Social Sciences Content Area Exam

Front 1

Obj 1
Most effective way to identify relevant secondary & primary sources for a research paper on a topic in twentieth-century U.S.
history?

A. Conduct a subject search on the
Internet & download material from
relevant Web sites.

B. Review the citations & bibliography of texts related to the topic of the research.

C. Examine the New York Times Index for the period to be studied.

D. Consult volumes of the Readers'
Guide to Periodical Literature for
the period to be studied.

Back 1

B. Review the citations & bibliography of texts related to the topic of the research.

Front 2

Obj 2
A historian has conducted interviews with 50 Vietnam War veterans for a study of the Tet Offensive. In using information
obtained from the interviews, the historian should be particularly aware of which of the following?

A. There is only one true story and
the historian is responsible for
discovering it.

B. Conditions in many South Vietnamese cities and towns were quite chaotic during the Tet Offensive.

C. How individuals remember major
events in their lives changes over
the years.

D. All Vietnam War veterans know theTet Offensive was a major turning
point in the war.

Back 2

C. How individuals remember major
events in their lives changes over
the years.

Front 3

Obj 1
A sociologist is designing a set of experiments to test a hypothesis concerning the relationship between group size and willingness to assume responsibility. The
researcher can best ensure the reliability of the experiments by making certain that:

A. the procedures used for the control and experimental groups are the same except for the independent variable.

B. the support for the hypothesis being tested is based solely on perfect positive correlations.

C. the independent observers chosen to record the results are able to develop their own definitions of what they are observing.

D. the participants in the experiments represent diverse social backgrounds but similar educational levels.

Back 3

A. the procedures used for the control and experimental groups are the same except for the independent variable.

Front 4

Obj 3
Which of the following best describes the main purpose of written constitutions in democratic societies?

A. to establish guidelines for competition among political parties

B. to set social goals for all levels of
government

C. to establish criteria for assessing
the effectiveness of laws

D. to hold those who govern
accountable to the governed

Back 4

D. to hold those who govern
accountable to the governed

Front 5

Obj 4
A major difference between industrial and postindustrial economies is that postindustrial economies are likely to place greater emphasis on:

A. the adoption of practices designed to bolster aggregate demand.

B. the regulation of major business
enterprises by the government.

C. the reduction of inequities in the
distribution of goods and services.

D. the importance of information as
a key productive resource.

Back 5

D. the importance of information as
a key productive resource.

Front 6

Obj 3
Congress is best able to influence U.S. foreign policy by exercising its constitutional power to:

A. regulate international commerce.

B. establish independent regulatory
commissions.

C. appropriate federal funds.

D. approve or reject presidential
appointments.

Back 6

C. appropriate federal funds.

Front 7

Obj 4
The Gross Domestic Product is a measure for which of the following?

A. the value added to domestic goods and services

B. the amount of domestic firms'
unsold inventory

C. the total value of domestic output in a given year

D. the annual average domestic cost of living

Back 7

C. the total value of domestic output in a given year

Front 8

Obj 5
Which of the following best illustrates how experience and culture influence human perceptions of regions?

A. A Canadian is more likely than a
Guatemalan to view Latin America
as a culture region.

B. An Italian is more likely than a
Spaniard to view Western Europe as a culture region.

C. A South African is more likely than an Egyptian to view sub-Saharan Africa as a culture region.

D. A Malaysian is more likely than a Thai to view Southeast Asia as a
culture region.

Back 8

A. A Canadian is more likely than a
Guatemalan to view Latin America
as a culture region.

Front 9

Obj 5
Which of the following best explains why industrial areas of Japan are concentrated in coastal locations?

A. Japanese industrial expansion is
spatially limited by policies to
preserve farmland.

B. Population density in Japan is
highest in coastal areas.

C. Transportation networks linking
coastal to inland areas in Japan are
poorly developed.

D. Japanese industry is dependent on imported raw materials.

Back 9

D. Japanese industry is dependent on imported raw materials.

Front 10

Obj 6
Which of the following is likely to be the main goal of a behavioral therapist who is treating a patient with a phobia?

A. to obtain insight into the
experiences that initiated the phobia

B. to identify thoughts that trigger
phobic responses

C. to link the stimulus that is provoking fear to a feeling of relaxation

D. to identify genetic or biological
causes of the phobia

Back 10

C. to link the stimulus that is provoking fear to a feeling of relaxation