GED Social Studies Test #6 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was commissioned by President Jefferson primarily to:
- Explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and find a route to the Pacific (Correct answer)
- Negotiate trade agreements with Native American tribes
- Map the border between the U.S. and Canada
- Establish military forts along the Mississippi River
Correct answer: Explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and find a route to the Pacific
After the Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled U.S. territory, Jefferson commissioned Lewis and Clark to explore the new land, map its geography, document its plants and animals, and find a water route to the Pacific Ocean.
Question 2: Which economic system is characterized by private ownership of property and businesses operating for profit?
- Capitalism (Correct answer)
- Communism
- Socialism
- Mercantilism
Correct answer: Capitalism
Capitalism (also called a free market or market economy) is based on private ownership of the means of production, with prices and production determined by supply and demand. The profit motive drives economic activity.
Question 3: The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) primarily addressed:
- Equal citizenship and due process rights for all persons born in the U.S. (Correct answer)
- The right to vote regardless of race
- The abolition of slavery throughout the nation
- The direct election of U.S. senators by voters
Correct answer: Equal citizenship and due process rights for all persons born in the U.S.
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S. (including formerly enslaved people) and guaranteed equal protection under the law and due process rights. It has been central to many civil rights cases.
Question 4: The term "tariff" refers to a tax on:
- Imported goods (Correct answer)
- Citizens' income
- Goods sold within a country
- Property ownership
Correct answer: Imported goods
A tariff is a tax placed on imported goods. Governments use tariffs to generate revenue and to protect domestic industries from foreign competition by making imported goods more expensive.
Question 5: The Renaissance (14th–17th century) was a cultural movement that emphasized:
- Humanism, classical learning, and the arts (Correct answer)
- Religious devotion and monastic life
- Scientific materialism and the rejection of art
- Democratic governance and voting rights
Correct answer: Humanism, classical learning, and the arts
The Renaissance ("rebirth") was a period of renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture. It emphasized humanism (focus on human potential), art, literature, and science, marking a transition from the medieval to the modern era.
Question 6: A line graph showing the U.S. unemployment rate from 2000–2015 peaks sharply around 2009–2010. This peak most likely corresponds to:
- The Great Recession following the 2008 financial crisis (Correct answer)
- The September 11, 2001 attacks
- The end of the dot-com boom in 2000
- The 2003 Iraq War beginning
Correct answer: The Great Recession following the 2008 financial crisis
The 2008 financial crisis triggered the Great Recession, causing U.S. unemployment to peak at approximately 10% in October 2009. This was the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
GED Social Studies Test #6 2
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) was commissioned by President Jefferson primarily to: