GED Social Studies Practice — Test B

Founding Documents · Civil Rights · Economics · Civics

24 multiple choice  •  1 extended response  •  primary sources · data interpretation · civics & government · economics

Name: Date: Class:
How to use this worksheet. Read each passage, table, and data set before you answer. Choose the best answer and write its letter on the answer line.
STIMULUS 1Primary Source · Civics & History

Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence (1776)

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..."

— Thomas Jefferson et al., July 4, 1776.

1.

According to the excerpt, governments derive their power from:

Nudge — Sort the options by where power comes from. Three of them place it with a single ruler, with raw force, or with inherited wealth — all imposed from the top down. Test each against that pattern, cross those out, and see what remains.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
2.

The excerpt most directly expresses which Enlightenment idea?

Nudge — Start with the phrase "unalienable Rights" in the passage and keep it in mind. Then rule out any option that props up a single ruler, ties government to one religion, or denies people the power to change their government.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
3.

The Declaration of Independence was primarily written to:

Nudge — Focus on the word "primarily" and on what a declaration is: an announcement, not a rulebook or a plan of government. That lets you set aside the choices describing a constitution or a governing structure — and one option about trade is off the document's topic entirely.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
4.

The ideas in this excerpt later influenced which major U.S. document?

Nudge — Watch the word "only" in one choice — it makes that option too narrow. Then set aside the foreign-policy doctrine and the wartime proclamation, which addressed different problems, and ask which lasting framework of government is left.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
STIMULUS 2 · DATAData Analysis · Economics & Geography

U.S. Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity (2023)

Table 1. Share of households that own their home, by race/ethnicity

Group Homeownership rate Relative comparison
White (non-Hispanic) 74.0% 74.0
Asian 62.8% 62.8
Hispanic 49.5% 49.5
Black 45.9% 45.9

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Bar length is proportional to the rate (100% = 300 px).

5.

According to the data, which group had the highest homeownership rate in 2023?

Nudge — This is a straight read of the table. Find the row with the largest percentage (the longest bar) and match it to the group name. Do not go by memory — go by the number in front of you.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
6.

Which statement is best supported by the data?

Nudge — Test each claim against the actual numbers. Look at the gap between the highest and lowest rows — is it small or large? Cross out any statement the table flatly contradicts.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
7.

A likely geographic and economic factor contributing to differences in homeownership rates is:

Nudge — Look for the option that is both accurate and broad. Watch the words "only" and "prevent" — modern federal law does not ban any group from buying a home, so weigh whether each claim is actually true today.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
8.

If homeownership rates increased significantly among all groups, what would be the most likely economic effect?

Nudge — Think about what a home usually is for a family: an asset that can build value over time. Predict the effect yourself first, then match your prediction to an option — and notice which choices are narrowed by "only" or point in an unlikely direction.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
STIMULUS 3 · DATAData Analysis · Economics

Major Sources of U.S. Federal Government Revenue (Fiscal Year 2023)

Table 2. Federal revenue by source, FY 2023

Revenue source Amount (trillions) % of total revenue
Individual Income Taxes$2.1849%
Payroll Taxes$1.4633%
Corporate Income Taxes$0.429%
Other (Excise, Estate, Customs)$0.409%

Source: U.S. Treasury Department.

9.

According to the table, which source provided the largest share of federal revenue in 2023?

Nudge — Read the "% of total revenue" column and find the biggest number. The answer is stated directly in the table — no outside knowledge needed.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
10.

Payroll taxes primarily fund which major federal programs?

Nudge — Picture a real pay stub: payroll taxes are withheld under labels like FICA. Ask which pair of programs those specific deductions are earmarked for, rather than general spending such as defense, education, or the environment.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
11.

If Congress wanted to increase federal revenue without raising income tax rates, which option would most directly achieve that goal?

Nudge — Two conditions must both be met: it must raise revenue and it must not touch income tax rates. Test each option against both. Cutting spending does not raise revenue; eliminating a tax lowers it — rule those out.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
12.

The data shows that individual income taxes make up nearly half of federal revenue. This suggests that the U.S. tax system is heavily dependent on:

Nudge — Unpack the phrase "individual income taxes" word by word. Then rule out the option limited by "only," the one about imported goods, and the one about state and local money — the table shows those are small or not listed at all.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
STIMULUS 4Primary Source · U.S. History

Excerpt from “I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1963)

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character..."

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., August 28, 1963.

13.

The main theme of this excerpt is:

Nudge — A main-theme question must be backed by the words on the page, so reread the line about "the content of their character." Then reject the options the passage never raises — violent revolution, separation of groups, or government economic programs.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
14.

Dr. King delivered this speech during which major historical movement?

Nudge — Anchor on the date: August 1963. Match that decade and the topic (racial equality) to the movement of the same name. The other eras happened at different times or concerned different issues.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
15.

The speech was given in support of which piece of legislation that was passed the following year?

Nudge — Use both clues the question gives you: the timing ("the following year") and the subject of the speech. Narrow by date first, then by topic — some options come from entirely different eras or deal with voting or retirement rather than King's message.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
16.

King’s reference to turning “the mountain of despair” into “a stone of hope” is an example of:

Nudge — Ask whether King literally means rocks and mountains or is picturing something larger through them. Rule out the choices about violence and religion, which the image does not support, and the one calling it a plain, literal description.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
QUESTIONS 17–24Civics & Government · Economics · U.S. History & Geography
17.

Which branch of the U.S. government has the power to impeach and remove the President?

Nudge — Two options fall away quickly: the President cannot remove himself, and state governors have no role in a federal impeachment. For the two branches that remain, recall which one the Constitution gives this power to.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
18.

In a market economy, prices are mainly determined by:

Nudge — The key word is "market": in a market system the government does not set prices, so rule out central planning. Then watch the absolutes "only" and "exclusively," which weaken two more choices, and see what is left.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
19.

Which geographic factor most influenced the early settlement patterns of European colonists along the Atlantic coast?

Nudge — Think about what early settlers needed to survive and trade along a coast. Watch the absolutes "all areas" and "any," which make two options false, and set aside the gold-and-silver choice, which fits conquest more than settling in to farm.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
20.

The system of checks and balances is designed to:

Nudge — Take the phrase apart: "checks" and "balances" both suggest limiting power, not concentrating it. Any option that hands total or exclusive power to one branch contradicts the idea itself.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
21.

During the Industrial Revolution in the United States, which geographic change occurred?

Nudge — Industrial means factories, and factories clustered in cities — keep that anchor. One option describes movement in the opposite direction, another limits it with "only," and one is about regional population size rather than people relocating for work.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
22.

Which of the following is an example of monetary policy?

Nudge — Monetary policy works through the money supply and interest rates and is run by the central bank, not through taxing and spending. Three of these are really examples of fiscal policy — taxing and spending by government — so separate those out.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
23.

The principle of federalism means that power is:

Nudge — Federalism is the opposite of piling authority into one place. Watch the words "only," "entirely," and "controlled by" a single body — each signals power concentrated in one spot, so those options work against the concept; rule them out.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):
24.

The Monroe Doctrine (1823) was primarily intended to:

Nudge — The Monroe Doctrine was a message aimed at Europe about the Americas. Ask whether it wanted more or less European involvement in this hemisphere. Two options put the U.S. in Africa or Asia — off-topic, so eliminate them.
My answer:
Why I picked this (in my own words):

Extended Response — Natural Rights and Government

25. In a well-developed response of 4–6 paragraphs, explain how the ideas of natural rights and the consent of the governed (from Stimulus 1) have influenced American government and society. Use evidence from at least one other stimulus in this test and your knowledge of U.S. history.

Nudge — Plan before you write. (1) State a clear thesis: what do "natural rights" and "consent of the governed" mean, and why do they matter? (2) Pull a specific line from Stimulus 1 as your evidence. (3) Connect to at least one other stimulus — for example, how Dr. King's speech (Stimulus 4) asked the nation to live up to that founding promise, or how the data in Stimulus 2 shows the promise is still unfinished. (4) Add one fact from U.S. history you already know. (5) End with a short conclusion that ties the founding idea to today.

Reflection

1. Which content area felt strongest for you on this test — primary sources, data, civics, or economics?

2. Which type of question was most challenging, and which nudges did you need?

3. What is one topic you plan to review before the real GED test?

FOR INSTRUCTOR USE — NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

Mentor Guide

How to run this worksheet, use the nudges, and review the work — no answer key required

1. What the nudges are (and are not)

Each question carries a Nudge — a printed hint about how to attack the question. A nudge never states or implies the answer; it names the strategy (find the largest number in the column, watch for absolute words, match the date to the era, take the vocabulary word apart). A student who is stuck gets unstuck by reasoning, not by being told. Over time the nudges become the student's own internal checklist and can be withdrawn.

Use one of three modes: Open (read the nudge freely on a first pass), Delayed (attempt first, read the nudge only if stuck — have students tick which ones they needed; that tick list is your diagnostic), or Closed (cover the nudges for an exam simulation, then review them afterward).

2. The four skill clusters this set is really testing

3. Explaining the concepts most likely to trip students up

4. Reviewing the work WITHOUT an answer key

This packet ships with no key by design, so review is an act of reasoning, not of matching letters. For every question, go back to the source text or to solid content knowledge together:

5. Extended Response (25) — rubric and grading guidance, 0–4

Grading note: weight claim, evidence, and reasoning above spelling and grammar. Reward a student who quotes “all men are created equal” and ties it to King's demand for equality, whatever the mechanics look like. Grade the reasoning first; treat conventions separately.