GED Social Studies Test #6 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Mexican-American War (1846–1848) resulted in the United States gaining:
- California, New Mexico, and other southwestern territories (Correct answer)
- Texas alone from Mexico
- The entire Gulf of Mexico coastline
- The Gadsden Purchase territory only
Correct answer: California, New Mexico, and other southwestern territories
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ended the Mexican-American War. Mexico ceded about half its territory to the U.S., including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.
Question 2: In economics, "inflation" occurs when:
- The general price level of goods and services rises over time (Correct answer)
- Unemployment increases rapidly
- A nation's GDP declines for two consecutive quarters
- Interest rates fall to near zero
Correct answer: The general price level of goods and services rises over time
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, which reduces purchasing power. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used to measure inflation in the U.S.
Question 3: The Trail of Tears (1838–1839) refers to:
- The forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from their homeland to Oklahoma (Correct answer)
- The westward migration of settlers along the Oregon Trail
- The march of Union soldiers through the South during the Civil War
- The exodus of Irish immigrants during the Potato Famine
Correct answer: The forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from their homeland to Oklahoma
The Trail of Tears was the forced relocation of approximately 16,000 Cherokee people from Georgia to Oklahoma (Indian Territory) under the Indian Removal Act. Roughly 4,000 Cherokee died from cold, hunger, and disease during the journey.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the concept of "judicial review"?
- The Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional (Correct answer)
- The Senate's process for confirming federal judges
- A judge's ability to reduce criminal sentences
- The right to appeal a court decision to a higher court
Correct answer: The Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional
Judicial review is the power of courts — especially the Supreme Court — to examine laws and government actions to determine if they comply with the Constitution. It was established in Marbury v. Madison (1803).
Question 5: The economic concept of "division of labor" (specialization) means:
- Workers focus on specific tasks to increase overall efficiency and productivity (Correct answer)
- Wealth is divided equally among all workers in a society
- Different nations produce only the goods they can make most cheaply
- Labor unions divide workers into specialized departments
Correct answer: Workers focus on specific tasks to increase overall efficiency and productivity
Division of labor means breaking work into specialized tasks. This increases productivity because workers become highly skilled at their specific job. Adam Smith famously described this in his analysis of a pin factory.
Question 6: A map shows that major ancient civilizations (Egypt, Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, China) all developed along rivers. What conclusion does this evidence support?
- Early civilizations depended on rivers for water, transportation, and fertile soil (Correct answer)
- Rivers created natural barriers that protected ancient civilizations from invasion
- All ancient civilizations traded goods along river networks
- Ancient peoples preferred living near water for religious reasons
Correct answer: Early civilizations depended on rivers for water, transportation, and fertile soil
Rivers provided the essential ingredients for civilization: fresh water for drinking and irrigation, fertile alluvial soil for farming, and transportation routes for trade. This geographic pattern shows rivers were critical to early civilizations.
GED Social Studies Test #6 3
The Mexican-American War (1846–1848) resulted in the United States gaining: