GED Social Studies Practice Test Questions | Practice Test / Quiz / MCQs

1. Why were Native-American tribes forcibly relocated from their tribal lands in the 1830s?

Native Americans left their native lands in the eastern states to search for gold in the West.Whites were concerned for the health of the Native Americans and felt that the climate west of the Mississippi River would be better for them.The land had originally belonged to the Founding Fathers.White settlers wanted to steal the lands in the eastern states that belonged to the Indians for themselves.

2. Which Supreme Court decision overturned the doctrine of 'separate but equal' and led to the desegregation of United States public schools?

Miranda v. ArizonaRoe v. WadePlessy v. FergusonBrown v. Board of Education

3. The repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, known as Prohibition, meant that alcohol could once again be legally bought and sold. What was the main economic reason the federal government favored its repeal?

so the government could gain revenue from the sales taxes on alcoholic beveragesso the government could stop spending money investigating alcohol smugglingfreedom of individual choiceso the members of the government could get drunk once in a while

5. Which of the following statements is true regarding the Bill of Rights?

It was never added to the Constitution.It gave women the right to vote.It was added to the Constitution shortly after ratification.It abolished slavery throughout the United States.

6. What does the systems of 'checks and balances' do with regard to the federal government?

It gives the majority of the power to the executive branch.It gives the majority of the power to the judicial branch.It gives the majority of the power to the legislative branch.It divides the power among the three branches by giving them distinctive roles to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

7. Globalization, which occurs whenever companies shift their focus from a local or regional basis to an international basis, can lead to the outsourcing of jobs overseas. Which of the following is an example of globalization?

A Chinese company hires local Chinese workers for its factory in Beijing.A computer manufacturer finds it cheaper to outsource its customer service call center to workers in India instead of employing local workers.A sales rep goes on vacation to Europe instead of going to California.A car manufacturer invests in robots to assemble its cars and then lays off hundreds of workers who used to do that job.

8. Which of the following is a true statement?

Each state always has two members in the U.S. Senate and two members in the U.S. House of Representatives.The number of members that a state has in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate is based on the state’s population.The number of members that a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives is based on the state’s population, whereas each state always has two members in the U.S. Senate.The number of members that a state has in the U.S. Senate is based on the state’s population, whereas each state always has two members in the U.S. House of Representatives.

9. What is the meaning of Manifest Destiny?

the belief that the expansion of the U.S. throughout the American continents was a crime against humanitythe belief that the expansion of the U.S. throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitablethe belief that God was destined to punish the colonists for their immoral behaviorthe belief that the American colonists should stay on the East Coast to avoid confrontation with the natives

10. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization based in New York City. Its member countries include 193 out of the 195 countries in the world. The UN was founded at the end of World War II and is dedicated to global peace, human rights, and international law.
Which of the following is a fact rather than an opinion regarding the United Nations?

The United States is clearly the most important member of the United Nations.The United Nations is no longer needed to secure global peace.The United Nations should do more to protect the rights of minorities around the world.Most countries in the world are members of the United Nations.

11. The slave trade from Africa to the New World from the mid-1500s to the mid-1800s resulted in

virtually no impact on South America.a Spanish monopoly of the slave trade business.the largest forced migration of a group of people in world history.more opportunities for the immigrants who decided to move to the New World.

12. A tariff is a special tax that is imposed on imported goods and services to restrict trade and increase the price of imported goods and services. The United States occasionally imposes tariffs in an attempt to persuade Americans to buy American-made goods and services.
According to the given information, which of the following is an example of a tariff?

Congress creates a flat-tax rate for all income levels.Congress increases the price of all gasoline to fund clean energy research.Congress imposes a tax on beer that is manufactured in California but sold in New York.Congress imposes a tax on imported Japanese cars in order to protect domestic car sales.

13. Which of the following statements describes a result of the increase in globalization over the past half century?

Human rights have declined sharply around the world.Terrorist attacks have begun to decrease as more countries are working in cooperation with one another.The number of refugees around the world has declined.Many counties are more dependent on each other for their economic growth.

14. When it is discovered that a particular company is engaged in unethical behavior, many people decide to boycott the company by refusing to buy their services or products. How does boycotting a company put pressure on it to change its ways?

Workers go on strike, bringing production to a halt.It damages the company’s reputation with its customers.The sudden increase in demand for the company’s products helps drive up the prices.Workers demand higher wages.

15. In October 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union faced a 13-day standoff known as the Cuban Missile Crisis after the United States discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles away from the continental United States. President Kennedy ordered an immediate naval blockade of Cuba and warned the American people that he was willing to use whatever force necessary to neutralize this threat to national security.
The standoff ended when

the USSR revealed that the 'nuclear missiles' in Cuba were actually fakes.the USSR negotiated a treaty with the United States to keep the missiles in place without the threat of them ever being used.President JFK was able to get the Soviet Union to withdraw its missiles from Cuba while the United States agreed to remove nuclear missiles from Turkey.the United States backed down and decided to allow the missiles to remain in Cuba.

16. Which of the following is a fact rather than an opinion about fossil fuels?

Fossil fuels should be banned because they are too dirty and expensive.Many countries rely on fossil fuels as their major source of energy.Fossil fuels are more economical than alternative sources of energy.The United States should bury its fossil fuels so they don’t contribute to global warming.

17. In the late 1800s, J. D. Rockefeller, the owner of Standard Oil, incorporated vertical and horizontal business practices into his business model by controlling the drilling, production, transportation, and sale of his products. As a result, he was able to

create a monopoly by controlling nearly 90 percent of the oil production in the U.S.compete with his competition with only minimal success.allow smaller competitors easier entry into the oil business.prevent monopolies from forming in the oil business.

18. During the Cold War, the United States’ fear of the spread of communism was expressed in its foreign policy known as the Domino Theory. This fear was heightened when China became communist in 1949 and the Korean War broke out in 1950, followed by the U.S. entering the conflict in Vietnam in 1964.
Which of the following statements best summarizes the Domino Theory as it applied to actions in Asia from 1945 through 1975?

The generalized fear was that if one country fell to communism, all the other countries in the region would also fall to communism.The United States was afraid that communism would fade from the region unless they intervened in Vietnam.The United States was afraid that the popularity of the game of dominos would fade and be overtaken by Chinese checkers.The United States was concerned only about the Soviet Union becoming communist.

19. During 1965, support for America’s involvement in the war in Vietnam was strong, but in less than two years, the war became unpopular at home, leading to student protests across the country. All the following would be a valid reason for students to protest the war EXCEPT

the numbers of American soldier casualties were increasing each year, and more and more troops were being sent over to fight in the war.the students believed that America’s involvement in the war in Vietnam was a necessary evil.more and more young people were being drafted to fight in Vietnam.graphic photos showing atrocities against Vietnamese women and children stoked outrage among the American public.

21. The U.S. Constitution has little to say about reasons for impeachment and removal from office: 'treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors,' including bribery, intimidation, refusal to obey a lawful order, dereliction of duty, perjury, abuse of authority, failure to supervise, conduct unbecoming, and misuse of assets. Which of the following would be grounds for presidential impeachment?

committing perjury (lying under oath)signing a law that prevents Wall Street banks from cheating their customersproposing universal healthcare coverage for the millions of uninsured Americansvetoing legislation that Congress wishes to pass

22. Which of the following is the riskiest investment?

buying stock in a single startup companyputting your money in U.S. Government bondsbuying stock in several large established corporationsputting your money in a savings account at the bank

23. Based on the information in the passage, the attitude of Manifest Destiny helped to encourage which two atrocities?

the Boston Massacre and the Declaration of Independence from Great Britainthe beginning of slavery and the war against Francethe forcible removal of Native Americans and the war with Mexicothe forcible removal of Native Americans and the beginning of slavery

24. What effect has the Mississippi River had on the development of the American Midwest?

The river has had a negligible impact on the development of the region.The river provides a valuable east–west connection across the United States.The river provides an important connection to the sea for landlocked Midwestern states.The river provides a valuable source of salt to the towns in the region.

25. All of the following are valid reasons monopolies are not allowed to exist in the United States EXCEPT

monopolies give too much power to one company.monopolies prevent healthy competition.monopolies are too efficient.monopolies often give consumers fewer choices.

25 Questions

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25 Questions

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson© 2026 Fatskills.com

All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know?
Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2026 Fatskills.com