AnswersCivicsIntroduction to American Government

Practice Test Answers

20 verified answers
1
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How did Enlightenment thinkers approach the study of government?

A
by taking a historical view
B
by taking a secular view
C
by taking a faith-based view
D
by taking a divine right view
2
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Read the quotation from the Greek philosopher Aristotle. [A] state which becomes progressively more and more a unity will cease to be a state at all. Plurality of numbers is natural in a state; and the further it moves away from plurality towards unity, the less of a state it becomes . Aristotle believed that the citizens of a successful state must

A
follow the leadership of a dictator.
B
allow for a diversity of opinions.
C
hold annual elections.
D
share the same beliefs.
3

Which scenario is not guaranteed under the Articles of Confederation?

A
The government wants to settle a dispute with France by signing a treaty.
B
The national government could pass a law to make theft illegal.
C
State militias could provide for the nation’s defense.
D
A merchant could always use the same currency in Connecticut and Georgia.
4

Athens and Sparta were both

A
monarchies.
B
city-states.
C
empires.
D
countries.
5

Why did totalitarian governments control culture, such as books and films?

A
to ensure that all citizens had access to the arts
B
to prevent culture from playing any role in society
C
to support writers, directors, and other artists
D
to make sure that all culture followed state ideology
6

How do force theory and social contract theory differ?

A
Force theory is based on the principles of authoritarianism, while social contract theory is an agreement where ruling power stays within a family.
B
Force theory is based on the idea that a small group of elite members control ruling power, while social contract theory is based on the idea of one supreme leader.
C
Force theory is based on a society’s desire to remain free, while social contract theory is based on a government’s power being divided among multiple levels.
D
Force theory is based on strict rules being placed on people, while social contract theory is an agreement between a ruler and those being ruled.
7

Why is the name “totalitarianism” appropriate for that form of government?

A
The government gives total protection.
B
The government promotes total freedom.
C
The government exerts total control.
D
The government advocates total reform.
8

What was the purpose of the New Jersey Plan?

A
to ensure representation was based on population
B
to support the interests of the smaller states
C
to nominate William Paterson as chief executive
D
to implement a bicameral legislature
9

A charter is a written document that

A
describes the separation of powers in diagram form.
B
lists the items for sale in a shop.
C
states the conditions of an agreement.
D
describes, in Latin, which laws should be followed.
10

In a unitary system of government, power is

A
held by a single person.
B
held by a central government.
C
held by a group of people.
D
held by state governments.
11

In a confederal system of government, power is

A
shared between the central and state governments.
B
distributed equally among the state governments.
C
given to the president exclusively.
D
given to the central government.
12

The concept of checks and balances ensures that

A
no branch of government has a separate power from the others.
B
each branch of government has the ability to limit the power of the others.
C
each branch of government does not have power over the others.
D
only one branch of government maintains power over the others.
13

Which was an area of weakness in the federal government under the Articles of Confederation?

A
authoritative power
B
legislative power
C
regulatory power
D
democratic power
14

During the Constitutional Convention, small states did not want their representation based on

A
location.
B
population.
C
delegation.
D
condition.
15

Which quotation from the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence supports the idea that the United States is based on a social contract?

A
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes.”
B
“[T]hey are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
C
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
D
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
16

Which type of government is most likely to result from force theory?

A
republic
B
oligarchy
C
federalism
D
democracy
17

The US Constitution structures the government by creating a system that

A
organizes power on federal, state, and local levels.
B
divides power equally between the states.
C
organizes power on state and local levels.
D
divides power between executive and judicial branches.
18

Read the quotation from George Washington. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create whatever the form of government, a real despotism. What was Washington warning against?

A
granting citizens too many rights
B
instituting separation of powers
C
forming a bicameral legislature
D
having a single ruler
19

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense pushed for a more radical solution than the First Continental Congress did in resolving issues of British rule. What was Paine’s solution?

A
declaring war on Britain
B
declaring independence
C
moving inland, beyond British territory
D
invading Britain
20

A public welfare service that the US government provides is

A
firefighting.
B
electricity.
C
education.
D
hospitals.

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