SOCIAL STUDIES DIAGNOSTIC EXAM
1.
According to this theory,a nation'spower is measuredby its gold reserves.A country
strivesto export morethan it imports in orderto createa surplusof gold. This theory is
called
A.
B.
2.
capitalism.
supply side economics.
C.
D.
socialism.
mercantilism.
RalphWaldo Emersonwas an important 19thCenturywriter in the United States.Which
of the following accuratelydescribesEmerson?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He wrote popularshort storiessuchas"Rip VanWinkle" and "The Legendof Sleepy
Hollow."
He wrote abouthis motivation for living apartfrom societyin his famouswork
Walden.
He was an essayist,a poet, and a leaderof the transcendentalist
movement.
He becamethe first popularwriter of action-packednovels suchas TheLast of the
Mohicans.
Read the following
and answer the question that
... 'Tis the businessof little minds to shrink; but he whoseheartis fmn, and whose
conscienceapproveshis conduct,will pursuehis principlesunto death. My own line of
reasoningis to myself as straightand clear asa ray of light. Not all the treasuresof the
world, so far asI believe,could have inducedme to supportan offensivewar, for I think it
murder;but if a thief breaksinto my house,burnsanddestroysmy property,and kills or
threatensto kill me, or thosethat are in it, andto "bind me in all caseswhatsoever"to his
absolutewill, am I to suffer it?
- ThomasPaine,CommonSense
3.
What is the main idea of this passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
4.
ThomasPaineis urging his readersto surrenderand avoid bloodshed.
ThomasPaineis urging his readersto form a neighborhoodcrime watch.
ThomasPainewantshis audienceto supporta new ConstitutionalAmendment.
ThomasPaineis urging his audienceto fight for freedom.
The United StatesConstitutionretainedwhich of the following featuresfrom the Articles
of Confederation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a nationaltax system
control over foreign commerce
a centralgovernment
measurescannotbe amendedin Congress
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5. Under Chief JusticeJohnMarshall,the SupremeCourt ruled in Marbury vs.Madison
(1803)that the JudiciaryAct, passedby Congress,wasunconstitutional. This ruling was
importantbecauseit establishedthat
A.
B.
C.
D.
Congresscould not passlaws.
the Presidenthad the authorityto appointSupremeCourtjustices.
the SupremeCourt had the powerto review any law passedby Congress.
the Presidentcould not appointfederaljudges.
6. The powerto veto a bill hasbeengiven to the
branch. The power to impeach
the Presidenthasbeengiven to the
branch.
Which of the
A.
B.
bestfills in the blanks?
C. legislative,
judicial
D. judicial,legislative
executive,judicial
executive,legislative
7. Read this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence,and answer the question
that follows.
That wheneverany FornI of Governmentbecomesdestructiveof theseends[Life,
Liberty, andthe pursuit of Happiness],it is the Right of the Peopleto alter or to
abolishit, andto institutenew Government,laying its foundationon suchprinciples
and organizingits powersin suchfornI, asto them shall seemmost likely to effect
their SafetyandHappiness.
Basedon this passage,which of the following conclusionsis correct?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Government,onceestablished,canneverbe abolished.
Threebranchesof governmentshall rule the nation.
The governmentcanbe abolishedor alteredif it interfereswith rights suchasLife or
Liberty.
The rights of Life and Liberty arenaturally acknowledgedby all governments.
8. Which of the following was a negativeresult for Europeannationswith overseascolonies?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Europeannationsreceivedtoo muchrevenuefrom their colonies.
Europeannationsbecameinvolved in settling disputesbetweenthe different groups
of peoplein their colonies.
Indigenouspeopleswantedto move to the Europeannation which colonizedthem.
Europeannationsreceivedsmall amountsof raw materialsfrom their colonies.
9. The constructionof the Erie Canalandthe National Roadwere nationaltransportation
projectsconnectingeasternstateswith westernstates. For what purposewere these
projectsput in place?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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to improvethe defenseof the young nation
to provide more ways for peopleto commutefrom hometo work
to bring aboutthe Manifest Destiny
to increasetradebetweenthe Eastand the expandingWest
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10. Which of the following is not an exampleof "taxation without representation"?
A.
B.
the SugarAct
the Writs of Assistance
c. theStampAct
D. theTownshend
Acts
11. Granteda charterin 1628,the Massachusetts
Bay Colony becamea havenfor which of the
following groups?
A.
B.
colonial trading companies
plantationfarmers
c.
Puritans
D. fishing companies
12. Which of the following factorsled the coloniststo revolt againstEngland?
I.
II.
III.
IV.
A.
B.
the useof slavelabor in the Southerncolonies
taxing the colonistswithout allowing themrepresentationin England's
Parliament
taxeslevied on tea, sugar,andpaper
the growing costof living in the colonies
II andIII
I andIV
C. II andIV
D. I andIV
13. The conflict consideredto be the beginningof the RevolutionaryWar is the
A.
B.
BostonTeaParty.
BostonMassacre.
C.
D.
Battle of Lexington.
Battle of Bunker Hill.
14. In 1812,membersof Congresswantedto go to war with GreatBritain because
A.
B.
C.
D.
the British were capturingU.S. sailors.
Britain refusedto ship goodsto the United States.
Britain was forming allianceswith Native Americantribes.
the British were sinking Frenchships.
15. Which of the following was an agriculturalinventionthat expandedthe economyof the
Southin the first half of the nineteenthcentury?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the tractor
the irrigation canal
the cotton gin
the plow
16. In 1823,a policy was announcedthat would detennineUnited Statesinvolvementin Latin
America to the presentday. The policy statedthat no Europeanpower could establish
coloniesin the newly independentstatesof Latin America.
What wasthe nameof this policy?
A.
B.
the American System
the Non-InterventionTreaty
C.
D.
the New World Order
the Monroe Doctrine
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17. In the map above,RegionA designatesland acquiredby the
A.
B.
C.
D.
TexasAnnexation.
MexicanCession.
LouisianaPurchase
OregonTerritory.
18. Prior to the Civil War,popularsovereigntydetenninedwhetherslaverywould be allowed
in somenew territories. Popularsovereigntymeansthat
A.
B.
C.
D.
the citizensof the areamakethe decisionby voting.
the Congressdecidesthe policy.
the Presidentdecidesthe policy.
the local legislaturemakesthe decision.
19. From 1800-1850,the idea of "Manifest Destiny" becamepopular. This idea proclaimed
that the United Statesmust expandfrom the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Which of the
following was not a consequence
of the Manifest Destiny?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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LouisianaPurchase
Mexican-AmericanWar
TexasAnnexation
Alabamastatehood
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20. PresidentAndrew Jacksonbelievedin appointinghis friendsand allies to well-payingjobs
in government.This approachto democracywas called
A.
B.
federalism.
theJacksonDoctrine.
c.
D.
Majority Rules.
the spoils system.
21. American literatureflourishedin the early 1800saswriters capturedthe idealismand
freedomof their time. Who of the following madea significant contributionto this
growth?
A.
B.
MeriwetherLewis
JamesFenimoreCooper
C.
D.
SojournerTruth
StephenAustin
22. In 1856,a more efficient and inexpensiveway of refining molten iron into steelwas
inventedthat pavedthe way for the growth of the steelindustry. This invention is called
A.
B.
vulcanizing.
the Bessemerprocess.
C.
D.
the shotcretemethod.
hydraulicing.
23. In the monthsprecedingthe Civil War,which differencesbetweenthe statessetthe stage
for the conflict which wasto come?
A.
B.
C.
D.
political differences
economicdifferences
social differences
all of the above
24. The presidentialelectionof 1860divided the country. In fact, Lincoln, a Republican,won
with only 40% of the vote. How wasLincoln ableto win in this election?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Lincoln won the most electoralvotes.
Lincoln aggressivelycampaignedthat he would abolishslaveryin the South.
Many peoplestuffedballots in favor of Lincoln.
The North andthe Southboth votedheavily in Lincoln's favor.
25. When Missouri appliedfor statehood,Congressdebatedwhetherit would be admittedasa
free stateor a slavestate. The bill signedinto law which settledthe issueis known asthe
A.
B.
C.
D.
Doctrine of Nullification.
Compromiseof 1850.
Missouri Compromise.
Dred ScottDecision.
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26. The Fugitive SlaveLaw
A.
B.
C.
D.
requiredstatesin the North to returnescapedslavesto their ownersin the
South.
allowedslaveswho escapedto the North to getjobs andbe paid for their work.
protectedfugitive slavesin the North from being returnedto their ownersin the
South.
gaveslaveswho escapedto the North the right to beararmsandbecomeUnion
soldiersin the Civil War.
27. Which of the following helpedto securethe rights of blacksduring the time of
Reconstruction?
I.
II.
ill.
IV.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Freedman'sBureau
Jim Crow Laws
Civil RightsAct of 1868
FourteenthandFifteenthAmendmentsto the United StatesConstitution
onlyI, II, andN
only II, ill, andN
only I, ill, andN
only ill andN
28. In 1865,which agencywas establishedto provide
newly freedblacksin the South?
A.
B.
Freedmen'sBureau
ReconstructionCommittee
C.
D.
and medical assistanceto the
Black Code
UndergroundRailroad
After Reconstruction,African Americansfaceda plight similar to what existedbefore the
Civil War. The Southremainedprimarily agricultural. African Americanswere not
permittedto own land, so they hadto rent the land as sharecroppersfrom the wealthy white
landowners.They lived on a baresubsistencelevel. In addition, they lost their voting
rights throughthe useof poll taxesand literacy tests. White southernmobsfrequently
terrorizedthosewho choseto exercisetheir rights.
29. Basedon the passage,which of the following problemareasexistedin the PostReconstructionSouth?
A.
B.
C.
D.
national identity
individual rights
law enforcement
low taxation
30. Severalmechanicaldevelopmentsimpactedthe settlementof the West. Of the following,
which had the greatestimpact?
A.
B.
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C.
D.
barbedwire
railroad
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steelplow
revolver
31. During the Industrial Revolution,factory workerswere treatedvery poorly. Labor unions
usedstrikesand political pressureto achievewhich of the following improvementsfor
workers?
A.
B.
mandatoryraises
forty-hour work week
C.
D.
paid vacations
mandatorylunch hour
32. Which of the following men acceptedsegregationand foundedthe TuskeegeeInstitutein
Alabama?
A.
B.
c.
GeorgeWashingtonCarver
W.E.B.Du Bois
D.
GeorgePlessy
Booker T. Washington
33. How did the SupremeCourt decisionin Plessyvs.Ferguson(1896) affect minorities at the
turn of the century?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Minorities were given new employmentopportunitiesin the governmentsector.
Segregationof whites andminorities in schoolsandpublic facilities was legalized.
Housingdiscriminationagainstminoritieswas legalized.
Minorities were allowedto participatein the government'sfarming subsidies
program.
34. In 1887,Congresspasseda law that brokeup the tribal landsof the Native Americans.
Eachtribal leaderandheadsof householdsreceivedindividual plots of land from the
governmentto farm. The Native Americanswerenot taughthow to farm the soil, and
many sold their landsto dishonestspeculators.Which of the following is the correctname
for this act of Congress?
A.
B.
the Native AmericanAct
the DawesAct
C.
D.
the Indian Allocation Act
the Indian ReorganizationAct
35. In 1913,an amendmentto the Constitutionwasratified that gavethe federalgovernment
the right to tax a person'spersonalincomeand a corporation'sprofits. Why wasthis
amendmentconsidered"reform legislation"?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Many other industrializednations,suchasGermanyand Australia, had already
createdan incometax..
Many peoplefelt the incometax would help the United Statesbecomeless
materialistic.
Many peoplefelt that a level playing field would be created,providing social services
for the poor at the expenseof the rich, who had to pay higher taxeson their incomes.
Writers andjournalistshad promotedfor yearsthe ideathat all Americanswanted
their incometaxed.
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36. In which directionwasthe Lusitania moving when it
A.
B.
west
east
C.
D.
sunk?
north
south
37. In the early twentiethcentury,the United Statesemergedas a world power by gaining
formerly held Spanishterritory in the Spanish-American
War. To keepthe Philippines
from becomingindependent,4,200United Statessoldiersand an estimated220,000
Filipinos died fighting eachotherfrom 1899to 1902.
What problemof foreign policy doesthis passageaddress?
A.
B.
C.
D.
38.
Ratified in 1919,the 18thAmendmentprohibitedthe making and selling of alcoholic
beverages.Which of the following was a negativeresult of this amendment?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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immigration and nationalsecurity
economicgrowth andmanifestdestiny
imperialismversusself-determination
spheresof influenceversusOpenDoor policy
Alcoholism and diseasesof the liver decreasedsharply.
Organizedcrime networksgrew asa result of illegal salesof liquor.
Womenreceivedthe right to vote during Prohibition.
Illegal barsopenedtheir doorsto womenaswell asmen.
For centuries,womenhavebeendeniedthe right to a political voice. Men in power have
not permittedwomento vote, yet they allow thesesamewomento mold the minds of the
future leadersof this countryastheir mother. Whenwill the irony cease?We havebeen
silent for too long. It is time for womento makea stand.. .
39. This speechwas probablywritten by a(n)
A.
B.
muckraker.
suffi-agette.
C.
D.
abolitionist.
loyalist.
40. After World War I, the Leagueof Nationswas establishedto preventanotherworld war.
Which of the following reducedthe power of this organization?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The United Statesrefusedto join the Leagueof Nations.
Few of the membernationswerewilling to pay for the operatingcosts.
PresidentWilson supportedthe creationof the Leagueof Nations.
The United Nationsexistedasa rival organization.
41. Why did the United Statesturn to a policy of imperialismat the turn of the twentieth
century?
I.
II.
III.
IV.
A.
B.
C.
D.
The United Statesneededcoloniesto feed its people.
The United Stateswas competingfor foreign traderights.
The United Statesproduceda surplusof goodsthat neededa foreign market.
The United Stateswantedto preventanothercolonizationof Latin Americaby
Europe.
I and II
II and III
II, III, and N
I, II, III, andN
42. In 1921,Congresspassedthe EmergencyQuotaAct. This act limited the numberof
immigrantsto 350,000a year andplacedadditionalrestrictionson immigration from
easternEuropeandAsia. Which of the following reasonsexplainswhy this act was
passed?
I.
II.
III.
IV.
A.
B.
c.
D.
Americanworkersfearedimmigrantswould force down wages.
Many Americanswere afraid of peoplewho were not Protestantor who spoke
no English.
Therewasno more room in this nation for peopleto live.
Deadlyviral epidemicswererapidly reducingthe populationof Europeand
Asia.
I only
I and II
I, II, and ill
IV only
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43. Between1920and 1940,African Americanartistsproducedgreat achievementsin
painting,drama,dance,music,and literature. What is the namefor this artistic period?
A.
B.
GreatAwakening
RomanticMovement
C.
D.
Harlem Renaissance
Hip Hop
44. Alabamanative,Zelda Fitzgerald,wife of the writer F. ScottFitzgerald,becamefamousin
her own right as a writer. Why wassheableto gain an audiencefor her writings?
A.
B.
c.
D.
Shesimply rodethe successof her husband,F. ScottFitzgerald.
In her stories,the main characterwas an imitation of Zelda's life, which personified
the lives of the rich during the JazzAge.
Zelda had traveledto Paris,which madeher a celebrityin the United States.
Zelda was mentally ill, which broughtexcitementto her writings.
45. W.E.B.Du Bois, the first African Americanto receivea doctoratefrom Harvard
University,becamean outspokencritic of racistpolicies in the United States.Du Bois
was a foundingofficer of which organization?
A.
B.
SCLC
TuskeegeeUniversity
C.
D.
Black Panthers
NAACP
46. Which act of Congressraisedthe minimum wageto 40 centsper hour and endedchild
laborunderthe ageof 16?
A.
B.
FDIC
WPA
C.
D.
FLSA
SSA
47. In 1935,the federalgovernmentcreatedthe WagnerAct, which guaranteedlabor's right to
organizeunions. Employerscould not coerceor interferewith labor union organization.
Which of the following is a likely result of this new law?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The numberof injunctionsagainstunion activitiesincreaseddramaticallyin later
years.
Labor union membershipgrew from 3.5 million in 1935to 15 million in 1947.
Labor unionsdeclinedin membershipfrom 3.5 million in 1935to 1.5million in
1947.
Labor unionshad more problemsgettingCongressionalsupportuntil 1947.
48. Passedin 1935,the Social SecurityAct (SSA) providedincomeand medical carefor the
elderly. The act alsocompensated
unemployedworkers.The money was primarily derived
from the paychecksof all employeesand employers.
What was importantaboutthe passingof the Social SecurityAct (SSA)?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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The SSAprovidedhealthcarefor all working Americans.
The SSA assuredthat no onein the United Stateswould haveto live in poverty.
The SSAproducedmillions of newjobs in the United Stateseconomy.
The SSA gavegovernmentthe responsibilityof providing for the elderly andthe
unemployed.
49. Which of the following nationswas not takenover by Gennanyby 1942?
A.
B.
Spain
Belgium
c.
D.
France
Romania
50. In July 1945,Harry S Trumanmadethe decisionto drop atomicbombson Japan. This led
to Japan'simmediatesurrenderandthe end of World War ll. Why did PresidentTruman
decideto usethe atomicbomb?
A.
B.
c.
D.
Japanwas gaining too many military victories,andthe war draggedon.
Hundredsof thousandsof United Statessoldierswould probably havedied in the
invasionof the Japanese
mainland.
Previousbombingsof Japanhad beenineffectivein causingdamage.
Atomic bombswere lessexpensivethan otherbombs.
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