GED Social Studies Test #4 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation (1781) was to:
- Create a framework for governing the newly independent American states (Correct answer)
- Establish a strong central federal government
- Define the rights of individual citizens
- Create a treaty with Britain after the Revolutionary War
Correct answer: Create a framework for governing the newly independent American states
The Articles of Confederation was America's first governing document, creating a loose confederation of states. It proved too weak (no power to tax or regulate commerce), leading to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Question 2: The economic concept of "opportunity cost" refers to:
- The value of the best alternative you give up when making a choice (Correct answer)
- The monetary cost of purchasing a good or service
- The total cost of producing one additional unit
- The price increase caused by inflation
Correct answer: The value of the best alternative you give up when making a choice
Opportunity cost is what you sacrifice when choosing one option over another. For example, if you spend $1,000 on a vacation instead of investing it, the opportunity cost is the return you would have earned from investing.
Question 3: Which civil rights event involved African American students sitting at a segregated lunch counter in 1960?
- The Greensboro Sit-ins (Correct answer)
- The Montgomery Bus Boycott
- The March on Washington
- The Freedom Rides
Correct answer: The Greensboro Sit-ins
The Greensboro Sit-ins began on February 1, 1960, when four Black college students sat at a whites-only Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, NC. This peaceful protest spread nationwide and became a key civil rights tactic.
Question 4: In a democracy, the rule of law means:
- All people, including government officials, are subject to the law equally (Correct answer)
- The majority can pass any law it chooses without restriction
- Laws are determined by elected representatives alone
- Only citizens can be held accountable under the law
Correct answer: All people, including government officials, are subject to the law equally
The rule of law is a fundamental democratic principle stating that no person is above the law — not even government officials or leaders. It ensures equal justice and prevents arbitrary use of power.
Question 5: The term "imperialism" describes:
- A powerful nation extending its control over weaker nations or territories (Correct answer)
- A policy of non-interference in other nations' affairs
- An economic system based on private ownership
- A government ruled by a single hereditary monarch
Correct answer: A powerful nation extending its control over weaker nations or territories
Imperialism is the policy of extending a nation's power and influence through military force, economic dominance, or political control. European imperialism in Africa and Asia during the 19th-20th centuries is a major historical example.
Question 6: According to a bar graph showing voter turnout by age group (18-29: 35%, 30-44: 52%, 45-64: 65%, 65+: 70%), what conclusion is best supported?
- Voter participation increases as age increases (Correct answer)
- Young voters are not interested in politics
- Most Americans do not vote
- Older voters prefer different candidates than younger voters
Correct answer: Voter participation increases as age increases
The data clearly shows a consistent increase in voter turnout with each older age group. This supports the conclusion that older Americans vote at higher rates, though it doesn't explain why.
GED Social Studies Test #4 3
The primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation (1781) was to: