ELTIS - English Language Test for International Students Reading Social Studies Texts Practice Test 8 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: 'The United States Congress is made up of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 100 members, with two senators from each state. The House of Representatives has 435 members, and the number from each state depends on the state's population.' How many members are in the Senate?
- 435
- 100 (Correct answer)
- 50
- 535
Correct answer: 100
The passage directly states that the Senate has 100 members, with two senators from each of the 50 states.
Question 2: Read the passage: 'The Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865. One major cause was the issue of slavery. The war ended when the Confederate states surrendered, and slavery was abolished throughout the country.' When did the Civil War end?
- 1861
- 1863
- 1865 (Correct answer)
- 1870
Correct answer: 1865
The passage states the Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865, meaning it ended in 1865 when the Confederate states surrendered.
Question 3: Read the passage: 'The American economy is a mixed economy, which means it combines private business with some government involvement. Businesses can operate freely to make a profit, but the government creates rules to protect workers and consumers. This system is also called capitalism.' What type of economy does the United States have?
- A government-controlled economy
- A mixed economy (Correct answer)
- A barter economy
- A socialist economy
Correct answer: A mixed economy
The passage clearly defines the American economy as a mixed economy, combining private business with government involvement.
Question 4: Read the passage: 'The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were to be considered free. This was an important step toward ending slavery in the United States.' Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation?
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
- Abraham Lincoln (Correct answer)
- Ulysses S. Grant
Correct answer: Abraham Lincoln
The passage states that the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
Question 5: Read the passage: 'The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. It has nine justices, including one Chief Justice. The Supreme Court makes final decisions on whether laws follow the Constitution. Its decisions apply to the entire country.' How many justices serve on the Supreme Court?
- Seven
- Nine (Correct answer)
- Twelve
- Five
Correct answer: Nine
The passage states that the Supreme Court has nine justices, including one Chief Justice.
Question 6: Read the passage: 'The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad. It was a secret network of people and safe houses that helped enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the northern United States and Canada before and during the Civil War. Harriet Tubman was one of its most famous leaders.' What was the Underground Railroad?
- A train line built underground in the South
- A secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom (Correct answer)
- A government program to transport goods between states
- A communication system used during the Civil War
Correct answer: A secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom
The passage explains that the Underground Railroad was a secret network of people and safe houses used to help enslaved African Americans reach freedom, not an actual railroad.
Read the passage: 'The United States Congress is made up of two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Senate has 100 members, with two senators from each state.
The House of Representatives has 435 members, and the number from each state depends on the state's population.' How many members are in the Senate?