133 TExES History 8 - 12 Exam Practice Questions
1. Cultural diversity includes:
A. Differences in traditions
B. Understanding of moral issues
C. Group interactions
D. All of the above
2. 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
3. Economics is a:
A. Social science
B. Life science
C. Biological science
D. All of the above
4. Which of the following is not an economic system?
A. Capitalism
B. Imperialism
C. Mercantilism
D. Communism
5. Forms of government include:
A. Republic
B. Parliamentary
C. Monarchy
D. All of the above
6. Geography studies:
A. Places, cultures and ideas
B. The origin of man
C. Economic systems
D. All of the above
7. World history and geography are linked by:
A. Map reading skills
B. Location and Events
C. Topography
D. All of the above
8. 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
9. Similarities between science and technology may include:
A. Are both social sciences
B. Use empirical evidence
C. Must be studied separately
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 133
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Answer: D
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.
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: 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 and 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.
8. 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.
9. Answer: B
Science and technology are thinking activities concerned with causal relationships and use empirical evidence to prove or disprove a theory. Both require studies and tests that can be replicated. The two disciplines are so intertwined it is difficult to discuss one without the other. They have affected daily life in positive and negative ways and each has developed creative and destructive processes.
Water is essential for life. Most organisms will die in less than a week without it. When human and industrial waste is indiscriminately dumped into rivers and streams, the resulting pollution affects everyone. Air provides oxygen, a life-sustaining element. It also protects people from the harmful effects of the sun. When technology releases toxins into the air it can cause a variety of health issues.
Sound provides pleasure, is a communication tool and helps people do their jobs. When jet planes, jackhammers and cars create a cacophony of sound, it becomes noise pollution, which can cause sleep problems, headaches, stress and other physical ailments.
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
