ELTIS - English Language Test for International Students Reading Social Studies Texts Practice Test 6 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: 'The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s fought to end racial discrimination in the United States. Leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organized peaceful protests and marches. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, or national origin.' What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?
- It allowed discrimination in certain public places
- It made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, or national origin (Correct answer)
- It gave women the right to vote for the first time
- It established the three branches of government
Correct answer: It made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, or national origin
The passage directly states that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, or national origin.
Question 2: Read the passage: 'The United States has both a federal government and state governments. The federal government makes laws for the whole country, while state governments make laws for their individual states. Both levels of government provide services to citizens.' What does the federal government do?
- It makes laws only for cities and towns
- It provides services only to people who pay federal taxes
- It makes laws for the whole country (Correct answer)
- It controls what laws state governments can pass
Correct answer: It makes laws for the whole country
The passage states that the federal government makes laws for the whole country, which is what distinguishes it from state governments.
Question 3: Read the passage: 'The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. It stated that all people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also explained why the American colonists wanted to be free from British rule.' What did the Declaration of Independence explain?
- How taxes would be collected in the new nation
- Why American colonists wanted freedom from British rule (Correct answer)
- How the new government would be organized
- Which leaders would run the new country
Correct answer: Why American colonists wanted freedom from British rule
The passage states that the Declaration of Independence explained why the American colonists wanted to be free from British rule.
Question 4: Read the passage: 'Taxes are money that citizens pay to the government. The government uses tax money to pay for public services like schools, roads, hospitals, and police departments. Without taxes, many of these services could not exist.' Why do citizens pay taxes?
- To receive money back from the government each year
- To pay for public services like schools, roads, and hospitals (Correct answer)
- To support businesses in their local community
- To fund elections and voting centers
Correct answer: To pay for public services like schools, roads, and hospitals
According to the passage, citizens pay taxes so the government can fund public services such as schools, roads, hospitals, and police departments.
Question 5: Read the passage: 'The United States Census is an official count of all people living in the country. It is conducted every ten years. The census helps the government decide how many representatives each state sends to Congress and how to distribute federal funding.' How often is the United States Census conducted?
- Every two years
- Every five years
- Every ten years (Correct answer)
- Every twenty years
Correct answer: Every ten years
The passage clearly states that the United States Census is conducted every ten years.
Question 6: Read the passage: 'Freedom of the press is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution. This means that newspapers, television stations, and other media can report the news without government control. A free press helps citizens stay informed about what their government is doing.' What does freedom of the press allow?
- The government to review all news stories before they are published
- Citizens to start their own television stations at no cost
- Media organizations to report the news without government control (Correct answer)
- Newspapers to print only stories approved by the President
Correct answer: Media organizations to report the news without government control
The passage states that freedom of the press means newspapers, television stations, and other media can report the news without government control.
Read the passage: 'The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s fought to end racial discrimination in the United States.
Leaders like Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. organized peaceful protests and marches.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, or national origin.' What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?