Sample GED Social Studies Test

Question 1

This table shows the numbers of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in the 112th session of the U.S. Congress in 2011.

What is the mean number of people who became legal residents of the United States during this five-year period?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) A

Rationale

1,119,823 people became legal residents of the United States on average during this five-year period.

This is calculated by summing up the number of legal residents for each of the five years and then dividing this total number by five (the number of years). The mean, or average, is a statistical measure that provides a central value of a set of numbers.

A) 1,119,823
This is the correct answer. The mean number of people who became legal residents of the United States during the five-year period is calculated by adding the number of legal residents for each year and then dividing by the number of years (5 years). In this case, the mean corresponds to 1,119,823.

B) 223,504
This choice is incorrect because it is significantly lower than the correct mean value. It might have been calculated by making an error in the summing or dividing process while calculating the average, or it could possibly be the number of legal residents for a single year within the five-year period.

C) 5,599,113
This choice is incorrect. This value is likely the total number of people who became legal residents over the entirety of the five-year period rather than the average number per year.

D) 1,107,126
This choice is incorrect, albeit very close to the correct answer. It might represent a minor calculation error while determining the mean.

Conclusion
The mean number of people who became legal residents of the United States during the given five-year period is 1,119,823. This is found by summing the number of legal residents across the five years and dividing by five. The other choices represent either a total sum for the five-year period, an incorrect calculation, or a possible single year's count. Understanding the difference between total numbers and averages is crucial for correctly interpreting data sets.

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Question 2

The blog entry and speech excerpt below discuss the U.S. Supreme Court case of Tinker v. Des Moines (1969).

Blog

In the Tinker v. Des Moines case, the Court ruled that students lawfully exercised their rights when they wore black armbands in school as a protest against the Vietnam War. The ruling stated that school officials were wrong to suspend students from school for their act of protest. Students are not required to give up their rights when they enter a public school, especially freedom of speech, which is the foundation of democracy. These students modeled good citizenship by their actions. In contrast, school representatives placing restrictions on liberty provided a bad example to the future leaders of our country.

Speech

I believe the U.S. Supreme Court ruled correctly in Tinker v. Des Moines. Democracy requires individual expression, debate, and public protest. Still, freedom of speech is not the only issue to be considered when protests occur in public schools. School officials have a responsibility to provide a safe environment that is not disruptive to learning. Individual expression should not interfere with a school's mission to teach.

According to this graph, in which year did the U.S. government first achieve a budget surplus?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) C

Rationale

The U.S. government first achieved a budget surplus in 1998.

According to the graph provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, it wasn't until 1998 that the U.S. government's annual revenue exceeded its annual expenditures, resulting in a budget surplus.

A) 1996
Although 1996 may have seen improvements in the U.S. government's fiscal situation, the graph does not indicate that a budget surplus occurred in this year. Instead, the U.S. government continued to run a budget deficit, spending more than it received in revenue.

B) 1994
1994 is not the correct year because the graph illustrates that the U.S. government was still operating under a budget deficit. This means that its yearly expenditures exceeded the amount of revenue it generated.

C) 1998
This is the correct answer. The graph shows that 1998 was the first year in which the U.S. government's revenue surpassed its expenditures, resulting in a budget surplus.

D) 2002
The graph indicates that by 2002, the U.S. government was again running a budget deficit, spending more than it was earning in revenue. Therefore, 2002 is not the year in which the first budget surplus was achieved.

Conclusion
The U.S. government recorded its first budget surplus in 1998, as evidenced by the data in the graph from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Prior to this year, the government had been running budget deficits, and by 2002, it had returned to a deficit position. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is 1998.

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Question 3

Assuming that the majority of senators and representatives voted along party lines, which conclusion about the U.S. government in 2011 does the table support?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) C

Rationale

Party divisions were a challenge to the legislative process.

In a political environment with distinct party lines, a diversity of party affiliations can complicate the legislative process. If most senators and representatives vote according to their party's positions, then having multiple parties represented can make it more difficult to achieve the majority vote necessary to pass legislation.

A) The party that passed more legislation could be anticipated
While it's possible that a party with a majority in Congress could pass more legislation, this assumption is not necessarily supported by the table. The table provides information about the party affiliations of members of Congress, but it does not provide information about the specific legislation that was passed or how individual members voted.

B) The party that would win the next presidential election could be predicted
The party affiliations of members of Congress do not necessarily predict the outcome of the next presidential election. While the composition of Congress can reflect the political climate, the presidential election is influenced by many other factors, including the candidates, their platforms, and current events. The table does not provide sufficient information to make this prediction.

C) Party affiliations are a requirement for congressional membership
While most members of Congress are affiliated with a party, party affiliation is not a requirement for congressional membership. The presence of Independents in the table supports this, demonstrating that it is possible to serve in Congress without being affiliated with the Democratic or Republican parties.

Conclusion
Based on the information provided in the table, it can be concluded that party divisions were a likely challenge to the legislative process in the U.S. government in 2011. If most senators and representatives voted along party lines, then the diversity of party affiliations would have made it difficult to achieve a majority vote, complicating the legislative process. The table does not provide sufficient information to make predictions about the passage of legislation, the outcome of the next presidential election, or the requirements for congressional membership.

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Question 4

The excerpt below is from the 1831 U.S. Supreme Court case Cherokee Nation v. Georgia.
The Indian territory is admitted to compose a part of the United States. They acknowledge themselves in their treaties to be under the protection of the United States; they admit that the United States shall have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the trade with them, and managing all their affairs as they think proper... Treaties were made with some tribes... by which they ceded all their lands... [and] they admit their dependence.
They look to our government for protection; rely upon its kindness and its power... and address the president as their great father.
... [T]he Cherokee nation. retains its usages and customs and self government, greatly improved by the civilization which it has been the policy of the United States to encourage and foster among them.
This excerpt is taken from the public domain.

Which basic assumption is only behind the speech?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) D

Rationale

Freedom of speech has some restrictions.

The speaker in the excerpt acknowledges the importance of freedom of speech, but also underlines that it is not the only factor to consider in a school setting. They suggest that while individual expression is essential, it should not disrupt the educational environment, indicating a belief in certain limitations to free speech.

A) Freedom of speech must be protected in schools.
This choice is not correct because it does not capture the speaker's key assumption that freedom of speech, while important, needs to be balanced with the need to maintain a conducive learning environment. The speaker agrees with the protection of free speech in schools, but not without some restrictions.

B) Citizens can express their views through symbols.
This choice is incorrect because the speaker does not explicitly discuss symbolic expression in their speech. The speaker talks about individual expression, but does not specify the modes of such expression, whether verbal, written, or symbolic.

C) Citizens should be able to express their views on issues.
This choice is not correct because, while the speaker does support citizens' rights to express their views, their main assumption is not about this unrestricted expression. Instead, they emphasize the need for certain restrictions on free speech in a school setting to ensure a conducive learning environment.

D) Freedom of speech has some restrictions.
This is the correct answer. The speaker suggests that freedom of speech, though essential, may need to be restricted in certain contexts, like schools, to prevent disruption to the learning environment.

Conclusion
The speaker's core assumption is that freedom of speech, while a fundamental right, should have some restrictions, especially in environments like schools where its unrestricted exercise could potentially disrupt learning. This is a balance between upholding democratic principles and maintaining conducive learning environments. The other choices, while related to the theme of freedom of speech, do not accurately capture this main assumption.

Question 5

This excerpt discussing the U.S. Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) is from an article published by the National Archives in 1995.
"A Law [opposed] to the Constitution is void. With these words written by Chief Justice Marshall, the Supreme Court for the first time declared unconstitutional a law passed by Congress and signed by the President. Nothing in the Constitution gave the Court this specific power. Marshall, however, believed that the Supreme Court should have a role equal to those of the other two branches of government. When James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a defense of the Constitution in The Federalist, they explained... "You must first enable government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."... The Constitution gave Congress the power to... remove officials, including judges or the President himself. The President was given the veto power to restrain Congress and the authority to appoint members of the Supreme Court.... [T]he role of the Supreme Court had not been defined. It therefore fell to a strong Chief Justice like Marshall to complete the triangular structure of checks and balances by establishing the principle of judicial review.

Which statement is supported by the diagrams?

Your Answer: Option(s)

Correct Answer: Option(s) B

Rationale

Only officials from the executive and legislative branches are in the line of presidential succession.

The line of presidential succession refers to the specific order in which officials are designated to assume the presidency in the event that the incumbent is unable to fulfill their duties. This hierarchy is outlined in the U.S. Constitution and is composed of officials from both the executive and legislative branches.

A) Only the vice president and the president pro tempore of the Senate serve in two branches
This statement is incorrect. The vice president and the president pro tempore of the Senate do not serve in two branches. The vice president, although being the president of the Senate, is part of the executive branch. The president pro tempore of the Senate is part of the legislative branch.

B) Only officials from the executive and legislative branches are in the line of presidential succession
This is the correct answer. In the line of presidential succession, the vice president is first, followed by the speaker of the House, and then the president pro tempore of the Senate. These positions are followed by various cabinet positions, all of which belong to either the executive or legislative branches of government.

C) The order of presidential succession is determined by the members of the executive branch
This is incorrect. The order of presidential succession is determined by the U.S. Constitution, not by the members of the executive branch. It is a predefined sequence that cannot be altered by current officeholders.

D) The leaders of Congress are accountable to the members of the executive branch
This statement is inaccurate. The leaders of Congress are directly accountable to their constituents, not to members of the executive branch. The principle of separation of powers provides for checks and balances between the different branches, but does not make one branch accountable to another.

Conclusion
The line of presidential succession is a constitutional provision that outlines the sequence in which officials from the executive and legislative branches would assume the presidency if the incumbent is unable to serve. This line does not include members from the judiciary branch, nor is it determined by current members of the executive branch. Also, the leaders of Congress are not accountable to the executive branch, but to their constituents. Therefore, only the statement "Only officials from the executive and legislative branches are in the line of presidential succession" is supported by the diagrams.

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1,119,823 people became legal residents of the United States on average during this five-year period.

The U.S. government first achieved a budget surplus in 1998.

Party divisions were a challenge to the legislative process.

Freedom of speech has some restrictions.

Only officials from the executive and legislative branches are in the line of presidential succession.

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