Benjamin's Praxis Blog
Praxis Elementary Education: Social Studies (5004) - Part 2
Facts from previous sample tests
I. United States History, Government, and Citizenship
Which of the following events of the American Revolution occurred last?
- A.The passage of the Intolerable Acts
- B.The dumping of tea into Boston Harbor
- C.The signing of the Declaration of Independence
- D.The Battle of Yorktown
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. In 1781, General George Washington and the Continental army attacked and captured the British fort at Yorktown, Virginia. This victory led to the surrender of British General Cornwallis and peace negotiations to end the American Revolution began soon after.
Which of the following forms of government consists of a union of several countries with some or most power shared between them?
- A.Dictatorship
- B.Republic
- C.Confederation
- D.Monarchy
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. A confederation consists of a union of several states or countries, united for a common purpose. Confederations occasionally have a central authority, but the majority of the power lies with the states or countries.
Which of the following actions contained a controversial fugitive slave provision?
- A.The Compromise of 1850
- B.The Missouri Compromise
- C.The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. Part of the Compromise of 1850 was the provision that any runaway slave found in a non-slave state had to be sent back to the South.
Which of the following documents was the initial attempt by the American colonists to establish an independent government?
- A.The Bill of Rights
- B.The Articles of Confederation
- C.The Declaration of Independence
- D.The Constitution of the United States
Correct Answer: B
Option (B) is correct. The Articles of Confederation were the first attempt by the colonists to create a government. They were ratified in 1781 and created a confederation of states and a weak central government. The states held the majority of the governmental power.
Which of the following American Civil War battles immediately preceded the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation?
- A.Battle of Gettysburg
- B.Battle of Bull Run
- C.Battle of Antietam
- D.Battle of Vicksburg
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. Lincoln was advised to wait for a decisive Union victory before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation to show that the Union could enforce the Proclamation. The Battle of Antietam ended with the Confederates being driven out of Maryland. Lincoln felt comfortable enough with this to issue the Proclamation five days after the battle.
Which of the following European nations was the first to colonize the southwestern United States?
- A.Spain
- B.Portugal
- C.France
- D.England
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. Spain was the first European nation to explore and colonize the Southwestern United States as early as the mid 1500sfifteen hundreds.
Which of the following was a reaction by the American public to tensions created by the Cold War?
- A.A decline in entrepreneurship
- B.The mass migration of minorities to rural areas
- C.The construction of private bomb shelters
- D.A reduction in consumer spending
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. During the 1950snineteen fifties and 1960snineteen sixties people in the United States built private bomb shelters because of the fear of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.
Which of the following amendments to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote?
- A.Thirteenth
- B.Fifteenth
- C.Seventeenth
- D.Nineteenth
Option (D) is correct. The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920, giving women the right to vote in the United States.
Which of the following statements is correct about the Battles of Lexington and Concord?
- A.The battles convinced the French to aid the Continental army.
- B.General Washington crossed the Potomac to engage in the battles.
- C.The battles marked the start of the war with Great Britain.
- D.General Cornwallis agreed to surrender after the battles.
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. Although the Americans had not yet declared independence, the Battles of Lexington and Concord are known as the first battles of the war.
Which of the following events took place as a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 ?
- A.Members of the Seminole tribe peaceably relocated to Florida.
- B.The United States Army relocated members of the Creek Nation to Georgia.
- C.The Sioux were the only remaining tribes in the southeastern United States.
- D.Members of the Cherokee Nation were forced to move to the western United States.
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. The Cherokee refused to leave their land, even suing for their rights. However, they were eventually forced to relocate in 1838 and 1839 in a migration that is known as the Trail of Tears.
Which of the following is a shared power between state and federal governments?
- A.Making treaties with nations
- B.Appointing local judges
- C.Raising taxes
- D.Passing city ordinances
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. Both the federal government and state government can levy and raise taxes.
Which of the following statements best describes indentured servants during the American colonial period?
- A.They obtained their freedom once their contract was completed.
- B.They consisted primarily of young women and children.
- C.The majority served in wealthy homes in the northern colonies.
- D.They paid higher taxes to offset the cost of their trip to the Americas.
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. Indentured servants in the American colonies typically served for seven years and received their freedom and a plot of land when their service was complete.
- Boston Tea Party
- Boston Massacre
- Intolerable Acts
The actions listed contributed to which of the following events?
- A.The French and Indian War
- B.The American Revolution
- C.The Proclamation of 1763
- D.The War of 1812
Correct Answer: B
Option (B) is correct. The three actions listed contributed to the start of the American Revolutionary War.
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
Which of the following amendments to the Constitution contains this text?
- A.Thirteenth
- B.Fourteenth
- C.Fifteenth
- D.Nineteenth
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. The Fifteenth Amendment granted the right to vote to all male citizens.
Which of the following rights did Thomas Jefferson believe John Adams violated when he signed the Alien and Sedition Acts into law?
- A.The right to bear arms
- B.Freedom of the press
- C.The right to assemble peacefully
- D.Unreasonable searches and seizures
Correct Answer: B
Option (B) is correct. Thomas Jefferson argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the freedom of speech and press.
Which of the following statements describes an advantage the South had over the North during the Civil War?
- A.They had a larger population to provide troops for their army.
- B.They had greater access to railroads to move their troops.
- C.They had more manufacturing centers to produce munitions.
- D.They had more experienced generals to lead their troops.
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. The South had commanders which included Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Their military leaders had more experience than the Northern military leaders.
Which of the following events had the greatest impact on the size of the United States?
- A.The Gadsden Purchase
- B.The Louisiana Purchase
- C.The Oregon Treaty
- D.The annexation of Texas
Option (B) is correct. The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 for $15 million increased the size of the United States by adding 828,000 square miles.
Which of the following is a responsibility of the executive branch?
- A.Ratifying proposed amendments to the Constitution
- B.Declaring war on countries that threaten national security
- C.Signing proposed bills into law
- D.Declaring laws that infringe on personal freedoms unconstitutional
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. It is a responsibility of the president to sign bills into law.
The destruction of the USSU S S Maine led to the start of which of the following events?
- A.Spanish-American War
- B.First World War
- C.Mexican-American War
- D.War of 1812
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba, in February 1898 prompted the United States to declare war on Spain, beginning the Spanish-American War.
Which of the following best explains why the expansion of the American colonies was limited under British rule?
- A.The Spanish held the territory west of the Appalachian Mountains.
- B.Bad weather and poor soil prevented crops from growing south of the colonies.
- C.Most of the American colonists were fishermen and lived along the eastern shoreline.
- D.The Proclamation of 1763 prevented the colonists from migrating west.
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. The Proclamation of 1763 forbade any settlement by English colonists west of the Appalachian Mountains. The British refused to provide protection to colonists settling in this area.
Which of the following individuals is most known for his contributions to aviation?
- A.Henry Ford
- B.Andrew Carnegie
- C.Mark Twain
- D.Charles Lindbergh
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. Charles Lindbergh contributed to aviation by making the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.
Following the Civil War, poll taxes were primarily used in the South to deny access to which of the following?
- A.Voting
- B.Public education
- C.Employment
- D.Military service
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. Poll taxes were passed to deny many African Americans the right to vote.
Which of the following events most contributed to the start of the American Revolution?
- A.The British taxing the colonists to pay for the French and Indian War
- B.The blockade of the American colonies by the British navy
- C.The drafting of the Constitution by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia
- D.The commissioning of George Washington as commander of the Continental army
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. At the conclusion of the French and Indian War, the British imposed taxes to help pay debts from the war. As a result of these taxes, American colonists began resisting British rule.
“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the Negro group. . . . Any language in contrary to this finding is rejected. We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”
Earl Warren, chief justice of the United States Supreme Court
Which of the following court cases did this ruling overturn?
- A.Plessy vversus. Ferguson
- B.Regents of the University of California vversus. Bakke
- C.Dred Scott vversus. Sandford
- D.Korematsu vversus.United States
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. The Brown vversus. Board of Education ruling overturned the Plessy vversus. Ferguson ruling, declaring “separate but equal” to be unconstitutional.
Which of the following describes the compromise over slavery that the delegates agreed upon during the Constitutional Convention?
- A.Delegates agreed on how slaves would be counted in the census.
- B.People in a territory could vote on whether slavery would be permitted.
- C.Once a territory became a state, slavery would not be permitted.
- D.The government agreed to use federal troops to capture escaped slaves.
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the northern and southern states debated how slaves should be counted when determining a state’s total population. A state’s population determined the number of representatives per state. A compromise was reached where each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person. This measure was called the Three-Fifths Compromise.
- Founded by people who escaped religious persecution in England
- Engaged in farming, fishing, and whaling
- Led by John Winthrop
Which of the following American colonies does the information describe?
- A.Georgia
- B.Virginia
- C.Massachusetts
- D.Pennsylvania
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. Led by John Winthrop, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by colonists who were escaping religious persecution in England and whose livelihoods in the new colony primarily consisted of farming, fishing, and whaling.
Which of the following elements is contained in the United States Constitution but not in the Articles of Confederation?
- A.A process to propose and approve amendments
- B.The power for Congress to declare war
- C.The establishment of an executive branch
- D.A unicameral legislative structure
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. Under the Articles of Confederation there was no executive branch. There was a president, but he had a primarily ceremonial role within Congress.
II. Geography, Anthropology, and Sociology
Which of the following statements describes a characteristic of Turkey’s largest city?
- A.It has a very high altitude.
- B.It has a tropical climate.
- C.It is the country’s largest manufacturing center.
- D.It is considered part of Europe and Asia.
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. Turkey is geographically and politically part of Europe and Asia. Part of Turkey lies in Europe and the remainder of the landmass, including Anatolia, lies in Asia. Istanbul is the only city in the world that is considered part of two continents.
The Ring of Fire region is best known for which of the following characteristics?
- A.Slash-and-burn agriculture
- B.High levels of seismic activity
- C.Severe drought conditions
- D.High number of wildfires
Correct Answer: B
Option (B) is correct. The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
Answer the question below by clicking on the correct response.
Question: Which of the following statements describes a characteristic of Turkey’s largest city?
- A.It has a very high altitude.
- B.It has a tropical climate.
- C.It is the country’s largest manufacturing center.
- D.It is considered part of Europe and Asia.
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. Turkey is geographically and politically part of Europe and Asia. Part of Turkey lies in Europe and the remainder of the landmass, including Anatolia, lies in Asia. Istanbul is the only city in the world that is considered part of two continents.
Which of the following are the main religions in Nepal?
- A.Sikhism and Buddhism
- B.Buddhism and Confucianism
- C.Hinduism and Buddhism
- D.Christianity and Judaism
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions practiced in Nepal.
Which of the following countries is known as the breadbasket of Europe?
- A.Ukraine
- B.France
- C.Ireland
- D.Poland
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. The rich dark soil and the vast fields of wheat and other food products have earned Ukraine the nickname “breadbasket of Europe.”
Which of the following did Thomas Malthus theorize?
- A.An increase in population will stimulate society to increase food production.
- B.If left unchecked, a population will exhaust its available resources, resulting in naturally occurring checks on the population, such as famine, disease, and war.
- C.Overpopulation can lead to unsuitable farming practices that may degrade the land.
- D.Optimum population is achieved when the number of people working with available resources produces the highest economic return, resulting in the highest standard of living.
Correct Answer: B
Option (B) is correct. According to Malthus, if allowed to grow unchecked, a population would outstrip its available resources, resulting in what came to be known as Malthusian catastrophes: naturally occurring checks on population growth such as famine, disease, and war.
Which of the following are the most common geological threats to the country of Mexico?
- A.Hurricanes and tsunamis
- B.Tornadoes and blizzards
- C.Volcanoes and earthquakes
- D.Tsunamis and landslides
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. The biggest geological threats Mexico faces are volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Which of the following has occurred as a result of China’s rapid economic growth?
- A.China is no longer one of the world's largest miners of natural resources.
- B.China has become the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products.
- C.China has become the world’s largest importer of consumer goods.
- D.China has become one of the world’s largest emitters of carbon dioxide.
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. China’s industrial expansion has increased its use of fossil fuels, and consequently increased its carbon dioxide emissions.
Answer the question below by clicking on the correct response.
Question:Which of the following is accurate about the geography of Peru?
- A.Its coastal region is comprised of desert.
- B.The majority of the country is made up of grasslands.
- C.The country has mostly rolling hills and very few mountains.
- D.It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and has few water features.
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. The coast of Peru is comprised of close to 3,000 kilometers of desert.
Which of the following time zones is located between California and Texas?
- A.Mountain
- B.Central
- C.Eastern
- D.Pacific
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. California is located in the Pacific time zone and Texas is in the Central time zone. The Mountain time zone is located between the Pacific and Central time zones.
Which of the following countries have territorial claims in Kashmir?
- A.India, Pakistan, and China
- B.Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran
- C.Iran, Iraq, and Russia
- D.Russia, China, and India
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. The countries of India, Pakistan, and China are in a triangular conflict in Kashmir because all three countries make territorial claims in Kashmir.
Which of the following best explains how intensive agriculture, poor irrigation practices, and overgrazing have affected the environment?
- A.They have contributed to the desertification of areas.
- B.They have increased the potential for droughts to occur.
- C.They have prevented deforestation from occurring in tropical regions.
- D.They have caused carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to decline.
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. Human activities that contribute to desertification include the expansion and intensive use of agricultural lands, poor irrigation practices, deforestation, and overgrazing. These practices place enormous pressure on the land by changing its soil chemistry and hydrology. Overexploited lands suffer from erosion, soil salinization, loss of productivity, and decreased resilience to climatic variations.
Which of the following is the best example of how humans impact topography?
- A.Using technology to predict earthquakes
- B.Mapping a local river system
- C.Strip-mining an area for minerals
- D.Migrating from rural to urban areas
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. Strip-mining removes large sections of land from an area. It can remove the tops from mountains, altering their elevation and the way precipitation runoff sculpts the remainder of the landscape.
Which of the following helped many homesteaders to establish farms on the Great Plains during the 1800seighteen hundreds?
- A.Windmills to pump water for irrigation
- B.Levees to control flooding
- C.Steel to construct cities to withstand earthquakes
- D.Cars to transport crops to markets
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. Homesteaders utilized windmills to pump water for irrigation on the Great Plains.
Which of the following best explains the significance of the Suez Canal?
- A.It is an important shipping gateway in Europe linking the North Sea to the Black Sea.
- B.It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, expediting trade between North America, South America, and Asia.
- C.It is an important shipping route connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
- D.It connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, expediting trade between Europe and Asia.
Correct Answer: D
Option (D) is correct. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas, providing the shortest maritime route between Europe and the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
Which of the following regions is the vast, cold, dry region of eastern Russia?
- A.Beringia
- B.Siberia
- C.The Ural Mountains
- D.The Baltic coast
Correct Answer: B
Option (B) is correct. Siberia is the vast Russian province encompassing most of Northern Asia with extremely cold winters and low precipitation.
In which of the following regions is Islam the predominant religion?
- A.Northern Africa
- B.Western Europe
- C.Northern South America
- D.Eastern Asia
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. A large portion of the population in the northern region of Africa is Muslim.
Which of the following regions has the greatest frequency of tornadoes?
- A.The Middle East
- B.The east coast of Australia
- C.The midwestern United States
- D.The Far East
Correct Answer: C
Option (C) is correct. The midwestern United States has the greatest frequency of tornadoes.
Which of the following countries received its independence from Great Britain in 1947?
- A.India
- B.Argentina
- C.The Philippines
- D.Peru
Correct Answer: A
Option (A) is correct. India was a colony of Great Britain and received its independence in 1947.