and bronchitis. Since
the 1950s, the increase of acid rain has become a
problem in the northeastern United States, Canada,
and western Europe. Some believe it is the single
greatest industrial threat to the environment,
although most feel that the emission of greenhouse
gases is a far larger problem.

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9. Which of the following natural resources is least 12. The data in the table supports which of the follow-
likely to be affected by acid rain? ing conclusions?
a. animal life a. By 1820, there were no more slaves in the North.
b. plant life b. Between 1820 and 1860, millions of freed slaves
c. coal reserves emigrated from the South to the North.
d. water c. Prior to the Civil War, there were no free African
e. forests Americans in the South.
d. Between 1820 and 1860, there were many more
10. Which of the following is NOT a cause of acid African Americans in the South than in the
rain? North.
a. human activity e. Most free African Americans in the South lived
b. natural phenomena in the state of Virginia.
c. volcanoes
d. lakes and streams Question 13 refers to the following campaign poster.
e. traffic

11. Which of the following is an OPINION stated in

the passage?
a. Acid rain is formed when pollutants mix in the
atmosphere.
b. Acid rain damages trees, lakes, and streams.
c. Acid rain cannot be distinguished from
unpolluted rain by sight, smell, or taste.
d. No industrial pollutant causes more damage to
the environment than acid rain.
e. Acid rain does not directly harm humans,
although its effects can contribute to some 13. Which of the following questions would be most
health problems. useful in determining the value of the information
presented on Governor Montanez’ campaign sign?
Question 12 is based on the following table. a. What is Bill Wyoming’s definition of “great”?
b. What qualifies Bill Wyoming to predict the
quality of a future governor?
Free African Americans in the North and
c. How good a season did Bill Wyoming have last
South, 1820 to 1860
year?
1820 1840 1860 d. Does Bill Wyoming live in Sylvia Montanez’
state?
United States 233,504 386,303 488,070
e. What happens if a person forgets to vote on
North 99,281 170,728 226,152 Election Day?
(83.9%) (99.3%) (100%)

South 134,223 215,575 261,918

(8.1%) (8.0%) (6.2%)
*Percentages in parentheses represent percentage of total African
American population.

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Questions 14–15 refer to the following graph. undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be
made available to all on equal terms.
“We come then to the question presented: Does
segregation of children in public schools solely on
the basis of race, even though the physical facilities
and other ‘tangible’ factors may be equal, deprive the
children of the minority group of equal educational
opportunities? We believe that it does.”
—U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren in a
1954 decision that ruled that separate schools for
African Americans and whites as unconstitutional
Source: Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, Brown v.
Board of Education of Topeka.

14. According to the map, what is the primary climate 16. Which of the following is NOT a value of educa-
of the northern third of Africa? tion as expressed in the quotation?
a. tropical wet a. to expose children to music and the arts
b. steppe b. to explain the government’s education budget
c. subtropical humid c. to prepare those who might serve the country as
d. desert soldiers
e. highlands d. to produce good citizens
e. to give children a chance to succeed at life
15. It can be inferred from the map that the Mediter-
ranean Sea borders 17. According to the passage, how might the Court
a. the west coast of Africa. define “equal educational opportunity”?
b. the southern tip of Africa. a. schools with the same quality of teaching
c. the southeastern coast of Africa. b. schools with the same quality of facilities and
d. the northeastern coast of Africa. materials
e. the northern coast of Africa. c. schools that only admit students based on sex
d. schools that separate minority students to give
Questions 16–18 are based on the following quotation. them a better chance
e. schools that are of the same quality and
“Today, education is perhaps the most important welcome all students regardless of race
function of state and local governments. Compulsory
school attendance laws and the great expenditures for 18. Chief Justice Warren most likely mentions compul-
education both demonstrate our recognition of the sory school attendance and government spending
importance of education to our democratic society. on education in order to
It is required in the performance of our most basic a. argue that the government should reduce its
public responsibilities, even service in the armed efforts in the field of education.
forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. b. support the position that segregated schools are
Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the not inherently unequal.
child to cultural values, in preparing him for later c. encourage young Americans to remain in school
professional training, and in helping him to adjust long enough to get a high school diploma.
normally to his environment. In these days, it is d. give examples of situations in which the
doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected government can force people to do things they
to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an don’t want to do.
education. Such an opportunity, where the state has e. strengthen the argument that education is a
critical function of government.

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Question 19 is based on the following passage. year in which the line is above 0%. When the govern-
ment spends more than it collects, it operates at a
The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, deficit. In the graph, the government operated at a
“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy deficit for every year in which the line is below 0%.
the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial
jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall 20. In what year between 1930 and 2002 did the fed-
have been committed, which district shall have been eral government operate with the greatest budget
previously ascertained by law,and to be informed of the deficit?
nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted a. 1930
with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory b. 1945
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have c. 1951
the Assistance of Counsel for his defence[sic].” d. 1994
e. 1999
19. Which of the following instances is NOT protected
by the Sixth Amendment? 21. In 1932, while campaigning for president, Franklin
a. a person accused of a crime silently prays before D. Roosevelt said the following:
his trial begins “If the Nation is living within its income, its credit
b. a person accused of drug trafficking hires a is good. If, in some crises, it lives beyond its income for
lawyer to defend him a year or two, it can usually borrow temporarily at
c. a trial is moved to another area because no reasonable rates. But if, like a spendthrift, it throws
jurors could be found who had not heard of the discretion to the winds, and is willing to make no sac-
crime and had an opinion about who rifice at all in spending; if it extends its taxing to the
committed it limit of the people’s power to pay and continues to
d. a lawyer informs an accused person of her charges pile up deficits, then it is on the road to bankruptcy.”
e. a lawyer cross-examines witnesses who testify
In 1981, Ronald Reagan made the following state-
against her client
ment during his Inaugural Address:
“For decades, we have piled deficit upon deficit,
Questions 20–21 are based on the following graph and text.
mortgaging our future and our children’s future for
the temporary convenience of the present. To con-
tinue this long trend is to guarantee tremendous
Federal Budget Surplus/Deficit, 1930—2002
10 social, cultural, political, and economic upheavals.”
5
Roosevelt was president from 1932 to 1945. Reagan
Percent Surplus/Deficit

0
was president from 1981 to 1988. Which of the fol-
-5
-10
lowing conclusions is supported by the graph and
-15 the quotations?
-20 a. All presidential candidates make promises they
-25 do not intend to keep.
-30 b. If a president cares enough about federal
-35 deficits, he or she can force the government to
19 4
19 0
19 4
19 8
19 2
19 6
19 0
19 4
19 8
19 2
19 6
19 0
19 4
19 8
19 2
19 6
90

98
02
9
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
7
7
7
8
8

19

operate on a surplus.
19

20

c. Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt pursued

Each year the federal government collects revenues in virtually identical agendas during their
the form of taxes and other fees. It also spends money presidencies.
on such necessary functions as national defense, edu- d. Despite their best intentions, it is often difficult
cation, and healthcare. When the government col- for presidents to control federal deficits.
lects more than it spends, it operates at a surplus. In the e. If the United States does not end its deficit spend-
graph, the government operated at a surplus for every ing soon, it will be bankrupt by the year 2015.

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Questions 22–23 are based on the following photograph

and map.

The photograph and map depict the Great Wall of China,

built during the late 1400s and early 1500s.

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22. What is the approximate total length of all seg- 25. An island in Southern Indonesia, Bali has a hot
ments of the Great Wall of China? and humid climate and volcanic soil that is good
a. 600 miles for farming rice, but much of the island is hilly. To
b. 1,000 miles solve this problem, Balinese rice farmers use which
c. 3,000 miles of the techniques also employed by the Aztecs?
d. 6,000 miles a. land reclamation
e. 10,000 miles b. land terracing
c. irrigation
23. For what purpose was the Great Wall of China d. landfill
most likely built? e. deforestation
a. to provide protection from military invaders
from the north Questions 26–27 refer to the following passage.
b. to provide protection from military invaders
from the south The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly give the
c. to create a tourist attraction that would bring power of judicial review to the Supreme Court. In
international travelers to China fact, the Court did not use this power—which gives
d. to protect Beijing from flooding rivers it the authority to invalidate laws and executive
e. to create jobs for Chinese masons actions if they conflict with the Constitution—until
the 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison. In that case,
Questions 24–25 are based on the following passage. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that a statute was
unconstitutional. He argued that judicial review was
The Aztec empire of the thirteenth and fourteenth necessary if the Court was to fulfill its duty of
centuries was based on an agricultural economy. upholding the Constitution. Without it, he felt that
The Valley of Mexico—a fertile basin with five the legislature would have a “real and practical
lakes in its center—provided land for farming. omnipotence.” Moreover, several of the Constitu-
However, as the population of the empire grew, tion’s framers expected the Court to act in this way.
the Aztecs needed to make more land suitable for Alexander Hamilton and James Madison empha-
agriculture. To do this, they developed irrigation sized the importance of judicial review in the Feder-
(a system that carries water through dams and alist Papers, a series of essays promoting the adoption
canals to use for farming) and formed terraces (a of the Constitution. However, the power of judicial
process that cuts “steps” into hillsides to make flat review continues to be a controversial power because
surfaces for farming). They also practiced land it allows the justices—who are appointed rather than
reclamation, turning swamps and wet areas into elected—to overturn laws made by Congress and
land that can be cultivated. state lawmaking bodies.

24. What factor caused the Aztecs to develop agricul- 26. Which of the following statements is an implica-
tural innovations? tion of judicial review?
a. The empire shifted from an agriculture-based a. The Constitution is a historic document with
economy to an industrial one. little influence over how the government
b. Annual flooding created rich soil, but the lakes operates today.
could not sustain crops the rest of the year. b. The Constitution must explicitly state which
c. An increase in population created a need for branch of government is to have what authority.
land for more housing. c. The framers never meant for the Supreme Court
d. A growing population resulted in increased food to have this power.
demands. d. If Supreme Court justices were elected, the
e. Mountain ranges on either side of the central power of judicial review would be justified.
plateau of Mexico made transportation difficult. e. The Constitution is a living document that
continues to be interpreted.

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27. Which of the following best describes the process Questions 29–31 are based on the following table and text.
of judicial review?
a. to declare a law unconstitutional INCOME PER CITIZEN, 2006
b. to follow public opinion polls Per Capita
c. to determine the country’s changing needs Income PPP Income
(US Dollars) (US Dollars)
d. to propose new laws
e. to adapt the Constitution to what the Court Luxembourg 80,288 69,800
feels is right Norway 64,193 42,364

Iceland 52,764 35,115

Question 28 is based on the following line graph.
Switzerland 50,532 32,571

Population of India, 1700 to 2050 (estimated), in millions

Ireland 48,604 40,610
1800
Denmark 47,984 34,740
1600
Qatar 43,110 29,000
People (millions)

1400

1200
United States 42,000 41,399
1000

800
Sweden 39,694 32,200
600 Netherlands 38,618 32,100
400

200 Economists use several measures to calculate the

0 income of the average citizen of each country. Data
00

25

50

75

00

25

50

75

00

25

50

75

00

25

50

documenting each citizen’s personal income is rarely

17

17

17

17

18

18

18

18

19

19

19

19

20

20

20

available, unfortunately, so economists must esti-

28. All of the following might explain the change in mate personal income by dividing gross domestic
India’s population from 1950 to 2000 EXCEPT product (GDP)—the value of all the goods and
a. advances in healthcare. services produced in a country—by the number of
b. improvements to national sanitation services. citizens. This figure gives an inaccurate picture of
c. a dramatic increase in per capita income. how citizens live, however, because it fails to take into
d. a series of severe weather events, such as account the cost of goods and services in a country.
earthquakes and hurricanes. A second measure, called purchasing power parity
e. wide distribution of vaccines for contagious (PPP), adjusts for the domestic cost of goods to pro-
diseases. vide a more accurate picture of what each citizen’s
money will buy him or her. For the sake of compar-
ison, both measures are calculated in U.S. dollars.
The table shows the figures for ten of the world’s
wealthiest nations in 2006.

29. Which of the following would best explain the dif-

ference between per capita income and PPP
income in Norway?
a. Consumer goods are extremely costly in
Norway.
b. Many consumer goods are available in Norway.
c. Norway must import most of its consumer
goods from Asia.
d. Services are relatively cheap in Norway.
e. Norway does not produce its own fuel.

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30. Which of the following would be an effect of list- 32. What does the author of this passage believe?
ing nations in descending order by PPP income a. The U.S. government was faithful to its treaties
rather than by per capita income? with American Indians.
a. Luxembourg would no longer be at the top of b. American Indians made up a homogenous
the list. group.
b. It would be more difficult to determine where c. The European settlers were responsible for the
citizens can buy the most goods and services decimation of native people.
with their income. d. Native cultures were unsophisticated.
c. Countries not currently on the list would have e. The Europeans benefited from contact with
to be included. native cultures.
d. The United States would move from eighth on
the list to a higher position. Questions 33–34 are based on the following passage.
e. The table would better support the argument
that Qatar is the world’s wealthiest nation.

31. What is the most likely reason that the author finds
it “unfortunate” that “data documenting each citi-
zen’s personal income is rarely available”?
a. The author believes that such data should be
private and should never be available.
b. The author believes that estimates based on
gross domestic product are extremely accurate.
c. The author believes that such data would
demonstrate that citizens of the United States
are the wealthiest in the world.
d. The data would eliminate the necessity for econ-
omists to calculate purchasing power parity.
e. The data would provide a more accurate picture
of personal income in each country.

Question 32 is based on the following passage.

33. The cartoonist would probably agree with which of
When European settlers arrived on the North Amer- the following statements?
ican continent at the end of the fifteenth century, they a. The vice presidency is the second-most
encountered diverse American Indian cultures—as important position in the government.
many as 900,000 inhabitants with over 300 different b. Presidents should travel by elephant.
languages. These people, whose ancestors crossed the c. The vice presidency is not an important
land bridge from Asia in what may be considered the government office.
first North American immigration, were virtually d. Everyone should dress in a top hat and a
destroyed by the subsequent immigration that cre- waistcoat.
ated the United States. This tragedy is the direct result e. Elephants do not belong in Washington, D.C.
of treaties, written and broken by foreign govern-
ments, of warfare, and of forced assimilation.
Source: The Library of Congress, American Memory.

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34. The cartoon shows Theodore Roosevelt, a presi- 36. Which of the following is an opinion based on the
dential candidate in 1904, and Joseph Cannon, a data in the graph?
man whom Roosevelt wanted for his vice presi- a. About 40 percent of all Americans were between
dent. What is the most likely explanation for why the ages of 25 and 54 in 1930.
Roosevelt is riding an elephant? b. In 1950, the number of Americans under the
a. The elephant is a universal symbol of wealth age of 25 was roughly equal to the number of
and prosperity. Americans between the ages of 25 and 54.
b. Roosevelt was the Republican candidate for c. The current trend suggests that the population
president. of the United States is growing old too quickly.
c. Roosevelt was born in India, a place where it is d. More than half of all Americans were under the
not unusual for people to ride elephants. age of 25 in 1900.
d. Roosevelt was well known as a champion of e. Americans under the age of 25 made up a
animal rights. greater portion of the population in 1970 than
e. Joseph Cannon worked as an elephant keeper in they did in 1960.
a zoo.
Questions 37–38 are based on the following map and
Questions 35 and 36 refer to the following graph. passage.

Americans by Age Group, 1900 to 2000 The map on page 571 shows the political borders


of European nations before the start of World War
   
   I (the map on the left) and after the war concluded


 
(the map on the right).



  



At the end of World War I, Germany was required to




sign the Treaty of Versailles, which required Germany
to accept responsibility for causing the war. The



treaty also required Germany to pay the victor





 
 
 
 
 
 







nations over 6 million pounds in reparations and to
cede some of its land, including its valuable coal
mines on the German-French border. In addition,
35. Which of the following conclusions is supported
Germany had to give up all of her colonies, which
by the data in the graph?
had provided her with a steady source of income.
a. Americans are less healthy in 2000 than they
Finally, strict limitations were placed on the size and
were in 1900.
weaponry of the German military, and the country
b. The age of the average American has increased
was forbidden from entering into an alliance with
since 1900.
neighboring Austria.
c. The average American earns more in 2000 than
he or she did in 1900.
d. The number of Americans under the age of 24
has decreased since 1900.
e. The population of the United States was the
same in 2000 as it was in 1900.

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37. Which country increased in size at the conclusion 38. Which of the following is a FACT about the Treaty
of World War I? of Versailles?
a. Austria-Hungary a. The Treaty of Versailles harmed the German
b. Norway economy.
c. Rumania (Romania) b. Germany deserved the harsh terms of the treaty
d. Ireland because Germany started the war.
e. Serbia c. If the Treaty of Versailles had been fairer to Ger-
many, the Nazis never would have gained power.
d. The United States was the country that
benefited the most from the Treaty of Versailles.
e. Germany should have been allowed to keep the
coal mines along its border with France.

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Questions 39–40 are based on the following passage. Questions 41–42 refer to the following passage.

Like so many other exploration stories, the Lewis and About the time of World War I, sharp-eyed entre-
Clark journey was shaped by the search for naviga- preneurs began . . . to see ways to profit from the
ble rivers, inspired by the quest for Edens, and driven motorist’s freedom . . . Shops could be set up almost
by competition for empire. Thomas Jefferson was anywhere the law allowed, and a wide variety of
motivated by these aspirations when he drafted products and services could be counted on to sell
instructions for his explorers, sending them up the briskly in the roadside marketplace. A certain num-
Missouri River in search of a passage to the Pacific. ber of cars passing by would always be in need of gas.
Writing to William Dunbar just a month after Lewis Travelers eventually grew hungry, tired, and restless
and Clark left Fort Mandan, Jefferson emphasized for diversions. Soon gas stations, produce booths,
the importance of rivers in his plan for western hot dog stands, and tourist camps sprouted up along
exploration and national expansion.“We shall delin- the nation’s roadsides to capitalize on these needs. As
eate with correctness the great arteries of this great competition increased, merchants looked for new
country.” River highways could take Americans into ways to snag the new market awheel. Each sign and
an Eden, Jefferson’s vision of the West as the “Garden building had to visually shout: “Slow down, pull in,
of the World.” And those same rivers might be and buy.” Still more businesses moved to the high-
nature’s outlines and borders for empire. “Future way—supermarkets, motor courts, restaurants,
generations would,” so the president told his friend, miniature golf courses, drive-in theaters. By the early
“fill up the canvas we begin.” 1950s, almost anything could be bought along the
Source: Library of Congress, Exhibits, “Rivers, Edens, roadside.
Empires: Lewis & Clark and the Revealing of America.” Source: Chester H. Liebs, excerpt from Main Street to Miracle
Mile. Little, Brown and Company, 1985.
39. Which of the following was NOT one of Jefferson’s
goals in sponsoring the Lewis and Clark 41. What is the main idea of the passage?
expedition? a. Miniature golf was a very popular sport in the
a. finding a waterway to the Pacific Ocean 1950s.
b. mapping uncharted territory b. Travelers were looking for sources of
c. setting aside vast tracts of land for native people entertainment.
d. discovery of unspoiled plant and animal life c. Some highway businesses were more successful
e. creation of an empire than others.
d. Flashy commercial enterprises sprouted along
40. Which historical idea best summarizes Jefferson’s highways, eager to profit from travelers.
attitude toward the West? e. The first businesses to flourish along the
a. Separation of Powers highways were gas stations and hot dog stands.
b. Manifest Destiny
c. Pursuit of Happiness 42. Given the information in this passage, what
d. Good Neighbor Policy appeared to be an important post-World War II
e. Separate but Equal trend in the United States?
a. train travel
b. car culture
c. historic preservation
d. downtown renewal
e. environmentalism

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Question 43 is based on the following map.

43. The area conquered by Genghis Khan is best 44. Which of the following statements is a FACT
described as found in the circle graph?
a. Persia. a. The United States spends too much on Social
b. Europe. Security.
c. Arabia. b. National defense is the single largest expense in
d. Southeast Asia. the federal budget.
e. Central Asia. c. The federal government spends more on health
than it spends on education.
Questions 44 and 45 are based on the following graph. d. Increased spending on public transportation
would benefit the environment.
President’s Proposed Federal Budget, 2008
e. More than half the federal budget is spent on
education.
Veterans benefits
and services 3%
45. The data in the circle graph does NOT support
Transportation 3%
Other which of the following conclusions?
Education, training, 5%
employment, and a. “Other” expenses include spending on interest
social services Social Security on the national debt.
3% Net interest 21%
9% b. Transportation constitutes a relatively small
portion of the federal budget.
Health
10%
c. National defense is an important priority for the
National defense
19% federal government.
Income
security
d. The federal government spends more on
13% Medicare income security than it spends on net interest.
14% e. Social Security, national defense, and Medicare
together account for over half the federal
budget.

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Questions 46–47 are based on the following passage. 48. Capital gains tax is money paid to the federal gov-
ernment out of profits from the sale of financial
The Cuban Missile Crisis began in 1962 when U.S. assets, like property (land or buildings) or stocks.
spy planes spotted Soviet missile installations under For which of the following would you need to pay
construction in Cuba. The missiles were capable of capital gains tax?
carrying nuclear weapons and were within range of a. cigarettes
major U.S. cities. A 13-day standoff began, during b. groceries
which President Kennedy imposed a naval blockade c. your mortgage
of Cuba and demanded that the Soviets remove the d. your wages
weapons. Kennedy stated that any missile attack e. a profitable real estate sale
from Cuba would be regarded as an attack from the
Soviet Union and would be responded to accord- Questions 49–50 are based on the following illustration
ingly. Khrushchev later conceded, agreeing to and text.
remove the weapons if, in return, the United States
pledged not to invade the island. Details from U.S.
and Soviet declassified files and participants in the
crisis have surfaced since the incident. Unknown to
the U.S. government at the time, 40,000 Soviet sol-
diers were stationed in Cuba and armed with
nuclear weapons. Although Khrushchev’s actions
helped to avert nuclear war, they made him appear
weak to younger Soviet leaders who ousted him from
power. Historians regard the crisis as the world’s
closest brush with the threat of nuclear war.

46. According to the information given in this passage,

it is most likely that President Kennedy
a. viewed this as a regional crisis solely between In 1754, representatives of the American colonies
the United States and Cuba. met to discuss their common defense and strategies
b. trusted Soviet officials who said there weren’t for improving relations with American Indian
any missiles in Cuba. tribes. At the meeting, Benjamin Franklin proposed
c. believed that the conflict was principally closer relations among the colonies. His proposal
between the United States and the Soviet Union. called for a single executive and a colonial legisla-
d. viewed the situation as serious but felt it could ture to handle such matters of mutual interest as
be managed with diplomacy. taxes, defense against the French, and American
e. felt confident about how Khrushchev would Indian relations. To promote his plan, Franklin
respond. printed the illustration in his newspaper, The Penn-
sylvania Gazette. In an accompanying editorial, he
47. Which of the following conclusions can you make complained about “the present disunited State of
based on the passage? the British Colonies, and the extreme Difficulty of
a. Kennedy’s first concern during the crisis was the bringing so many different Governments and
appeal of Communist ideas. Assemblies to agree in any speedy and effectual
b. Nuclear war is the only way to win a cold war. Measures for our common Defence and Security;
c. Kennedy knew that Khrushchev would back while our Enemies have the very great Advantage of
down. being under one Direction, with one Council, and
d. Khrushchev’s popularity increased at home. one Purse. Hence, and from the great Distance of
e. The U.S. government did not know the full Britain, they presume that they may with Impunity
extent of the Soviet threat at the time. violate the most solemn Treaties subsisting between

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the two Crowns . . . murder and scalp our Farmers, unemployment rate and reduce the amount of
with their Wives and Children . . . which if they are money circulating in the local economy.
permitted to do, must end in the Destruction of the 3. a. The table shows that apportionment in the
British Interest, Trade and Plantations in America.” House of Representatives is based on popula-
Franklin’s plan was rejected by both the King and tion; the larger the population of a state, the
the American colonies. larger its delegation to the House of Represen-
tatives. Choice c is disproven by the example of
49. In Franklin’s cartoon, the pieces of the snake Alaska; although it is the largest state in terms
represent of square mileage, it has a relatively small dele-
a. the French army. gation in the House of Representatives.
b. various American Indian tribes. 4. e. This campaign poster portrays Grant and Wil-
c. the English King and Parliament. son as working people. The subtext of the poster
d. various colonial newspapers. is that Grant and Wilson understand the com-
e. the British colonies. mon American and will represent his or her
interests. It also implies that Grant’s opponent,
50. In his editorial, Franklin makes all of the following Greeley, does not understand the common
criticisms of the system under which American American, because a campaign poster tries to
colonies governed themselves EXCEPT which of persuade voters to choose one candidate over
the following? another based on the candidate’s perceived
a. The system makes it impossible for the colonies advantage in a particular area. The poster
to rebel against British rule. ignores corruption (choice a), Grant’s war
b. The system is inefficient. record (choice b), Reconstruction (choice c),
c. The system makes it difficult for the colonies to and patriotism (choice d), so it could not suggest
defend themselves. that voters were concerned about those issues.
d. It is too easy for the French to take advantage of 5. c. The poster does not address the issue of corrup-
weaknesses in the system. tion, suggesting that Grant’s strategy for dealing
e. The system is doomed to fail. with the accusations was to ignore them.
6. a. Grant was the candidate of the Radical Republi-
cans, a faction of the Republican Party that sup-

Answers ported the continuation of Reconstruction.
Thus, voters who chose Grant in 1872 would
1. b. The University of Kansas and the Douglas Pub- have expected Reconstruction to continue into
lic Schools are among the two top employers in his second term.
Douglas County. Manufacturing (choice a) rep- 7. b. Lange’s image draws a powerful contrast
resents only a small segment of the local econ- between the grocery owner’s proud statement
omy. The data in the table cannot support “I AM AN AMERICAN” and the “SOLD” sign
choices c, d, and e, because the table tells only above. It is likely that she felt he was being “sold
how many people are employed by various out” by his country and that his rights as an
large employers. Choice c is factually incorrect; American citizen were denied.
Topeka is the capital of Kansas. 8. a. An example of American isolationist policy is
2. a. A cutback in government spending would have the 1935 Neutrality Act, because it was an
a negative impact on public education (the instance of avoiding political and economic
University of Kansas and Douglas Public alliances with other countries.
Schools) and on the Lawrence city government. 9. c. All of these natural resources are negatively
Together these employers account for a sub- affected by acid rain except coal reserves. The
stantial portion of the Douglas workforce. passage identifies coal burning as a source of
Spending cutbacks could result in layoffs and acid rain. It does not say that coal reserves are
pay cuts, which in turn would increase the harmed by acid rain.

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10. d. Lakes and streams are affected by acid rain, but a), prepares them for service in the armed
do not cause it. forces (choice c), teaches them their civic
11. d. Choices a, b, c, and e are facts stated in the pas- responsibilities (choice d), and provides profes-
sage. Only choice d is an opinion; it draws a sional training (choice e). The amount of
comparison that can be reasonably argued. In money the government spends on education
fact, the passage notes that choice d is the sub- shows that people care about education; it is
ject of some debate. According to the final sen- not, however, a value of education as previously
tence of the passage, many people believe that defined.
greenhouse gas emissions, not acid rain, are the 17. e. The Court’s decision states that a similar level
greatest source of concern. of “physical facilities and other ‘tangible’ fac-
12. d. According to the table, there were more free tors” is not enough to offer equal educational
African Americans in the South than in the opportunity. You can infer that the Court
North. In the South, free African Americans believes schools should also welcome students
made up only a small portion of the total of all races.
African American population; according to the 18. e. By pointing out that the government requires
table, over 90% of southern African Americans students to attend school, Warren makes the
were slaves. This means that there were well point that American society places a strong
over 1 million African Americans in the South emphasis on the need for a good education.
between 1820 and 1860. Therefore, the table Similarly, government spending on education
supports the conclusion that there were many indicates that education is a major priority in
more African Americans in the South than in American society. Both of these facts support
the North between 1820 and 1860. the argument that education is a critical func-
13. b. The campaign poster suggests that voters tion of government.
should choose Governor Montanez because 19. a. Prayer is protected by the First Amendment,
professional quarterback Bill Wyoming thinks which protects the freedom of religion.
Montanez would be a great governor. This is 20. b. The graph shows that the federal government
typical of endorsement advertisements, which operated at approximately a 30% deficit in
try to persuade voters by associating the candi- 1945. This is by far the largest deficit shown on
date with a popular figure. To determine the graph.
whether the information on the poster is valu- 21. d. Both Roosevelt and Reagan promised to avoid
able in determining whether to vote for Mon- deficit spending, yet both generated budget
tanez, the voter should ask herself whether deficits throughout their presidencies. Thus, the
Wyoming has any expertise in the field of gov- quotes and the data in the graph support the
erning. Why should the voter care who Bill conclusion that presidents have a hard time
Wyoming thinks would make a great governor controlling federal deficits. Choice a is incorrect
if Wyoming is not an expert in this area? because it indicates that both Roosevelt and
14. d. The northern third of Africa appears at the top Reagan were insincere in their promises to con-
of the map of Africa. It is made up primarily of trol spending; there is no evidence presented to
desert; more specifically, the Sahara Desert. support that characterization.
15. e. The northern tip of the African continent has a 22. c. Use the scale to approximate the length of the
Mediterranean climate. No other part of the Great Wall as shown on the map. Use process of
continent has such a climate. Therefore, it is elimination to get rid of answer choices that are
reasonable to conclude that the northern coast either too small (choices a and b) or too large
of the African continent borders the Mediter- (choices d and e).
ranean Sea.
16. b. The “value of an education” refers to the bene-
fits an education confers on its recipient. It
helps children develop cultural values (choice

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23. a. The most likely explanation for building the 32. c. The author states that American Indians “were
Great Wall was to provide protection. The pho- virtually destroyed by the subsequent immigra-
tograph shows that the wall was tall and sturdy tion that created the United States.” Choice c is a
and would thus have presented a formidable good paraphrase of that excerpt from the passage.
obstacle to an invading army. Because the Great 33. c. The cartoon depicts presidential candidate
Wall is built along the northern portion of Theodore Roosevelt offering the vice presi-
China (with the city of Beijing to the south of dency to Joseph Cannon. The vice presidency is
the wall) it is most likely that the wall was built represented by a tiny elephant with a child’s
to stop invaders from the north. chair mounted atop. These details indicate that
24. d. The Aztecs needed more land for farming to the cartoonist thinks the vice presidency is an
produce enough food for the growing insignificant job.
population. 34. b. The elephant is the symbol of the Republican
25. b. Terracing solves the problem because it creates Party, the party to which Theodore Roosevelt
flat surfaces out of hillsides for farming. belonged. None of the other answer choices is
26. e. Through judicial review, the Supreme Court is supported by details in the cartoon.
continually interpreting the limits set by the 35. b. The graph provides data about Americans by
Constitution. age group, so it can only support conclusions
27. a. According to the passage, judicial review is “the about the ages of Americans. It cannot support
authority to invalidate laws and executive conclusions about health (choice a) or income
actions if they conflict with the Constitution.” (choice c). Because it only provides data about
Choice a is a good paraphrase of the excerpt the proportion of the population in each
from the passage. decade, and not on the actual population,
28. d. The population of India began a rapid increase choices d and e are unsupported by the graph.
in 1950 that continued through 2000. Choice d Choice b is correct; with a greater proportion of
describes events that would reduce the popula- the American public over age 25 than in 1900,
tion; each of the incorrect choices describes the age of the average American in 2000 must
conditions that would promote population be greater than it was in 1900.
growth. 36. c. Each of the incorrect choices is a fact that can be
29. a. According to the passage, PPP income adjusts confirmed in the graph. Choice c is an opinion
for the cost of living in a given country. The because it is a point that can be reasonably
lower the PPP is relative to per capita income, debated. Some people may reasonably believe that
the more expensive it is to live in that country. the United States is aging too quickly while others
In Norway, PPP is much lower than per capita may reasonably believe that not to be the case.
income; therefore, it is reasonable to conclude 37. c. Of the countries listed, only Rumania increased
that consumer goods are extremely costly in in size, according to the map. Austria-Hungary
Norway. (choice a) was dissolved; the newly created
30. d. If the countries in the table were rearranged by states of Austria and Hungary together were
PPP, the United States would move to third on much smaller than their predecessor. The bor-
the list, right behind Luxembourg and Norway. ders of Norway (choice b) did not change as a
31. e. The author’s purpose is to measure personal result of the war. Ireland (choice d) was divided
income in various countries in order to com- into two smaller states when the war ended.
pare the countries. The reason he thinks it is Serbia (choice e) was also dissolved as a result
unfortunate that personal income data is rarely of the war.
available is because such data would provide
more accurate information on the subject of
the table and passage.

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38. a. According to the passage, the Treaty of Ver- 44. c. Choices a and d are opinions, not facts. Choices
sailles imposed huge fines on Germany and b and e are untrue, according to the graph. The
stripped the country of valuable property. government spends 10% of its budget on health
These provisions harmed the German economy and 3% of its budget on education; therefore,
by depriving it of cash and income, which it choice c is a fact found in the circle graph.
needed to rebuild the country after an 45. a. The graph includes a section for Net Interest.
extremely costly war. Each of the incorrect That is the portion of the budget dedicated to
choices is an opinion, not a fact. paying interest on the national debt.
39. c. Remember that correct answers must be sup- 46. c. Kennedy proclaimed that any nuclear missile
ported by details from the passage. The passage attack from Cuba would be regarded as an
never states that Jefferson had a plan for setting attack by the Soviet Union; thus, it is reasonable
aside land for native people, so choice c does to conclude that he saw the Cuban Missile Cri-
not describe one of Jefferson’s goals in sponsor- sis as a conflict between the United States and
ing the Lewis and Clark expedition, according the Soviet Union.
to the passage. 47. e. According to the passage, the United States did
40. b. Manifest destiny is a belief that the United not know how many Soviet troops were
States had a mandate to expand its civilization present in Cuba. Therefore, the United States
westward. Jefferson’s vision of an empire with did not know the full extent of the Soviet
future generations filling up “the canvas we threat at the time.
begin” most closely resembles the idea of mani- 48. e. A capital gains tax does not apply to your
fest destiny. income, a home that you own, or goods and
41. d. Choice d best describes the main idea of the services. It does apply to the profit from the sale
paragraph. Each of the incorrect choices identi- of property or other financial assets.
fies a detail from the passage. The main idea 49. e. The snake represents “the disunited State of the
summarizes the entire passage; a detail does not. British Colonies.” Note that the individual
42. b. Roadside commercial enterprises flourished colonies are represented by letters (N.C. for
with highway construction and car travel. North Carolina, N.J. for New Jersey, etc.).
43. e. The map shows that Genghis Khan conquered 50. a. Franklin never mentions rebelling against the
very little of Persia (choice a), Europe (choice British. This cartoon first appeared in 1754,
b), or Arabia (choice c). His conquests prima- long before there was any serious feeling among
rily cover the central part of the Asian conti- the colonists that the colonies should declare
nent. Thus, e is the answer. independence from Great Britain. Each of the
other answers is identified in the passage.

578