ELTIS - English Language Test for International Students Reading Social Studies Texts Practice Test 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: 'The United States has 50 states, each with its own government. States handle many local issues like education, transportation, and public safety. The federal government manages issues that affect the whole country, such as national defense and foreign policy.' What do state governments handle?
- National defense and military matters
- Foreign policy and international relations
- Local issues like education and transportation (Correct answer)
- Printing money and regulating trade
Correct answer: Local issues like education and transportation
The passage directly states that states handle many local issues like education, transportation, and public safety.
Question 2: Read the passage: 'The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s was a struggle for equal rights for African Americans. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. organized peaceful protests and marches. Their efforts led to important laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination.' What was the goal of the Civil Rights Movement?
- To create a new political party in the United States
- To gain equal rights for African Americans (Correct answer)
- To protest against the Vietnam War
- To change the US tax system
Correct answer: To gain equal rights for African Americans
The passage states that the Civil Rights Movement was a struggle for equal rights for African Americans.
Question 3: Read the passage: 'The United States Constitution is the highest law of the land. It was written in 1787 and has guided the country ever since. The Constitution can be changed by adding amendments. So far, 27 amendments have been added to the Constitution.' How can the Constitution be changed?
- The President can rewrite it at any time
- Congress can delete old sections each year
- By adding amendments (Correct answer)
- The Supreme Court votes to change it
Correct answer: By adding amendments
The passage clearly states that the Constitution can be changed by adding amendments.
Question 4: Read the passage: 'The United States has two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Citizens can register with either party or remain independent. During primary elections, party members vote to choose their candidate for the general election.' What happens during a primary election?
- The President signs new laws into effect
- Party members choose their candidate for the general election (Correct answer)
- The Supreme Court selects new judges
- Citizens vote for the final winner of an office
Correct answer: Party members choose their candidate for the general election
The passage states that during primary elections, party members vote to choose their candidate for the general election.
Question 5: Read the passage: 'The American flag has 50 stars and 13 stripes. The 50 stars represent the 50 states in the country. The 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain in 1776.' What do the 13 stripes on the American flag represent?
- The 13 amendments in the Bill of Rights
- The 13 original colonies that declared independence (Correct answer)
- The 13 founding presidents of the United States
- The 13 largest cities in America
Correct answer: The 13 original colonies that declared independence
The passage states that the 13 stripes represent the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Britain in 1776.
Question 6: Read the passage: 'The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. It has nine justices who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Supreme Court has the final say on whether laws follow the Constitution.' Who appoints Supreme Court justices?
- The Senate votes to appoint them directly
- Citizens elect them during national elections
- The President appoints them (Correct answer)
- The Chief Justice selects new members
Correct answer: The President appoints them
The passage states that the nine justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Read the passage: 'The United States has 50 states, each with its own government.
States handle many local issues like education, transportation, and public safety.
The federal government manages issues that affect the whole country, such as national defense and foreign policy.' What do state governments handle?