132 TExES Social Studies 8 - 12 Exam Practice Questions
1. Social Studies is composed of:
A. History and Cultural Influences
B. Astronomy
C. Science
D. All of the above
2. Cultural diversity includes:
A. Differences in traditions
B. Understanding of moral issues
C. Group interactions
D. All of the above
3. 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
4. Economics is a:
A. Social science
B. Life science
C. Biological science
D. All of the above
5. Which of the following is not an economic system?
A. Capitalism
B. Imperialism
C. Mercantilism
D. Communism
6. Geography studies:
A. Places, cultures and ideas
B. The origin of man
C. Economic systems
D. All of the above
7. Social behavior includes:
A. Social Action
B. Social Interaction
C. Social Relations
D. All of the above
8. World history and geography are linked by:
A. Map reading skills
B. Location and Events
C. Topography
D. All of the above
9. What does the United States motto, E Pluribus Unum, symbolize?
A. Freedom from England
B. The Constitution
C. Combination of many cultures
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 132
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
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.
3. 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 rights and the rights of others against those who would abuse or deny those rights.
4. Answer: A
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 determine availability and prices, which helps define the market for a particular commodity.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Answer: D
Hierarchal social behavior includes:
Social Action is activity modified by actions and reactions of other individuals.
Rational: Taken to reach a goal; usually without thought to consequences or means
Instrumental: Planned, evaluated and taken after considering means and consequences
Emotional: Express personal feelings
Traditional: Taken simply because it is always done in a certain situation
Social Interaction is a meeting in which the participants attach and interpret meaning to a dynamic situation and react accordingly.
Accidental: Unplanned and probably won't reoccur
Repeated: Unplanned but will happen occasionally
Regular: Unplanned but very common; will be noted if missed
Regulated: Planned and will definitely raise questions if missed
Social Relations are interactions between individuals or groups in the same clan, social class, organization, country, gender or any grouping of people with a common denominator. "Social" infers some kind of association based on mutual dependence and belonging.
8. Answer: B
The U.S. Department of Education says, "Key concepts of geography, such as location, place and region are tied inseparably to major ideas of history such as time, period and events. Geography and history in tandem enable learners to understand how events and places have affected each other across time." This statement clearly explains the reasons history and geography should be studied together. One without the other merely offers isolated dates and individual facts. This doesn't allow students to understand how they are connected to one another and how each affected the other. World history examines common patterns found in all cultures, as well as why differences have evolved. To understand how man and his various societal structures developed, it is necessary to study all areas that impact the evolution; political science, anthropology, sociology, economics, geography and the arts. In this age of globalization, understanding how individual nations define these areas is important to developing a stable world economy and helps to prevent misunderstandings between countries.
9. Answer: C
E Pluribus Unum means "from many, one." Found on coins and paper money and seen on public buildings, the phrase was first used to unify the original thirteen colonies during the American Revolution. As the country grew and opened its doors to welcome immigrants from hundreds of different nations, it came to symbolize what this country is about: A second chance that comes from hard work and respect for the differences that make up the American experience. These new citizens found ways to assimilate into a free and open society while keeping the best of their native lands. American culture is a combination of traditions, foods, the arts and religious practices of many different nationalities. Never in history has another nation been created from so many different languages, histories and cultures.
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
- Reliability means data adds to background knowledge
- Consequences reflect desired effect on students, teachers and educational system
Last Updated: 02/21/2013