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Section 5: Sample Multiple-Choice Questions
WEST–E Middle Level Humanities Subtest 2: Social Studies (053)

The sample test questions in this study guide are designed to give you an introduction to the nature of the questions included in the Washington Educator Skills Tests—Endorsements (WEST–E). They represent the various types of questions you may expect to see on an actual test in this test field; however, they are not designed to predict your performance on the test as a whole.

Work through the sample questions carefully before referring to the answers. The correct response and test objective being assessed are provided for each question. When you are finished with the sample questions, you may wish to review the test objectives and descriptive statements provided in the test framework for this test field.

In addition to reading and answering the sample questions, you should also utilize the following preparation materials available in this study guide:

Practice Questions

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Civics and Economics

Objective 0013: Understand the purposes and function of government and the structure and operation of government in the United States.

1. The nation's founders made the concept of federalism an integral feature of the government they created because they believed federalism would help achieve which of the following political goals?

  1. expanding popular participation and providing justice to all
  2. dispersing power and protecting liberty
  3. increasing governmental efficiency and establishing the rule of law
  4. resolving intergroup conflict and maintaining order
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

2. Which of the following best matches a branch of the U.S. government with a major function of that branch?

  1. legislative branch: raising revenues through taxation
  2. judicial branch: establishing federal courts
  3. legislative branch: nominating members of the cabinet
  4. judicial branch: enforcing federal criminal laws
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

3. In 2003, President George W. Bush was unable to persuade major European allies to join the "coalition of the willing" that the United States was organizing for the invasion of Iraq. This best illustrates which of the following limits on presidential power in the area of foreign policy?

  1. the problem of obtaining adequate information
  2. the constraints that time places on foreign policy initiatives
  3. the inability to control international events
  4. the need to honor existing foreign policy commitments
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

4. Theocratic governments can best be distinguished from other types of governments by examining which of the following features of theocratic systems?

  1. the role of religion in the nation's historical development
  2. the proportion of the population that identifies as religious
  3. the privileges and exemptions granted to religious institutions
  4. the degree of distinction between religious and secular authority
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

5. The landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, which declared the practice of racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, was based on which of the following principles?

  1. No citizen may be deprived of liberty without due process of law.
  2. All citizens have the right to petition the government.
  3. No citizen may be deprived of the right to exercise freedom of speech.
  4. All citizens are entitled to equal protection under the law.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

6. The primary purpose of U.S. participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is to maintain:

  1. the security of the various member states through collective defense.
  2. favorable trade agreements for U.S. corporations in overseas markets.
  3. economic unity and cooperation among the various member states.
  4. international support for U.S. military action to combat terrorism.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0014: Understand the key ideals and principles of democratic government in the United States, the electoral process, civic involvement, and the rights and responsibilities of participatory citizenship.

7. Use the excerpt below from the Mayflower Compact to answer the question that follows.

We, whose names are underwritten . . . Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation[;] . . . And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience.

The excerpt above can best be used to illustrate the development of which of the following principles of democratic government in the United States?

  1. Government must not interfere with the liberties of individuals.
  2. Citizens can best express their will through elected representatives.
  3. All citizens have a right and duty to participate in government.
  4. Government should operate in accordance with established laws.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

8. Which of the following best describes the primary function of the U.S. Constitution?

  1. to express the fundamental values of the nation
  2. to define and limit the authority of government
  3. to provide guidelines for the resolution of political conflicts
  4. to establish standards for the effective operation of government
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

9. A U.S. citizen would be most likely to develop a sense of social efficacy by engaging in which of the following civic activities?

  1. signing an online petition sponsored by a national advocacy group
  2. attending parent-teacher organization meetings in one's school district
  3. volunteering in the campaign of a candidate for local elected office
  4. staying informed about current issues affecting one's state and community
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

10. In the U.S. electoral system, primaries differ from caucuses in which of the following respects?

  1. Primaries are open to party members only; caucuses are open to the general electorate.
  2. Caucuses select delegates to choose a candidate; primaries involve voters casting ballots.
  3. Primaries may be done through open voting; caucuses use exclusively a secret ballot.
  4. Caucuses determine candidates by simple majority; primaries use proportional voting.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

11. Which of the following would most likely lead to a referendum?

  1. an election whose result is contested by a candidate
  2. a bill submitted too late to be debated in the legislature
  3. a political platform needing approval by party members
  4. a law proposed through a citizen-sponsored petition
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

12. In the U.S. electoral process, the primary purpose of interest groups is to:

  1. limit the amount of spending by political campaigns.
  2. facilitate the efficient operation of the two political parties.
  3. promote the views and policies of specific segments of society.
  4. advocate for the inclusion of historically marginalized communities.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0015: Understand basic economic concepts and the operation of economic systems.

13. A major difference between command and mixed economies is that in com-mand economies the government is more likely to:

  1. enact laws to protect buyers and sellers.
  2. stimulate employment during periods of recession.
  3. establish production quotas for industry and agriculture.
  4. require businesses to bargain with labor unions.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

14. The economic concept of opportunity cost can best be used to show how:

  1. businesses organize production to maximize output.
  2. consumers address scarcity and choice.
  3. financial institutions establish lending policies.
  4. government allocates resources to maintain full employment.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

15. Applying the four factors of production to industrial manufacturing, which of the following is the best example of capital?

  1. machinery on an assembly line
  2. the skills and abilities of laborers
  3. electricity used to power a factory
  4. profits arising from the sale of goods
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

16. Use the information in the chart below to answer the question that follows.

1945 2012
Union membership as a percentage of the workforce 35.5% 11.3%

Which of the following developments has likely contributed most to the decline in labor union membership in the United States?

  1. shifts in the U.S. economy resulting in a reduction in manufacturing jobs
  2. consolidation of large business enterprises through corporate mergers
  3. increased federal regulation to prevent periodic downturns in productivity
  4. technical innovations that have caused changes in employment patterns
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

17. Which of the following illustrates a cost frequently borne by nations whose economies are primarily export-oriented?

  1. inadequate labor supply to satisfy demand from importing nations
  2. lack of investment of foreign capital in export industries
  3. excessive competition between producers of goods for export
  4. dependence on market conditions of importing nations
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

U.S. and World History

Objective 0016: Understand key themes and major developments in U.S. history from the Precontact period through the Columbian Exchange to 1900.

18. The Proclamation of 1763 created tensions between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies because it:

  1. legalized the housing of British troops in colonial homes.
  2. asserted Parliament's right to tax the colonists.
  3. provided for greater regulation of colonial trade.
  4. restricted colonial settlement west of the Appalachians.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

19. Which of the following was a major consequence of industrialization in the United States between 1870 and 1920?

  1. The number of industrial, transportation, and mining companies expanded significantly throughout the period.
  2. The United States became the primary supplier of manufactured goods to the rest of the world.
  3. The Democratic and Republican parties lost control of Congress in the face of Populist and Progressive electoral challenges.
  4. The proportion of people living in rural areas declined steadily throughout the period.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

20. Which of the following best describes how the Mexican War (1846–1848) contributed to the divisions that resulted in the Civil War?

  1. The war reopened the debate over the route for a transcontinental railroad.
  2. The war prompted Southern political leaders to denounce Northern support for the conflict.
  3. The war reopened the question of extending slavery into the western territories.
  4. The war prompted Southern political leaders to strengthen state militia forces.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

21. Which of the following groups was most likely to oppose the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?

  1. merchants from coastal urban areas
  2. large landowners from Virginia and the Carolinas
  3. manufacturers from Pennsylvania and New Jersey
  4. small landowners from backcountry regions
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

22. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was primarily a response to which of the following developments?

  1. the discovery of gold on Native American territory in California
  2. raids by Native Americans on settler communities in Illinois
  3. expansion of settlers into Native American lands in Georgia
  4. the formation of confederacies of Native Americans in Colorado
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

23. Read the excerpt from a 1900 speech by Senator Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana; then answer the question that follows.

Today we are raising more than we can consume. Today, we are making more than we can use. Today, our industrial society is congested; there are more workers than there is investment. We do not need more money—we need more circulation, more employment. And so, while we did not need the territory taken during the past century at the time it was acquired, we do need what we have taken in 1898, and we need it now.

The excerpt reflects which of the following motives for U.S. expansionism?

  1. the need to find people outside the United States to buy U.S.-manufactured goods
  2. concerns about the ability of U.S. businesses to compete on a global scale
  3. fear over the ability of the U.S. economy to absorb recent immigrant populations
  4. the desire to curb U.S. population growth through the foundation of overseas colonies
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0017: Understand key themes and major developments in Washington State history from multiple perspectives.

24. Which of the following best describe the most important material components of traditional life among Native Americans of the Washington State coast?

  1. herring and iron
  2. halibut and whitebark pine
  3. cod and copper
  4. salmon and red cedar
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

25. Which of the following best describes the impact of the Klondike gold rush of 1897 on the early development of Washington State?

  1. It caused a severe decline in Washington's mining production.
  2. It promoted rapid economic and population growth in Seattle.
  3. It generated massive revenues for the Northern Pacific Railroad.
  4. It attracted large numbers of Chinese immigrants to the Puget Sound area.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

26. During the late twentieth century, the Hanford Reservation was the focus of public debate surrounding which of the following environmental issues?

  1. the decline of wild salmon populations
  2. the logging of old growth forests
  3. the disposal of radioactive waste
  4. the emission of greenhouse gases
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

27. The establishment of Fort Nisqually by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1833 reflects the importance of which of the following industries in the early development of Washington State?

  1. gold mining
  2. fur trading
  3. iron smelting
  4. evergreen logging
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

28. During the 1930s, New Deal programs made the greatest impact on Washington State primarily through:

  1. new railroad construction to improve communication between Seattle and Spokane.
  2. environmental protection legislation imposing restrictions on the timber industry.
  3. public works projects contributing to the development of interior regions of the state.
  4. the acquisition and distribution of land to create farms in the Colville Reservation.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0018: Understand key themes and major developments in world history from 8000 BCE to 1450 CE.

29. Which of the following best describes a repeating pattern in Chinese history?

  1. Eras of cultural liberalization are followed by a revival of conservatism and a return to classical culture.
  2. A benevolent emperor comes under the influence of unprincipled advisors, and much of the emperor's good work is undermined.
  3. As time passes, a vigorous dynasty is undermined by corruption, loses its mandate to rule, and is overthrown.
  4. Periods of aristocratic dominance give way to periods in which peasant leaders exercise control of government.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

30. Which of the following best describes a common feature of the West African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai between 1000 and 1600 CE?

  1. the establishment of overseas trade with India and Arabia
  2. the construction of monumental tombs in honor of deceased rulers
  3. the development of universal and compulsory educational systems
  4. the synthesis of Islamic and African cultural practices
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

31. The emergence of feudalism in Western Europe during the Middle Ages was primarily a response to:

  1. changes in military technology.
  2. an absence of effective central government.
  3. new economic opportunities.
  4. the power and influence of the Catholic Church.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

32. Which of the following developments was a major factor that contributed to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire?

  1. widespread soil erosion due to the excessive cultivation of agricultural land
  2. population growth that led to internal conflicts over scarce natural resources
  3. the inability of military forces to maintain the territorial integrity of the state
  4. religious conflict that contributed to the breakdown of social and political order
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

33. Read the passage below; then answer the question that follows.

The development of Islam must be understood in terms of its origin in the city of Mecca, a city astride trade routes that linked the Arabian Peninsula to the cosmopolitan communities in the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire. Christian and Jewish merchants traded their goods along the networks of exchange along with Arab merchants. Muhammad himself was a merchant and likely had ample exposure to Christian and Jewish doctrines during his travels as well as in the bustling trading centers of his native Arabia.

In its account of the geographical context of Islam, the passage most contributes to an understanding of the:

  1. belief in Muhammad's status as the last of the monotheistic prophets.
  2. influence of Arabian culture on Muhammad's philosophical system.
  3. importance of the concept of struggle in the Islamic faith.
  4. use of Arabic as a sacred script by Islamic scholars.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

34. The Aztec Empire maintained control over their subject peoples primarily through which of the following methods?

  1. systematic taxation of mercantile activity
  2. tribute in the form of agricultural products
  3. enforcement through military outposts
  4. forced conversion to the state religion
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Geography and Social Studies Concepts

Objective 0019: Understand the uses of geographic tools and the characteristics of major physical and human features of the earth.

35. Use the two diagrams below to answer the question that follows.

Geography Diagrams

One diagram shows a row of single-family homes along a street. Each home is the same distance from the street. The other diagram shows homes along a street, with the homes located at varying distances from the street.

A geographer conducting a spatial analysis of the diagrams above would recognize a difference in:

  1. concentration.
  2. density.
  3. pattern.
  4. accessibility.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

36. Which of the following would most likely alter the relative location of a given place?

  1. the development of a major shopping mall
  2. the in-migration of people from another country
  3. the opening of a new regional airport
  4. the shutdown of several large factories
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

37. One can best understand why the Appalachian Mountains run in a north-south line by examining which of the following physical processes?

  1. glaciation
  2. erosion and deposition
  3. volcanism
  4. plate tectonics
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

38. Use the map of Africa below to answer the question that follows.

Africa Map

The map shows a shaded area of southern Africa labeled Region A. The shaded region encompasses parts of the following countries: South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zambia, Zambabwe, and Botswana.

Which of the following statements best describes the physical geography of region A?

  1. a series of mountain ridges that divides the region into a complex set of microclimates
  2. a high plateau with dry climate in the west and wetter temperate climate in the east
  3. a desert that greatly limits the potential for agriculture and human habitation
  4. a low-lying river basin with the climate and biome of a tropical rain forest
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

39. Which of the following best matches a pair of world regions with a dominant cultural characteristic common to both regions?

  1. North Africa and Central Africa: Islam
  2. South Asia and East Africa: Hinduism
  3. East Asia and Southeast Asia: Buddhism
  4. West Africa and Central Asia: Christianity
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

40. Geographically, the world region known as the Pacific Rim is often characterized by:

  1. high agricultural productivity.
  2. propensity for seismic activity.
  3. increasingly rapid desertification.
  4. widespread deposits of fossil fuels.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Objective 0020: Understand interactions among humans, cultures, and environments.

41. In South America, almost 90 percent of the population lives within 200 miles of the Atlantic, Pacific, or Caribbean coasts. Which of the following explains a major cause of this demographic pattern?

  1. Climatic conditions are more hospitable along the coasts than within the interior.
  2. The indigenous peoples of the interior regions have resisted settlement by other groups.
  3. Immigrant groups generally settled in or around the port cities through which they entered the region.
  4. The mountainous interior regions are relatively inaccessible and present few economic opportunities.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

42. One can best understand the impact of acid rain on the Northeast region of the United States by examining:

  1. the transportation networks connecting Canada and the Northeast.
  2. principal commercial activities along the eastern seaboard.
  3. the distribution of population among New England, New York, and New Jersey.
  4. prevailing wind patterns between the Midwest and the Northeast.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

43. Which of the following features of the contemporary world is most directly attributable to the spread of Islam between the seventh and seventeenth centuries?

  1. the economic ties between Southwest Asia and North Africa
  2. the differences between political and ethnic boundaries in sub-Saharan Africa
  3. the cultural connections between Indonesia and the Middle East
  4. the differences between the political systems of China, Japan, and North and South Korea
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

44. Read the excerpt below from "Family Instructions for the Miu Lineage," a sixteenth- century manual of instructions for an extended Chinese family; then answer the question that follows.

On the tenth and twenty-fifth days of every month, all the members of this branch of the family, from the honored aged members to the youngsters, should gather at dusk for a meeting. Each will give an account of what he has learned, by either calling attention to examples of good or evil, or encouraging diligence, or expounding his obligations, or pointing out tasks to be completed. Each member will take turns presenting his own opinions and listening attentively to others. He should examine himself in the matters being discussed and make efforts to improve himself.

A scholar using this excerpt would most likely reach which of the following conclusions regarding the role of the family in the transmission of culture in Chinese society during the sixteenth century?

  1. Communal family rituals represented challenges to patriarchal authority.
  2. Family structure and practices provided few opportunities for personal growth.
  3. An individual's identity developed primarily within the context of the family.
  4. The centrality of the family inhibited the development of public institutions.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

45. The predominance of Bantu languages in central and southern Africa and Indo-European languages in most of Europe is primarily explained by which of the following developments?

  1. imperial expansion
  2. human migration
  3. cultural assimilation
  4. economic cooperation
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Objective 0021: Understand and apply basic social studies concepts and skills.

46. In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Within 24 hours, gasoline prices in Europe and North America rose 10 percent; by January 1991, they had increased 36 percent. Meanwhile, the stock prices of many companies dependent on petroleum inputs declined. These changes best illustrate which of the following geographic concepts?

  1. interdependence of places
  2. spatial diffusion of global economic activities
  3. uniqueness of places
  4. transferability of economic goods
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

47. A historian conducting a study of late nineteenth-century Seattle would most likely consult census data for which of the following purposes?

  1. to analyze the effects of geographic factors on the city's development
  2. to trace the evolution of Seattle government
  3. to examine the social structure of the city's population
  4. to compare the experiences of different ethnic groups in Seattle
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

48. Which of the following eras in world history is best defined by the listed developments?

  • Conquest led to the expansion of Afro-Eurasian trade networks.
  • Interregional contacts increased, encouraging technological and cultural transfers.
  • The power of most Muslim states was destroyed or greatly reduced.
  • Most of Russia paid tribute to overlords to the east.
  1. the Classical Era or Classical Antiquity
  2. the Pax Mongolica or Mongol Peace
  3. the First Imperial Age or Colonialism
  4. the Second Imperial Age or Imperialism
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

Read the passage below; then answer the two questions that follow.

To audiences in the United States, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is often presented as a national hero, and indeed an international hero. As leader of the United Kingdom through most of World War II, Churchill appears in textbooks, as well as in cinema and pop culture generally, as a bedrock of determination, a fountain of inspiration, and a rallying point for British unity. The view inside the U.K., however, was rather more complicated, and remains so today for people of conscience.

For much of his political career, Churchill was widely perceived as a political opportunist, changing party allegiance twice in order to retain power and remain in the limelight. Even so, he held constant in championing a highly aristocratic, militaristic, and imperialistic agenda. He staunchly opposed socialism and the expansion of the rights of working people. For decades, he worked against independence or even a form of home rule for India. Many historians consider Churchill guilty of war crimes for the bombing of the civilian centers in Germany during World War II. Those who see him as a beloved, unifying hero are—through a combination of ignorance and malice—advancing the same kind of harmful, reactionary policies that Churchill advocated throughout his political life.

49. The perspective taken in the passage most likely results from the author's interest in:

  1. Churchill's political life before becoming Prime Minister.
  2. relations between the United Kingdom and the United States.
  3. the multi-causal nature of most historical and political events.
  4. ideological issues that go beyond Britain's role in World War II.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

50. The argument of the passage is undermined by which of the following rhetorical fallacies in the final sentence?

  1. ad hominem attack
  2. strawman argument
  3. begging the question
  4. slippery-slope argument
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.