GED Social Studies Test Pass The 2026 GED Social Studies Exam Actual Practice Test Questions

Get Social Studies Practice Test 1. Question 1. The following table provides information on Irish immigration during the mid-19th century. Year, number of Irish immigrants, 1841 to 1850. Which of the following statements most accurately describes patterns of Irish immigration in the mid-19th century? Option it remained relatively unchanged. Option it continually increased between 1847 and 1854. Option it continually declined between 1847 and 1854. Option it peaked around 1851. The correct answer is option It peaked around 1851. Irish immigration to the United States peaked around 1851 as direct result of the Great Famine, which caused mass displacement. Question 2. The following excerpt is from speech by President Woodrow Wilson in 1918 endorsing the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. regard the concurrence of the Senate in the constitutional amendment proposing the extension of the suffrage to women as vitally essential to the successful prosecution of the Great War of Humanity in which we are engaged. It is my duty to win the war and to ask you to remove every obstacle that stands in the way of winning it. How does the constitutional amendment process begin? Option the president can introduce proposed amendments. Option Congress can introduce an amendment by two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. Option two-thirds of the states may convene constitutional convention and introduce amendments. Option as citizens can collect enough signatures to get an amendment on the ballot. The correct answer is option Congress can introduce an amendment by two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. According to Article amendments can be proposed by two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Option is primary method. Question three. The following excerpt is from President Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address in 1801. Still one thing more, fellow citizens, wise and frugal government which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government. What ideology best describes Jefferson's political philosophy? Option federalism. Option republicanism. Option fascism. Option anarchism. The correct answer is option republicanism. Jefferson's focus on limited, frugal government and individual freedom and industry is hallmark of early American republicanism. Question four. The following table contains information on urbanization rates in the United States between 1790 and 2010. Which of the following statements most accurately describes urbanization patterns in the United States between 1790 and 2010? Option until about 1930, less than half of Americans lived in cities. Option urbanization rate stopped increasing after 1970. Option the urbanization rate peaked in 1970. Option the urbanization rate increased quickly between 1790 and 1830. The correct answer is option until about 1930, less than half of Americans lived in cities. Historically, the United States was primarily rural until the early 20th century with the urban population surpassing 50% around the 1920 census. Question five. The following scenario describes an economic decision. After graduating from high school, one applies to several job advertisements and receives an offer to work as clerk in retail store for $8.00 per hour. However, one decides to enroll in community college and after two years, he completes technical training program that prepares him to become welder. After completing the program, he finds employment as an apprentice welder and earns $20 per hour. What was the opportunity cost of Juan's decision? Option the cost of tuition at the community college. Option $12, the difference between Juan's wages as welder and retail clerk. Option $20, Juan's wages as an apprentice welder. Option the total wages he would have earned in 2 years while working as retail clerk. The correct answer is option the total wages he would have earned in 2 years while working as retail clerk. Opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative forgone. By choosing school, Juan gave up the wages he would have earned working as clerk. Question six. The following is an excerpt from the Triple Alliance Treaty signed between Germany, Austria, and Italy in 1881. Article 3, if one or two of the contracting parties should chance to be attacked and to be engaged in war with two or more great powers, the case for the alliance will arise simultaneously for all. In what way, if at all, did the Triple Alliance Treaty influence World War Option the treaty had no relationship to World War because it was signed after the war occurred. Option the treaty helped prevent or delay World War because countries around the world knew about the agreement. Option the treaty made it difficult to avoid large conflict because it required several countries to assist each other. Option the treaty helped prevent or delay World War because every country in Europe signed the agreement. The correct answer is option the treaty made it difficult to avoid large conflict because it required several countries to assist each other. The system of secret and public alliances meant that localized conflict could quickly escalate into general European war. Question seven. The following excerpt is from the 1803 Supreme Court decision Marbury Madison, which established the concept of judicial review. It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is. Those who apply the rule to particular cases must of necessity expound and interpret that rule. This ruling is an example of which of the following concepts? Option checks and balances. Option federalism. Option natural rights. Option reserved powers. The correct answer is option checks and balances. Judicial review is key component of the system of checks and balances, allowing the Supreme Court to limit the power of the other branches. Question eight. The following excerpt is from the Warsaw Security Pact, which was signed in 1955, mindful of the situation created in Europe by the formation of new military alignment in the shape of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, have agreed. Article four, in the event of armed attack, shall immediately come to the assistance. Which of the following statements best describes the motives for creating the Warsaw Security Pact? Option the Soviet Union was an aggressive and hostile adversary bent on using military force. Option the Soviet Union wanted to take the moral high ground by renouncing the use of force. Option the Soviet Union wanted to create an agreement that would peacefully unite all of Europe. Option the Soviet Union felt threatened by the creation of NATO and responded by forming its own agreement. The correct answer is option the Soviet Union felt threatened by the creation of NATO and responded by forming its own agreement. The Warsaw Pact was created as direct counter response to the integration of West Germany into NATO. Question nine. The following data depicts the 1960 presidential election. Democrat John Kennedy won 49.72% of the popular vote with 303 electoral votes. Republican Richard Nixon won 49.55% of the popular vote with 219 electoral votes. Why did Kennedy become president if he received less than 50% of the popular vote? Option Kennedy won because he had more popular votes than Nixon, even though this accounted for less than 50%. Option when no candidate receives more than 50% of the popular vote, the Supreme Court picks the winner. Option Kennedy won majority in the Electoral College. Option Kennedy carried more states than Nixon. The correct answer is option Kennedy won majority in the Electoral College. Under the US Constitution, the president is elected by the Electoral College, not the direct popular vote. candidate needs majority of electoral votes to win. Question 10. The following excerpt is from speech by President Harry Truman in 1947. The very existence of the Greek state is today threatened by the terrorist activities of several thousand armed men led by communists. Greece must have assistance if it is to become self-supporting and self-respecting democracy. What prompted President Truman to provide aid to the Greek government? Option internal conflict within Greece between communists and the government. Option President Truman was embarrassed by the weakness of the Greek army. Option the USSR had invaded and defeated the Greek government. Option the Greek army needed weapons to defend the country's northern border. The correct answer is option Internal conflict within Greece between communists and the government. The Truman Doctrine was established to provide economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling into the Soviet sphere of influence. Question 11. The following excerpt is from speech by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. We had bad banking situation. Some of our bankers had shown themselves either incompetent or dishonest. It was the government's job to straighten out the situation. Confidence and and are the essentials of success. Based on the excerpt, how did historical circumstances shape President Roosevelt's point of view? Option he felt government regulation was necessary because many citizens lacked faith in the banking system. Option he felt government regulation was necessary in order to punish incompetent or dishonest bankers. Option he felt government regulation would help prevent another stock market crash. Option he felt government regulation was unnecessary because it would spark only rumors and fear. The correct answer is option He felt government regulation was necessary because many citizens lacked faith in the banking system. During the Great Depression, bank failures led to loss of public confidence. FDR's New Deal policies aimed to restore trust through regulation and government intervention. Question 12. The following excerpt is from speech by Congressman James Madison in 1789 on the introduction of the Bill of Rights. believe that the great mass of the people who opposed it because it did not contain effectual provision against encroachments on particular rights. Why did Madison and many other Americans feel that the Bill of Rights was necessary? Option to protect the US government from foreign powers. Option to prevent rebellion against the Constitution. Option to grant the US government additional powers. Option to protect individual rights and liberties. The correct answer is option to protect individual rights and liberties. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution specifically to address anti-federalist concerns regarding the protection of individual liberties from government overreach. Question 13. The following is an excerpt from speech by President Barack Obama in 2015. Nearly 200 nations have assembled here this week declaration that the growing threat of climate change will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other. Which of the following is an opinion and not fact? Option nearly 200 nations have assembled here this week. Option the growing threat of climate change will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other. Option 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have occurred since the year 2000. Option 2015 is on pace to be the warmest year of all. The correct answer is option The growing threat of climate change will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other. Option is predictive statement about future historical significance, making it matter of perspective or opinion, whereas the others are verifiable statistics or observations. Question 14. The following cartoon is from Harper's Weekly during the Reconstruction Era. How did the cartoon reflect historical circumstances during Reconstruction in the South? Option African-Americans and Caucasians could only legally vote for the Democratic Party. Option African-Americans immediately exercised full civil and political rights in the South. Option African-Americans were still subject to harassment and intimidation in the South. Option white Southerners were forced to defend themselves when African-Americans took up arms. The correct answer is option African-Americans were still subject to harassment and intimidation in the South. Despite legal gains like the 14th and 15th Amendments, African-Americans faced systemic violence and intimidation from groups like the KKK during Reconstruction. Question 15. The following excerpt is speech by President Franklin Roosevelt on December 8th, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Yesterday, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked. As Commander-in-Chief, have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Under the US Constitution, which body has the sole authority to declare war? Option the President. Option Congress. option the Secretary of Defense, option the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The correct answer is option Congress. Article section 8 of the Constitution explicitly grants Congress the power to declare war. Question 16. The following table contains data on voter turnout for presidential elections between 1960 and 2012. Which of the following statements best describes the voter turnout patterns? Option turnout was more than 50% in every election. Option turnout declined between 1960 and 1976. Option turnout steadily increased between 1996 and 2012. Option turnout peaked in 2008. The correct answer is option turnout was more than 50% in every election. In US presidential elections between 1960 and 2012, voter turnout of the voting age population consistently stayed above the 50% threshold. Question 17. The following passage is an excerpt from Schenck United States, 1919. The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect man in falsely shouting fire in theater and causing panic. The question is whether the words used create clear and present danger. The Supreme Court's ruling in Schenck restricted the protections guaranteed by which amendment of the Bill of Rights? Option First Amendment. Option Second Amendment. Option Third Amendment. Option Fourth Amendment. The correct answer is option First Amendment. Schenck United States established the clear and present danger test, which placed limits on the First Amendment right to free speech. Question 18. The following chart provides information on presidential vetoes. Based on the information in the chart, which of the following statements is true? Option president vetoed the majority of bills passed by Congress. Option Republican presidents have vetoed more bills than Democratic presidents. Option divided government results in the president vetoing higher percentage of bills. Option the president always agrees with legislation passed by members of their party. The correct answer is option divided government results in the president vetoing higher percentage of bills. When different parties control the presidency and Congress, divided government, political friction often leads to higher frequency of presidential vetoes. Question 19. The following information describes the legislative process regarding vetoes. Which of the following actions can override presidential veto? Option Congress passes the same bill again with 2/3 majority. Option the Supreme Court overturns the veto after hearing. Option the president dies within 10 days of issuing the veto. Option Congress threatens to impeach the president. The correct answer is option Congress passes the same bill again with 2/3 majority. To override presidential veto, both the House and the Senate must pass the bill again with at least 2/3 majority vote.