GED® Social Studies Unit 3 Practice Flashcards

GED® Social Studies Test Overview and Evaluation Criteria

The GED® Social Studies Test is designed to evaluate the candidate's ability to understand, interpret, and apply information across various contexts.
The test duration is exactly $70$ minutes.
The test consists of $35$ questions.
Passing requires a minimum score of $145$ .
Question materials include reading passages and an array of graphics: charts, graphs, diagrams, editorial cartoons, photographs, and maps.
The test is divided into four primary content areas: - Civics and Government ( $50\%$ ): Covers modern and historic governments, constitutional government, levels and branches of the U.S. government, the electoral system, and the role of the citizen. - U.S. History ( $20\%$ ): Spans from colonialism and the American Revolution to the Civil War, Reconstruction, industrialization, immigration, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, and civil rights movements. - Economics ( $15\%$ ): Includes basic economic concepts, systems, the relationship between government and the economy, and labor/consumer issues. - Geography and the World ( $15\%$ ): Covers major world history stages and the relationship between resources, environment, and societies.

Social Studies Practices and Analytical Skills

The test emphasizes "Social Studies Practices," which are foundational analytical skills: - Determine central ideas, inferences, hypotheses, and conclusions. - Analyze words, events, and ideas within social studies contexts. - Analyze the author’s purpose and point of view. - Evaluate the author’s reasoning and evidence. - Analyze and integrate relationships within and between social studies materials. - Interpret data and statistics in visual formats like graphs and charts. - Calculate statistical measures: Average (mean), Median, and Mode.

Test Question Formats and Digital Environment Resources

There are five computer-based question formats: - Multiple-choice: Four options ( $A$ through $D$ ). - Fill-in-the-blank: Requires typing a specific word, phrase, or number into a box. - Drop-down: Selecting a response from a menu to complete a statement. - Hot-spot: Clicking specific points or graphics on an image. - Drag-and-drop: Moving images, words, or numerical expressions to specific locations.
Mathematical Tools: - A calculator icon is provided at the top of the screen when permitted. - Permitted model: Texas Instruments TI-30XS MultiView™ (either handheld or on-screen version). - An online Calculator Reference Sheet is available for usage assistance. - An off-line wipe-off board is provided for use as scratch paper.

Mathematical Application: Calculating the Average (Mean)

Some questions require finding the central tendency of a data set.
Example Procedure for finding the average median household income of five states (Hawaii: $59,047$ , Kentucky: $39,856$ , Maryland: $68,876$ , New Mexico: $41,982$ , New York: $50,636$ ): - Step 1: Establish the formula: $\text{Average} = \frac{\text{sum of amounts}}{\text{number of amounts}}$ . - Step 2: Sum the amounts: $59,047 + 39,856 + 68,876 + 41,982 + 50,636 = 260,397$ . - Step 3: Divide the sum by the number of data points ( $5$ ): $\frac{260,397}{5} = 52,079.40$ . - Step 4: Round to the nearest dollar if requested: $52,079$ .

Chapter 1: Foundations of Social Studies Interpretation

Central Idea vs. Details: - The central idea is the topic or main point; details are examples that support that point. - Example: A passage on privateers in the Revolutionary War. Topic: The importance of colonial privateers. Supporting detail: Privateers captured over $2,000$ enemy ships using $14,000$ guns.
Inferences and Conclusions: - Inferences involve going beyond the explicitly stated text to understand implied meaning. - Example: A graph showing cake production rising as more bakers are added leads to the conclusion that productivity is linked to the number of bakers.
Chronological Order and Cause/Effect: - Timelines are read from left to right (oldest to most recent). - Example: Carbon arc lightbulb ( $1877$ ) preceded the carbon filament lightbulb ( $1879$ ). - Cause and Effect: Identifying what made an event happen or what resulted from it.
Supply and Demand Relationships: - When supply > demand, prices typically fall to stimulate sales. - When demand > supply, prices typically rise as consumers compete for limited items.
Author Purpose and Bias: - Material may inform (textbooks) or persuade (editorials). - Bias: A tendency to see one point of view. Propaganda is an extreme bias that uses selectively included facts and "loaded words" to trigger emotional responses. - Fact: Information that can be proven true (e.g., "Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution"). - Opinion: Beliefs without evidence (e.g., "We should limit federal government roles"). - Judgment: Conclusions supported by reasoning (e.g., "Because it raises payroll taxes, the bill may contribute to unemployment").
Narrative Case Study: Immigration ( $1820$ to $1870$ ): - Over $7.5\,\text{million}$ immigrants arrived, mostly from Northern Europe. - "Push" factors: German crop failures, Irish potato famine (killed $700,000$ people). - "Pull" factors: Letters describing the U.S. as a "land of plenty," advertisements by steamship companies showing American abundance.

Chapter 2: United States History

Early Exploration and Colonialism: - First Americans crossed the Bering Strait from Asia. - Christopher Columbus (Spain) traveled west in $1492$ . - Jamestown, Virginia ( $1607$ ): First permanent English settlement. - Pilgrims/Mayflower ( $1620$ ): Massachusetts colony. - Slavery intensification: Large-scale importation of enslaved Africans began around $1675$ for the Southern plantation system.
The American Revolution: - French and Indian War ( $1754$ – $1763$ ) left England in debt, leading to new taxes. - Declaration of Independence: July $4$ , $1776$ . - War ended in $1781$ at Yorktown; formal recognition of independence in $1783$ . - Articles of Confederation: First weak national government focusing on state control. - U.S. Constitution: Ratified in $1788$ ; Bill of Rights followed to protect individual freedoms.
The Civil War and Reconstruction ( $1861$ – $1877$ ): - Northern economy: Based on industry, commerce, and paid labor. - Southern economy: Based on agriculture (cotton) and slave labor. - Abraham Lincoln’s election ( $1860$ ) triggered secession; Civil War began in April $1861$ . - Confederate surrender: Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant in $1865$ . - Reconstruction: $12$ -year period of federal oversight in the South. Ended with the rise of sharecropping and Jim Crow laws that restricted Black voting rights.
Industrialization and Progressivism: - Rapid growth post- $1850$ due to natural resources, new machinery, and a doubling population (last $40$ years of the $1800s$ ). - Labor Unions: Formed to fight for higher wages and safer conditions (e.g., $8$ -hour workday). - Progressive Era: Reformers focused on child labor, national parks, and women’s suffrage.
The Global Eras: - Imperialism: Spanish-American War ( $1898$ ) resulted in U.S. control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and Guam. - World War I ( $1914$ – $1918$ ): Allies (Britain, Russia, France) vs. Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire). U.S. entered in $1917$ . - Great Depression ( $1929$ ): Led to the rise of fascism in Europe. - World War II ( $1939$ – $1945$ ): Allies vs. Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan). U.S. entered after Pearl Harbor ( $1941$ ). - Cold War ( $1945$ – $1991$ ): Superpower struggle between U.S. (capitalist) and Soviet Union (communist). Included Korean and Vietnam Wars and ended with the dissolution of the USSR.

Chapter 3: Civics and Government

Historical Types of Government: - Democracy: "Rule of the people" (Ancient Athens, approx. $500\,\text{B.C.E.}$ ; citizens were free male landowners). - Monarchy: Rule of one (king/queen). - Aristocracy: Rule of an elite class. - Theocracy: Rule of the church. - Anarchy: Rule of the mob. - Oligarchy: Rule by a small group (e.g., China's Communist party leaders). - Direct Democracy: Citizens vote on laws directly. - Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives (U.S. system).
Key Influence Documents: - Magna Carta ( $1215$ ): Limited king's absolute power. - Habeas Corpus: Legal doctrine against imprisonment without trial. - Enlightenment: Philosophies emphasizing reason/rights (Adam Smith, John Locke, Voltaire).
U.S. Constitutional Structure: - Preamble: Introduction stating goals (unity, peace, prosperity). - Supremacy Clause (Article $6$ ): Constitution is the "supreme law of the land." - Federalism: Shared power between national and state governments. - Amendment Process: Requires $2/3$ vote in both houses of Congress and ratification by $3/4$ of states.
Amendments to Know: - $13th$ : Outlawed slavery ( $1865$ ). - $14th$ : Citizenship and equal protection ( $1868$ ). - $15th$ : Black male suffrage ( $1870$ ). - $19th$ : Women's suffrage ( $1920$ ). - $22nd$ : Two-term presidential limit ( $1951$ ). - $24th$ : Banned poll taxes ( $1964$ ). - $26th$ : Lowered voting age to $18$ ( $1971$ ).
Three Branches of Government: - Executive: President and Cabinet; enforces laws; leadership. - Legislative: House and Senate (Congress); makes laws. - Representatives: $2$ -year terms. - Senators: $6$ -year terms. - Judicial: Federal courts and Supreme Court; interprets laws/disputes; lifetime appointments for judges. - Checks and Balances: Veto, over-riding vetos, judicial review.
The Electoral System: - Dominant parties: Democrats and Republicans. - Primary elections select party candidates for the general election. - Electoral College: Candidates must win the majority of electoral votes to become President.
Citizenship Categories (Aliens): - Resident alien: Permanent resident. - Nonresident alien: Brief, specified stay. - Enemy alien: Citizen of a nation at war with the U.S. - Refugee: Fleeing persecution. - Illegal alien: Lacks legal documentation.

Chapter 4: Economics

Factors of Production: - Land: Includes natural resources. - Capital: Equipment, buildings, money. - Labor: Human work transforming capital into value. - Entrepreneurs: Individuals who organize factors for profit.
Market Concepts: - Producer goods: Materials used to build other things (e.g., plastic). - Consumer goods: Finished products for sale (e.g., a cell phone). - Private ownership and Incentives: Property owners have a stake in the value of their holdings.
Business Cycle Phases: 1. Growth: Investment and expansion. 2. Slowdown: Factors like resource limits slow growth. 3. Recession/Depression: High unemployment, production cutbacks ( $2008$ – $2012$ showed significant deficits). 4. Recovery: Slow move back to growth.
Government Economic Policy: - Fiscal Policy: Changing taxes and spending. - Monetary Policy: Federal Reserve (the "Fed") managing the money supply and interest rates. - Budget Surplus: Revenue > Expenditures. - Budget Deficit: Expenditures > Revenue.
Economic Agencies: - FDIC: Insures individual bank accounts. - OSHA: Protects worker health/safety. - FDA: Ensures food/drug safety. - FTC: Regulates advertising/labels to prevent fraud.
Labor Relations: - Total Compensation: Sum of wages plus benefits (health insurance, etc.). - Collective Bargaining: Unions negotiating for all members. - Strike: Workers refuse to work to leverage negotiations.

Chapter 5: Geography and the World

Early Civilizations Legacy: - Egypt: Nile flooding, pharaohs, pyramids built by slaves. - Sumer/Babylon: Irrigation, Code of Hammurabi (approx. $1700\,\text{B.C.E.}$ ; "eye for an eye" laws). - Classical Greece: Sea-based, Athens democracy. - Rome: Elected Senate, legal doctrine of "innocent until proven guilty," infrastructure (roads, bridges). - Americas: Maya (astronomy/math), Inca (roads/government), Aztec (calendar/writing).
Middle Ages and Renaissance: - Feudalism: Manorial system with knights, nobles, and peasants. - Crusades: Wars between Christians and Muslims ( $570\,\text{C.E.}$ foundation of Islam); opened trade routes to the East. - Reformation: Split from Catholic Church; formation of Protestantism (authority of the Bible over the Pope).
Era of Revolutions: - French Revolution ( $1789$ ): Overthrew absolute monarchy; inspired by U.S. Declaration of Independence. - Industrial Revolution: Began in late $1700s$ textile industry; shifted power from aristocrats to merchants.
Population and Resources: - Migration: Movement to settle in new regions (Internal vs. International). - Urbanization: Shift from rural areas to cities; leads to suburban development due to the automobile. - Natural Resources: - Renewable: Sustained via replacement (solar, wind, timber). - Nonrenewable: Cannot be replaced (petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron). - Biodiversity: Maintaining various species; threatened by pollution and agricultural expansion.

Questions & Discussion

Congresswoman Burns vs. Concerned Citizen: - Prompt: Discussion regarding organic food safety regulations and cost. - Congresswoman Burns: Argues that increased costs are justified for peace of mind and health. - Concerned Citizen: Argues that rising prices are "a cancer" that will force families toward unhealthy fast food. - Identified "Loaded Words": The phrase "a cancer" used as an emotional trigger.
Consultant on Cambodia: - Prompt: A case about the Mekong River and energy needs. - Analysis: The statement "Damming the Mekong River could solve Cambodia’s energy supply problems" is classified as an opinion/theory, not a proven fact.
Voter Guide Assumptions: - Prompt: Passage on "Where do I vote?" - Analysis: The guide assumes the reader understands that a "board of election" is the local office responsible for voting procedures.
Historian on Civilizations: - Prompt: Ranking early societies. - Analysis: The historian uses the fact "Ancient Egypt built the pyramids" to support the subjective opinion that Greece was the "greatest" civilization.
Nixon Cartoon Interpretation: - Prompt: Cartoon of Richard Nixon addressing statues. - Identification: Nixon is addressing the framers of the Constitution regarding the Watergate scandal investigations by Congress.
Voter Turnout Trends: - Prompt: Graph showing voting by age group. - Conclusion: Data from the $2012$ election indicates that voter turnout generally increases as the age of the population increases (Age $18$ - $24$ : $38\%$ , Age $65+$ : $70\%$ ).