GED Social Studies : Question Types
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Social Studies
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Example Questions
Example Question #61 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
55 B.C.E. Julius Caesar successfully invades Britain.
43 C.E. Emperor Claudius makes Britain part of the Roman Empire.
122 C.E. Hadrian’s wall is built.
383 C.E. Roman Empire begins to withdraw from Britain.
449 C.E. The Saxons and Angles arrive in Britain.
730 C.E. The Venerable Bede produces his history of the British Isles.
790 C.E. Vikings begin raiding British coasts.
842 C.E. Vikings raid London.
1016 C.E. Cnut the Great becomes King of England.
1066 C.E. William, Duke of Normandy, invades England and is crowned King.
Which of these represents the correct order of conquests of the British Isles?
Saxons; Angles; Romans; Normans; Vikings.
Romans; Vikings; Saxons; Angles; Normans.
Romans; Normans; Saxons and Angles; Vikings.
Romans; Saxons and Angles; Vikings; Normans.
Saxons and Angles; Romans; Vikings; Normans.
Romans; Saxons and Angles; Vikings; Normans.
You are told that Britain is made part of the Roman Empire in 43 C.E. so this is the first conquest. Then the Saxons and Angles arrive in 449 C.E. so this is the second conquest. The Vikings raid London in 842 C.E. so this is the third conquest. And, finally, the Normans arrive under William in 1066 C.E. and complete the timeline.
Example Question #3 : Tables, Graphs, And Charts
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
1000 Leif Ericson lands in Newfoundland.
1492 Columbus reaches the Caribbean.
1521 Hernán Cortés conquers Mexico for Spain.
1538 French settlement in St. Kitts is destroyed by the Spanish.
1565 Spanish settlement in Florida is founded.
1607 English settlement established at Jamestown.
1608 French settlement established at Quebec.
1620 Plymouth colony established by the English.
1625 Dutch colony established in New Amsterdam.
1769 Spanish colony established at San Diego.
1776 Spanish colony established in San Francisco.
1776 The United States declares independence.
Based on the timeline which of the following came first?
The French colony in Quebec
The Spanish colony in Florida
The Dutch colony in New Amsterdam
The English colony in Jamestown
American independence
The Spanish colony in Florida
The Spanish colony in Florida was settled in 1565. After this the English colony in Jamestown was established in 1607, the French colony in Quebec in 1608, the Dutch colony in New Amsterdam in 1625, and American independence in 1776.
Example Question #62 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
Ninth century Invention of gunpowder in China.
Tenth century Invention of fireworks in China.
1119 Invention of the compass in China.
1450 Invention of the mechanical moving-type printing press in Germany.
1876 Invention of the telephone in the United States.
1928 Penicillin discovered by Alexander Fleming.
1945 Completion of the Manhattan Project by the United States, Canada, and Britain.
Which of these inventions came first?
Printing Press
Gunpowder
Compass
Penicillin
Fireworks
Gunpowder
This question tests whether you can understand the data presented to you in a table form. You know that gunpowder was invented in the ninth century, fireworks in the tenth, the compass in the twelfth, the printing press in the fifteenth; and penicillin in the twentieth.
Example Question #63 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
In bold font is the name of the country, in regular font is the population (in millions) in 2008, in italics is the projected population 2025.
China 1,333; 1,458
India 1,140; 1,398
United States 304; 352
Indonesia 228; 273
Brazil 192; 223
Pakistan 166; 226
Bangladesh 160; 198
Nigeria 151; 208
In 2025 the fifth most populous country is projected to be ____________________.
Nigeria
Pakistan
Indonesia
Bangladesh
Brazil
Pakistan
In 2008, when the data in this chart comes from, the fifth most populous country is Brazil with 192 million people; however, by 2025 the population of Brazil is projected to be at 223 million, whereas the population of Pakistan is projected to be at 226 million. Therefore, in 2025, the population of Pakistan is projected to be fifth on this list and Brazil sixth.
Example Question #64 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
In bold font is the name of the country, in regular font is the population (in millions) in 2008, in italics is the projected population 2025.
China 1,333; 1,458
India 1,140; 1,398
United States 304; 352
Indonesia 228; 273
Brazil 192; 223
Pakistan 166; 226
Bangladesh 160; 198
Nigeria 151; 208
These eight countries were most likely selected because ________________.
they present a diverse and widely spread out picture of human population
they are all countries at war
they are all wealthy countries
they are all democratic countries
they are the most populated countries in the world
they are the most populated countries in the world
The purpose of this table is to show the population of various countries in the world in 2008 and what the projected population will be in 2025. You likely know that China and India are the two most populous nations on Earth, so it stands to reason that these eight countries were picked because they are the eight most heavily populated countries.
Example Question #65 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
In bold font is the name of the country, in regular font is the population (in millions) in 2008, in italics is the projected population 2025.
China 1,333; 1,458
India 1,140; 1,398
United States 304; 352
Indonesia 228; 273
Brazil 192; 223
Pakistan 166; 226
Bangladesh 160; 198
Nigeria 151; 208
Based on the data above which of these statements is most likely to be true?
Brazil is likely no longer to be on this list of the eight most heavily populated countries in 2025
There will be fewer people living in Pakistan than in Bangladesh in 2025
In 2025, the four most populous countries in the world will be the same as in 2008
The population of Earth is likely to fall between 2008 and 2025
The United States will surpass India and China by 2025
In 2025, the four most populous countries in the world will be the same as in 2008
If you look at the table you can see that the four most populous countries in 2008 are China, India, United States, and Indonesia. The data suggests that those countries will remain the four most populated in 2025. Indonesia, the fourth most, is projected to have 273 million people. About 50 million more than Brazil and Pakistan, which follow it.
Example Question #66 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
55 B.C.E. Julius Caesar successfully invades Britain.
43 C.E. Emperor Claudius makes Britain part of the Roman Empire.
122 C.E. Hadrian’s wall is built.
383 C.E. Roman Empire begins to withdraw from Britain.
449 C.E. The Saxons and Angles arrive in Britain.
730 C.E. The Venerable Bede produces his history of the British Isles.
790 C.E. Vikings begin raiding British coasts.
842 C.E. Vikings raid London.
1016 C.E. Cnut the Great becomes King of England.
1066 C.E. William, Duke of Normandy, invades England and is crowned King.
The Venerable Bede’s history must not have included _________________.
the arrival of the Saxons and the Angles
the construction of Hadrian's wall
the coronation of Cnut the Great
the withdrawal of the Roman Empire
Julius Caesar’s conquests
the coronation of Cnut the Great
You are told that the Venerable Bede completed his history of the British Isles in 730 C.E., so you are looking for an event that took place after this date—because Bede could not possibly have written the history of something that had yet to happen. The coronation of Cnut the Great, in 1016 C.E., is the only possible answer that occurs after 730 C.E.
Example Question #8 : Tables, Graphs, And Charts
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
Ninth century Invention of gunpowder in China.
Tenth century Invention of fireworks in China.
1119 Invention of the compass in China.
1450 Invention of the mechanical moving-type printing press in Germany.
1876 Invention of the telephone in the United States.
1928 Penicillin discovered by Alexander Fleming.
1945 Completion of the Manhattan Project by the United States, Canada, and Britain.
Which of these statements is most likely to be true?
The discovery of penicillin led to the completion of the Manhattan Project
The invention of the compass came too late for the era of European colonialism
Very little was invented between the 15th and 19th centuries
The invention of the telephone could only have been accomplished in the United States
Chinese society around the 10th century was particularly innovative
Chinese society around the 10th century was particularly innovative
Let us approach this question by disproving one statement at a time. Firstly, just because the timeline does not feature any inventions between the 15th and 19th centuries does not mean nothing was being invented. Secondly, there is no evidence to suggest that the telephone could only have been invented in the United States. Thirdly, just because penicillin was discovered shortly before the completion of the Manhattan Project does not mean they were related. Finally, the invention of the compass came almost four hundred years before the era of European colonialism. The only statement that is likely to be true is that Chinese society around the 10th century was particularly innovative. After all Chinese society gave us gunpowder, fireworks, and the compass in short order.
Example Question #11 : Tables, Graphs, And Charts
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
1000 Leif Ericson lands in Newfoundland.
1492 Columbus reaches the Caribbean.
1521 Hernán Cortés conquers Mexico for Spain.
1538 French settlement in St. Kitts is destroyed by the Spanish.
1565 Spanish settlement in Florida is founded.
1607 English settlement established at Jamestown.
1608 French settlement established at Quebec.
1620 Plymouth colony established by the English.
1625 Dutch colony established in New Amsterdam.
1769 Spanish colony established at San Diego.
1776 Spanish colony established in San Francisco.
1776 The United States declares independence.
This timeline supports the argument that ______________.
the Spanish were dominant in the New World in the first wave of European colonialism
the Spanish and English fought many conflicts in the New World
the Germans never settled colonies in the New World
the independence of the United States marked the end of European colonialism in the New World
the English settlements in the New World were not successful
the Spanish were dominant in the New World in the first wave of European colonialism
There is no evidence to suggest that the Spanish and English fought many conflicts in the New World, nor is there any evidence to suggest that the English settlements in the New World were not successful. Additionally, just because the timeline does not mention any German colonies, you cannot necessarily conclude that that means the Germans never settled in the New World. Finally, because Spain established a colony in San Francisco at the same time as America was gaining its independence, you cannot conclude that the independence of the United States marked the end of European colonialism in the New World. You can, however, conclude that the Spanish were dominant in the New World during the first wave of European colonialism. They were the first to arrive in the Caribbean; Hernan Cortes conquered Mexico for the Spanish shortly thereafter, and the Spanish destroyed one of the first French settlements in St. Kitts suggesting they were the dominant regional power.
Example Question #67 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
1000 Leif Ericson lands in Newfoundland.
1492 Columbus reaches the Caribbean.
1521 Hernán Cortés conquers Mexico for Spain.
1538 French settlement in St. Kitts is destroyed by the Spanish.
1565 Spanish settlement in Florida is founded.
1607 English settlement established at Jamestown.
1608 French settlement established at Quebec.
1620 Plymouth colony established by the English.
1625 Dutch colony established in New Amsterdam.
1769 Spanish colony established at San Diego.
1776 Spanish colony established in San Francisco.
1776 The United States declares independence.
A document written by a settler in Jamestown is discovered by an archaeologist; it documents the English settlement of the colony and the subsequent hardships of the first winter; in 2015, the document can be no older than ________________.
325 years
447 years
522 years
311 years
408 years
408 years
If the document was indeed written by a settler of Jamestown it must have been written, at the earliest, in 1607. This means it can be no older than 408 years, otherwise it could not possibly describe the events of 1607.
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