Social Studies
3-5
Citizenship Rights and
Responsibilities
Sample Test Questions
Students use knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in
order to examine and evaluate civic ideals and to participate in community
life and the American democratic system.
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Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities
Benchmark A
Explain how citizens take part in civic life in order to promote the common
good.
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Grade band: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies
Benchmark: Citizenship Rights
and Responsibilities -A
Question type: Extended Response
Bloom: Synthesis
Historical Background: In June
1985, the people living in the town
of Rose, New York, were told that
the United States Postal Service
planned to close their town’s post
office. This meant that the people of
Rose would have to get their mail
from another town’s post office,
and would have other post office
services (such as buying stamps and
sending packages) for only three
hours each day with no Saturday
service. The attached documents are
from June 1985 through April 1994.
They tell and show what the people
of Rose, New York, did in their
town after they heard the news.
Task: Write an essay about the
people of Rose and their post office.
In your essay, tell how the people
of Rose felt about their post office
and give examples of what the
people did together as a
community, or separately as
citizens, to help save their post
office.
Before you write your response,
look at the documents labeled 1
through 8. Then complete the notes.
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Question:
Rubric:
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Question:
Tell how the people of Rose felt about their post office and give three examples of what
the people of Rose did together as a community, or separately as citizens, to help save
their post office.
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Rubric:
Part 1 - Student response could include:
They were mad (or angry) about losing it. They liked it. /They wanted to keep it. They
didn’t want a post office open just 3 hours a day. They didn’t want to go to another city to
get their mail.
Part 2 - Example of what the people of Rose did together could include:
They formed the "Friends of the Rose Post Office” group. They put up posters and signs.
They ran ads in newspapers. They invited their congressman to speak to them. They
worked to fix up the post office building, put on a new roof, plant new flowers, and
replace the old post office sign. They wrote letters. They sent letters to post office
officials.
4 points – One response from part one and three from part two
3 points - One response from part one and two from part two
2 points - One response from part one and one from part two
1 point – At least one response from either part one or two
0 point – No understanding of the prompt.
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Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities
Benchmark B
Identify rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United
States that are important for preserving democratic government.
102
Grade band: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies
Benchmark: Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities B
Question type: Multiple Choice
Bloom: Knowledge
Question:
According to the Constitution, the laws of the United States are passed by the
A. Congress
B. President
C. Supreme Court
D. Secretary of State
Rubric:
A
103
Subject: Social Studies
Benchmark: Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities B
Question type: Extended Response
Bloom: Evaluation
Question:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a famous speech in 1963. In his speech, Dr. King said,
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they
will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
a. Tell who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was. Be sure to use specific details in your
answer.
b. In your own words, explain what he meant in the statement above. Be sure to use
specific details in your answer.
c. Explain his importance in United States history. Be sure to give two specific details in
your answer.
Rubric:
4 points – Addressed section a, section b, and gave two specific examples from section c
3 points – Had at least 3 components of section a, section b, and gave two specific
examples from section c
2 points - Had at least 2 components of section a, section b, and gave two specific
examples from section c
1 point – Had at least 1 component of section a, section b, and gave two specific
examples from section c
0 point – No understanding of the prompt.
104
Grade band: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies
Benchmark: Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities B
Question type: Multiple Choice
Bloom: Knowledge
Question:
People in the United States enjoy freedom of speech. This freedom is protected by the
A. Declaration of Independence.
B. Bill of Rights.
C. Emancipation Proclamation.
D. Articles of Confederation.
Rubric:
B
105
Grade band: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies
Benchmark: Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities B
Question type: Extended Response
Bloom: Analysis
Question:
Government Workers
In the United States, the town, county, and state governments, and the national
government collect taxes to provide citizens with many different services. Some of the
tax money is used to hire people to do the different government jobs that provide these
services.
a. Identify TWO types of government jobs.
b. Describe the services each job provides.
Rubric:
Examples of government jobs and the services they provide:
• Postal workers—sort and deliver mail, pick up mail to be delivered, sell stamps, weigh
packages and determine cost of shipping, ship mail
• Police—enforce laws, keep the peace, help people in emergencies and accidents, direct
traffic
• Firefighters—fight fires, help people in emergencies, save lives, teach people how to
prevent fires and how to react to fires, check for fire hazards in buildings
• Librarians—help people find information and books, keep libraries orderly, keep track
of books and materials that have been loaned out
• Health department workers—help people stay healthy by providing necessary shots to
prevent diseases, keep track of outbreaks of diseases, help people who are ill by giving
physicals, check to see that all students have had their required shots and physicals in a
timely manner, check that places that serve food follow health rules
• Teachers—teach students what they need to learn at a given grade level
4 points - Student identifies two government jobs and clearly describes the services each
job provides.
3 points - Student identifies two government jobs and generally describes the services
each job provides.
2 pints - Student identifies at least one government job and gives a limited description of
the services that job provides.
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1 point - Student demonstrates minimal understanding (e.g., student identifies one
government job with no description of the services that job provides).
0 point - Student's response is totally incorrect or irrelevant.
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