118 TExES Social Studies 4 - 8 Exam Practice Questions
1. Social Studies is composed of:
A. History and Cultural Influences
B. Astronomy
C. Science
D. All of the above
2. List ways students use connected data.
A. Understand new facts
B. Integrate information
C. Apply lessons in other areas
D. All of the above
3. Cultural diversity includes:
A. Differences in traditions
B. Understanding of moral issues
C. Group interactions
D. All of the above
4. The privileges and responsibilities of citizenship may include:
A. Obeying the laws
B. Owning a house
C. Going to school
D. All of the above
5. Economics is:
A. A subdiscipline of earth sciences
B. An isolated subject
C. Studied at the micro and macro levels
D. All of the above
6. Which of the following is not an economic system?
A. Capitalism
B. Imperialism
C. Mercantilism
D. Communism
7. Forms of government include:
A. Sovereignty
B. Parliamentary
C. Socialism
D. All of the above
8. Geography studies:
A. Places, cultures and ideas
B. Social structure and human behavior
C. Other planets
D. All of the above
9. Classroom communication methods may include the following:
A. Encourage participation
B. Are decided on by the teacher
C. Are independent of general curriculum
D. All of the above
10. Technical quality criteria regarding student assessment includes:
A. Math and Science grades
B. Cognition and performance measures
C. Judges memorization skills
D. All of the above
ANSWER KEY EXAM 118
1. Answer: A
Social studies is composed of history and the social sciences (government, citizenship, sociology, economics, cultural influences and the effects of technology). Imparting the values and mores of society to impressionable young people and teaching them how to be involved, engaged, active members of the world is a huge responsibility. It is critical teachers use real situations and prod students to use their creativity and unique vision of events to dissect problems and devise solutions. Part of the process is to challenge their thinking and viewpoints by offering stimulating subjects from which to select their reading, writing, discussion and debate topics. The projects need to combine independent study with group responsibilities because this is the way the real world works: People bring their unique perspective to the group and the group reaches a consensus on the best way to tackle a problem. Social studies is a class that can and should be realistic preparation for participation as an adult member of society.
2. Answer: D
A great way to engage adolescents in the learning process is to offer them material that is interesting to them on topics they care about. This helps them understand their world better. It is imperative teachers make connections between data learned and skills acquired in one class and show students how to apply the knowledge in other disciplines. Connected data can be used to understand new facts, integrate new information and apply lessons learned in one area to problems posed in another. The ability to see the relationship between seemingly unrelated topics and events requires critical thinking and advanced reasoning skills. As students share ideas and ask questions during discussions, alternate perspectives are presented, considered and integrated. When students explore the relationship between activities and attitudes in school, at home and in the neighborhood, they gradually begin to understand that individual actions have far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate environment.
3. Answer: D
When diversity is used to describe a society, it refers to the cultural characteristics found within the language, dress, arts and traditions of the aggregate group. There are differences in how individual groups are organized, their understanding of morality and the ways in which each group interacts, both inside and outside their circle. Members of an ethnic group usually identify with a shared ancestry and are frequently bound by a common language, cultural heritage, religious belief and behavior patterns. When students are taught to appreciate diversity, it enables them to function more effectively in a complex, multicultural society. Integrating information about and studying the impact of all cultures greatly enhances students' ability to get along with different racial, ethnic and gender groups. America may be a melting pot; but that pot contains the hopes, dreams, history and struggles of many ethnic groups. Each one made unique contributions to the society we have today.
4. Answer: A
The American Heritage College Dictionary defines citizenship as: "The status of a citizen with its attendant duties, rights and privileges," and a citizen as "a person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation." Both are important to understanding the term. Teaching citizenship means explaining the benefits of pledging allegiance to a country, but also outlining the responsibilities that accompany the privileges and protection of that country. Responsibilities include paying taxes, serving in the armed forces and obeying the laws; even when out of the country. Moral and ethical duties are a little more difficult to define. A citizen should be committed to his community, exercise his right to vote, work to improve the quality of life for everyone and offer constructive criticism when warranted. A citizen has a responsibility to respect and be prepared to defend his/her rights and the rights of others against those who would abuse or deny those rights.
5. Answer: C
Economics is the social science that studies the production, allocation and use of goods and services.
Economists research issues and analyze data to determine the most effective ways to use scarce resources to meet the needs of the greatest number of people. Because the world of the twenty-first century is connected in many ways, the economies of every nation play a role in the production, distribution and consumption of all resources and commodities. Therefore, it is important to take a global view in order to truly understand how economics works. Macroeconomics includes the value of goods and services produced, the total personal and business income earned, how many employable people are working at any one time and how and why prices change. Microeconomics studies the components of the national economy including individual companies, households and consumers. It analyzes how production and consumption determines availability and prices, which helps define the market for a particular commodity.
6. Answer: B
Capitalism is a free-market economy. In this free-enterprise system, people own businesses and property and buy goods and services. Because of the establishment of monetary systems and legal rules, mercantilism provided the foundation for the formation of capitalism. Mercantilism relied on government regulation to control the flow of goods and services between rivals. The worth of the economy and the power of the government were based on how much gold and silver was in the treasury. This led to trade treaties designed to increase the possession of precious metals.
Socialism is considered a transitional state between communism and capitalism. The government owns most large industries and provides education and health and welfare benefits. The citizens are given some choices. The Soviet Union is an example of centralized socialism. Denmark and Sweden are examples of non-communist socialism. Communism is a system where the community owns all assets and resources are divided according to need. In practice, the government owns all property and industries and controls production allocation based on strict class divisions and status.
7. Answer: B
A Republic is governed by representatives freely elected by the people for a specific period of time. In a democratic republic the majority of the population has the opportunity to help decide who will govern their country. A Parliamentary form of government is run by representatives who are chosen from a particular political party. Each stays in office as long as his party is in power.
In a Monarchy, the king or queen has power because of his or her lineage. The title is passed through family ties. Sometimes the monarch is merely a figurehead, other times he or she has absolute power. A Dictatorship is ruled by one person who has not been elected. He/she may have come to power as the result of a coup or revolution. Force is frequently used to maintain control through fear and intimidation.
8. Answer: A
Geography is the study of earth and its human, animal and plant populations and how they interact. It is considered the "mother of all sciences." Human beings have always been curious about "over there." Satisfying that curiosity by discovering and exploring new places, cultures and ideas became the building blocks of geography. Studying geography helps us learn how to be better stewards of our earth and its resources. Cultural Geography is the study of how human culture interacts with the land. It is a broad field that includes language, religion, medicine, politics, population and demographics, urban and rural areas, transportation systems, economics, entertainment and food choices. Physical Geography is the study of the surface of the earth. The earth sciences are concerned with the lithosphere, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. These three working together create the conditions needed to sustain the biosphere, which is composed of all living organisms. 9. Answer: A
It is important to recognize that the goal of classroom communication is to foster an environment that encourages participation where no one is inhibited or prevented from participating because of teaching methods. Participation is predicated on teacher and student expectations, instructional strategies and classroom atmosphere. It is important to develop class rules for discussions, provide frequent feedback and ask for student input to ensure teaching practices are in line with student perceptions of reasonable opportunities to actively engage. Calling on a student can be both motivating and intimidating depending upon the student and the situation. When a question is asked, a problem posed or a solution required, students need time to think about the information and formulate a response. Acknowledging every contribution encourages additional participation.
10. Answer: B
Technical Quality criteria suggested by The National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing:
- Cognitive Complexity tests problem-solving, critical thinking, reasoning ability.
- Content Quality demonstrates subject knowledge.
- Meaningfulness of tasks is clear.
- Language used is appropriate to the age and grade level.
- Transfer and Generalization indicates ability to complete similar tasks; results permit valid generalization about learning capabilities.
- Fairness of performance measurements and scoring is present.
- Reliability means data adds to background knowledge.
- Consequences reflect desired effect on students, teachers and educational system.
Last Updated: 02/21/2013