TASC Social Studies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which document begins with the phrase 'We the People of the United States'?
- The Declaration of Independence
- The U.S. Constitution (Correct answer)
- The Articles of Confederation
- The Bill of Rights
Correct answer: The U.S. Constitution
The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution opens with 'We the People.'
Question 2: What economic concept describes the cost of the next-best alternative given up when making a choice?
- Opportunity cost (Correct answer)
- Inflation
- Supply
- Marginal benefit
Correct answer: Opportunity cost
Opportunity cost is the value of the best alternative forgone.
Question 3: The Mississippi River flows generally in which direction toward the Gulf of Mexico?
- North
- South (Correct answer)
- East
- West
Correct answer: South
The Mississippi flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico.
Question 4: Which branch of the U.S. government interprets laws and the Constitution?
- Legislative
- Executive
- Judicial (Correct answer)
- Bureaucratic
Correct answer: Judicial
The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, interprets laws.
Question 5: The Industrial Revolution primarily involved a shift from what to what?
- Farming to hunting
- Hand production to machine manufacturing (Correct answer)
- Trade to subsistence
- Cities to villages
Correct answer: Hand production to machine manufacturing
It marked the move from manual labor to mechanized factory production.
Question 6: Which right is protected by the First Amendment?
- Right to bear arms
- Freedom of speech (Correct answer)
- Right to a speedy trial
- Protection from unreasonable searches
Correct answer: Freedom of speech
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
Question 7: A pie chart showing a country's budget would best be used to display what?
- Change over time
- Parts of a whole (Correct answer)
- Geographic location
- Cause and effect
Correct answer: Parts of a whole
Pie charts illustrate proportions of a total.
TASC Social Studies 2
Which document begins with the phrase 'We the People of the United States'?