GED Social Studies : Tables, Graphs, and Charts
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Social Studies
All GED Social Studies Resources
Example Questions
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 and English fought many conflicts 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 Germans never settled colonies in the New World
the Spanish were dominant in the New World in the first wave of European colonialism
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 #12 : 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.
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
522 years
447 years
408 years
311 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.
Example Question #13 : Tables, Graphs, And Charts
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
Population of the United States
1800 5,236,631
1840 17,069, 453
1880 49,371,340
1920 106,021,568
1960 179,323,175
2000 281,421,906
data from the U.S. Census Bureau
The biggest percentage increase in population occurs from _______________.
1800 to 1840
1840 to 1880
1960 to 2000
1920 to 1960
1880 to 1920
1800 to 1840
This question asks you to figure out where the biggest percentage increase in population occurs, not the biggest jump in pure population numbers. The correct answer then is from 1800 to 1840. In this time period the population jumps more than 240%. The next highest is from 1840 to 1880, when the population jumps by 190%. Notice how the percentage of the population growth steadily declines even while the growth in pure population numbers continues to rise.
Example Question #13 : Tables, Graphs, And Charts
The following question refers to the information contained in this table.
Life Expectancy (in years)
Japan 84.6
Spain 82.5
Norway 81.9
Ireland 81.4
United Kingdom 81
United States 79.8
Mexico 77.2
China 76
Colombia 74.7
Russia 70.5
Iraq 68.5
India 65
Ethiopia 60.5
Nigeria 53
Lesotho 51
Data provided by the World Health Organization (2012).
Based on this table, which of these statements is most accurate?
People in Africa have a much lower life expectancy than the rest of the world
Warfare is the number one contributor to a country having a low life expectancy
People in Asia have a much higher life expectancy than the rest of the world
The United States has a lower life expectancy than Mexico
People in Europe have a much higher life expectancy than the rest of the world
People in Africa have a much lower life expectancy than the rest of the world
All of the lowest figures in this chart are for African countries, so it is reasonable to conclude that people in Africa have a much lower life expectancy than the rest of the world. Because Japan is first, you might have been tempted to answer that people in Asia have a much higher life expectancy, but you are also shown that China and India are much lower in the table. Similarly, although many European nations appear near the top of the table, the fact that they are all surpassed by Japan tells you that Europe cannot be said to have a higher life expectancy than the rest of the world.
Example Question #14 : 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.
A printed manuscript is found by a historian in France, it may have been printed no earlier than ________________.
1945
1928
1119
The ninth century
1450
1450
The movable-type printing press, invented in Germany about 1450, allowed books to be copied and printed by machine for the first time in European history. Before that, any book or manuscript had to be written and copied by hand; therefore, a printed manuscript found in France must date from later than 1450.
Example Question #73 : Question Types
The following question refers to the information contained in this timeline.
Population of the United States
1800 5,236,631
1840 17,069, 453
1880 49,371,340
1920 106,021,568
1960 179,323,175
2000 281,421,906
data from the U.S. Census Bureau
When did the United States population climb above 100 million for the first time?
In the 1880s
In the 1920s
In the 1910s
Between 1920 and 1960
Between 1880 and 1920
Between 1880 and 1920
Based on the data represented in the table, it is very probable that the population climbed above 100 million for the first time in the 1910s; however, you cannot reliably state that that is definitely true. All you know for sure is that the population was at 49 million in 1880 and 106 million in 1920 so the population must have climbed above 100 million between 1880 and 1920.
Example Question #74 : 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 information in this timeline supports the argument that __________.
the British Isles were subject to numerous waves of conquest and invasion in the first millennium of the common era
the Vikings were unable to establish complete control of the British Isles
the Normans reigned the longest in the British Isles
the Romans were foolish to try and conquer the British Isles
the Angles and Saxons were bloodthirsty people
the British Isles were subject to numerous waves of conquest and invasion in the first millennium of the common era
The only answer choice that this timeline definitely supports is the argument that the British Isles were subject to numerous waves of conquest and invasion. First the Romans, then the Saxons and Angles, then the Vikings, and then the Normans arrived on British shores in the time period shown. You cannot reasonably state that the Normans reigned the longest as you are not told when their dominion ends. You might be tempted to say that the Romans were foolish to try to conquer the British Isles, given that they had to withdraw their forces eventually, but this is revisionist history, and besides the use of the word "foolish" in a historical context is always dubious. There is no evidence to suggest that the Angles and Saxons were particularly bloodthirsty, nor is there any to suggest that the Vikings were unable to establish complete control of the British Isles.
All GED Social Studies Resources
