Download Reviewing for the Final EOC in Civics and

Reviewing for the Final EOC in Civics and Economics
The Test
 There will be 100 total questions on each test but only 80 are actually scored.
 60 Higher Order Thinking Skills
 40 Lower order thinking skills
 10 questions from each goal
Civics and Economics
Goal
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
% Value
12
12
6
8
12
12
11
11
10
6
Things to Remember and Look Out For
Best Answer-This means that there are more than one right answer in the answer set. You can tell best answer
questions because they will have phrases that have the following wording and appearance:
 most likely
 best
 most accurately
Negative answers-This means that you will not see these type of answers on the test:
 Not
 No
 Except
Court Cases-There are always a few court cases on the test. They will be in italics with the date in parenthesis
at the end. It is important to know that typically the date will give away the answer, e.g. all court cases from
1801-1834 are from the Marshall court and John Marshall almost always made a ruling that tried to strengthen
the national/federal government over the state government; court cases from the 1950s to the present typically
dealt with extending individual rights. Court cases will always have the following appearance:
 Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
 State v. Mann (1830)
 Swann v. Board of Education of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (1971)
 Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
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Test Taking Strategies
Students should look for key terms and phrases in the question and the answers. These are capitalized,
bold, italics, etc.
Take short breaks
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Don’t skip around
Don’t be afraid to change your first answer
Never leave an answer blank
Frequently check to make sure that questions match numbers
Mark out incorrect answers.
Responses that use absolute words, such as "always" or "never" are less likely to be correct than ones
that use conditional words like "usually" or "probably."
Look for grammatical clues
Formulate your own answer before reading the options.
Eliminate unlikely answers first.
Select answers that are longer and more descriptive.
Sample DPI Questions
1. How did the Stamp Act, the Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts encourage American colonists to consider
revolution against British rule?
A by ignoring American representatives in Parliament on issues of taxes levied in the
American colonies
B by raising taxes in the American colonies without granting the colonies any representation in Parliament
C by representing an effort in Britain to end the slave trade in the colonies
D by revealing the British plan to expand the American colonies farther west on the continent
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-B
Don’t get caught up in the details of Stamp Act, Tea Act and Intolerable Act. The “and” says that they
are all in the same ball park. A student may read the question, “How did acts encourage colonist to
consider revolution?” This simplifies the question. Legislation was not liked because it was often
“taxation without representation.” This can be found on the “Cheat Sheet.”
2. Which reason best explains why many Anti-Federalists finally agreed to the ratification of the U.S.
Constitution?
A the addition of the Bill of Rights
B arguments by George Washington
C a desire to create a better relationship with the Federalists
D a fear that civil war would break out if the dispute were not settled
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-A
The “best” should tell the student that this is a best answer format question. They definitely should read
through all answer choices since there will be more than one right answer. By not reading through all
choices the student risks not seeing a better answer. From the “Cheat Sheet,” the Anti Federalists wanted
a Bill of Rights. Other answers that could be considered correct would be that they wanted to have a
better relationship with the Federalist, but this is not the best answer and they might have been afraid
that civil war would break out and this is not the best answer either.
3. What is federalism?
A a form of government with elected representatives
B a division of power between the national and state governments
C a belief in the idea of national sovereignty
D a form of government in which elected officials make all economic decisions
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-B
From the “Cheat Sheet” you know that federalism is a division of power between national and state
governments.
4. Who can prevent the president of the United States from controlling the Supreme Court by blocking
appointments to the bench?
A state legislatures
B the Joint Chiefs of Staff
C governors
D the Senate
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-D
From the “Cheat Sheet” you are aware of the powers of the president to appoint and the powers of the
senate to approve.
5. Which term describes the approval or rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment by the popular vote?
A recall
B initiative
C referendum
D censure
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-C
When an amendment is referred to the public for vote, it is called a referendum.
6. Which court case helped to establish the supremacy of the North Carolina Constitution?
A Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
B State v. Mann (1830)
C Swann v. Board of Education of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (1971)
D Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-C
There is only one answer that has a city in NC mentioned. That is Charlotte. You can rule out answers A
and B because from the “Cheat Sheet” you know that court cases from 1801 to 1834 establish the
supremacy of the National/Federal government over the state government. Those two answers should be
physically marked out. At worst, it now a 50-50 guess for the right answer.
7. Which propaganda technique is represented by the quote, “My opponent is soft on crime!”?
A name calling
B bandwagon
C glittering generality
D stacked cards
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-C
There is no name calling in the quote so answer A can be marked out. Bandwagon refers to getting on a
wagon that is moving in a particular direction concerning public opinion, e.g. “Everyone is on the
bandwagon for this candidate.” C is correct because even if one does not know what a glittering
generality might be, glittering means that something looks good (looks good when said in this case-like
crime) and generality refers to soft. Soft is general. Thereby glittering generality is the correct answer.
8. Which is a civic duty required by U.S. law for 18-year-old male citizens?
A registering with Selective Service
B volunteering for a political campaign
C serving as a legislative page
D voting in all elections
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-A
Immediately, a student should think of duty and responsibility together since duty is mentioned in the
question. It may be helpful to circle duty in the question. You know from the “Cheat Sheet” that a duty is
something that you must do contrasted to responsibility which is something that you should do. It may be
easier for the student to immediately cross the responsibilities-the things that they should do but are not
required to do.
9. “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included
within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole
Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
three fifths of all other Persons.” excerpt from U.S. Constitution
Article I, Section 2, Clause 3
Which statement most accurately explains the significance of the excerpt?
A For the first time, direct taxes were levied on citizens by the government.
B The U.S. government cannot force American Indians to pay taxes.
C The framers of the Constitution determined who could be free.
D After many debates, a compromise was reached on the issues of taxation and slavery.
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-D
The “most accurately” should tell the student that this is a best answer format question. They definitely
should read through all answer choices since there will be more than one right answer. By not reading
through all choices the student risks not seeing a better answer. The excerpt is in t “representatives …
apportioned… three fifths of all persons” and the title address at the bottom tells you that it is in the
Constitution. Although the words compromise were not used in the excerpt, students should associate the
three fifths phrase with the word compromise and that can be found in the last answer-something that
they would have missed if they had not read all the choices.
10.
Which court correctly completes the diagram above?
A United States Court of Records
B United States Civil Court
C United States Superior Court
D United States Court of Appeals
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-D
Often, the testers will not ask for obscure courts such as the US Court of Records. They are trying to
reach the most important items. Civil and Superior courts refer to state courts. The only major court that
is left is the US Court of Appeals.
11. Which type of law is being enforced when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closes a business
due to environmental contamination?
A criminal
B administrative
C civil
D constitutional
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-B
The EPA is an agency in the Executive Branch, therefore it does not make criminal or constitutional law.
Agencies make administrative laws.
12. Who has the primary responsibility to inform citizens of national government regulations?
A executive departments and agencies
B senators and representatives
C special interest groups
D the federal courts
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-B
Since senators and representatives have the primary responsibility of making the laws, another branch
will have the responsibility of carrying or enforcing the laws-which means informing citizens. This is the
duty of the executive branch.
13. Which type of cost occurs when an individual pays for a piano lesson instead of going to a movie?
A opportunity cost
B marginal cost
C fixed cost
D residual cost
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-A
Once again, the test takers are most likely going to test the most highly covered items from the
curriculum. Opportunity cost falls into that category. It is also on the “Cheat Sheet.”
14. Under which economic system would factors of production most likely be owned by the government?
A market economy B command economy
C traditional economy
D mixed economy
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-B
The “most likely” should tell the student that this is a best answer format question. They definitely should
read through all answer choices since there will be more than one right answer. By not reading through
all choices the student risks not seeing a better answer. The “Cheat Sheet” has each of those mentioned.
Tradition is based on tradition, mixed is based on several different types of systems. Governments
typically command or own.
15. In a command economy, how are the prices of goods and services determined?
A market forces of supply and demand
B the central government
C independent agencies and independent regulators
D business owners
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-B
Command, control, government make the decisions for prices, whereas in a market economy it is
controlled by supply and demand.
16. Which term is used to describe a situation where most people who are looking for work are able to find a
job?
A full employment B structural unemployment C underemployment
D seasonal employment
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-A
Full means that the economy is full of job seekers and full of job availability. It is also the opposite of the
underemployment answer. This is often a good giveaway, when see two answers that are opposites, then
one of those must be the right answer. A student should look for another answer that matches one of the
two choices. If one is found then it eliminates the similar answer as the right answer.
17. A new technology increases the speed of computers without increasing production costs. What is the likely
effect of this technology?
A The price of new computers will decline.
B The price of new computers will increase.
C The demand for new computers will decline.
D The demand for new computers will increase.
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-D
What are unlikely answers? They should be crossed out. A new technology makes computers better but
they cost (cost of production) the same. It is unlikely that the price of computers will go down. Since the
computers are better because of speed, consumers will probably want the new computers more. A and C
can be marked out.
18. What consumer behavior is the Federal Reserve Board trying to encourage when it implements a loose
monetary policy?
A increased saving and reduced spending
B decreased saving and increased spending
C increased saving and spending
D decreased saving and spending
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-D
Loose monetary policy means that they are trying to make money easy to get to. It is said to be loose. If
the FED wants people to have more money in their pocket, then they are wanting people to spend more
money. There are only two answers that say increase spending, B and C. The FED is not trying to
encourage saving.
19. Which action is a civic responsibility of U.S. citizens?
A voting during local elections
B paying taxes
C attending school
D maintaining security
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-A
Once again, students should place the word responsibility with the word duty. Contrast that which is
required with that which is recommended. B, C and D are all required. Students should mark out one by
one those things that are required and if unsure then they are left with a guess.
20. How is a civic action such as voting different from serving on a jury?
A Voting is more important to democracy than jury duty.
B All citizens can vote, but only some are qualified for jury duty.
C Jury service is considered a civic duty while voting is a responsibility.
D U.S. democracy cannot function without voters, but can exist without juries.
TEACHER NOTES
Right Answer-C
Students should guess an answer before looking at the answer choices. “Voting is not required and jury
service is required.” Now look at the answer choices. This makes answer C correct because it most closely
represents the thought that “Voting is not required and jury service is required.”
“Cheat Sheet”
1. Constitution created a Republic—a republic is a system where people elect leaders to represent them in
the Government. All states must create a representative form of government.
2. Colonist wanted separation from England because they felt their inalienable rights were being denied
them.
3. Colonists were tired of high taxes without having a voice in government (“no taxation without
representation”)
4. Northern colonies made their money from shipping, while southern colonies made their money by
farming. Only white land owners were allowed to vote.
5. The ideas that were the foundations of the American way of government came from the enlightenment
and philosophers who had revolutionary ideas that gradually became accepted by democratic societies
everywhere.
6. The Articles of the Confederation were very weak (created a weak National government) the
Constitution strengthened the power of the National government greatly. After winning their
independence the thirteen states of the United States lived under the A of C. This lasted only ten years
because of the weak central government left too much power in the hands of the states.
7. The first 10 amendments to the constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. The purpose of the Bill of
Rights is to insure that the strong National Government did not infringe on the freedoms of those under
that government.
8. The Federalist supported a strong National Government. Anti-Federalist (Republicans; Democrats;
Democratic Republicans) sought to protect the rights of individuals and the States against abuses of the
Federal government.
9. The Legislative branch makes law. Our federal legislative branch is made up of the House and Senate.
The Legislative Branch is called Congress and they make laws for our country. The Speaker of the
House will become president if the president and the vice president both die.
10. The Executive branch enforces law. The top executive in the federal government is the president. The
top executive in the state is the governor. The president is elected by the Electoral College, if he
receives 270 votes.
11. The President appoints federal judges with the approval of the Senate
12. The Judicial branch interrupts law. The Supreme Court and other Federal courts make up the Judicial
branch.
13. The jury decides the guilt of a suspect.
14. The US Constitution can only be changed by amendment.
15. When the Constitution and State law conflict, the Constitution is the supreme law of the US. The US
Constitution holds supreme power.
16. Most significant Supreme Court cases deal with the clarification of the rights of citizens. Judicial
Review (Marbury v Madison, 1803) allows the Supreme Court to get rid of any laws that violate
citizen's rights.
17. Most things that are true about concerning the Federal government are also true about State
governments though the names may be different. Examples include: the chief executives are the
President and the Governor. They have similar powers. State constitutions mirror the Federal
Constitution but are only applied in the state where the constitution is from.
18. One person may sue another in a civil trial. In a criminal trial the defendant is prosecuted by the state.
19. The fourteenth amendment to the constitution extends the Bill of Rights to protect citizens from their
states.
20. State Governments make the bulk of their revenue from income tax (48% for income, 22% for sales).
21. Revenue is money brought in by the government. Expenditures are things that the government spends
money on.
22. Political parties on the local, state and federal level work independently of one another for the most
part. A platform is a list of issues and where the party stands on these issues.
23. Having a pluralality of votes means that you have the most votes but less than a majority (51%).
24. The US has always had a two party system. The Republican party is generally more conservative and
the Democratic party is generally more liberal.
25. Law in America has its foundation in the legal traditions from Europe and ancient times. This is called
common law.
26. Lobbies and Special Interest Groups use money to support candidates that will champion legislation
that their group supports.
27. The four factors of production are land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurial skills (sometimes called
management).
28. Free Market, Command, Mixed, and Traditional Economies are all different because of the different
way that the factors of production are managed. The US has a market economy (aka free market or free
enterprise) that is controlled by the buyer and his/her consumer spending. Other key elements of the
market economy and private ownership, supply and demand, profit motivated, capitalism, and free
enterprise. The government regulates some aspects of a free market economy to prevent people from
limiting competition.
29. Scarcity means that all resources are limited. Scarcity causes all consumers and producers to make
choices. The study of how those choices are made is called economics.
30. Supply and demand of scarce goods and services affect prices. The buyer represents demand and the
seller represents supply.
31. Opporunity cost is the price of making one choice over another.
32. Market economies go through phases of growth and decline called the business cycle. A recessionary
period is a time of low economic activity and high unemployment. An inflationary period is a time of
high economic activity and low unemployment.
33. The Federal Reserve controls the money supply by raising and lowering the discount rate, which
controls the interest rate.
34. A change or addition to the Constitution is called amendments and there 27 of them
35. Police must have a search warrant before entering a suspect's house.
36. Extradition means to send a suspect back to the state where the crime was committed
37. Federalism finds state and federal governments working together to rule the citizens.
38. A duty is something that we have do to as citizens while a responsibility is something that we should
do.
39. Most large companies are owned by stockholders
40. Sole proprietorships make up the largest percentage of American businesses