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

1. The Cold War began at the end of World War II due to mistrust between the democratic United States and the communist Soviet Union. Each nation feared each other’s style of government and began to build an arsenal of nuclear weapons to intimidate the other. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the early part of the Cold War?

The United States and Western European nations felt threatened by communist actions in Eastern Europe and formed an alliance to confront those threats.NATO and the Warsaw Pact were created to work together to promote world peace.The United Nations was formed primarily to promote world peace after two devastating world wars.The Warsaw Pact was created as a response to the formation of NATO.

2. John Adams once said, 'The proposition that the people are the best keepers of their own liberties is not true. They are the worst conceivable, they are no keepers at all; they can neither judge, act, think, or will, as a political body.'
What is the main point the Adams was trying to get across?

People cannot be trusted to defend their own freedoms and liberties.Liberty should be given only to a select few.Chaos will always be better than order.The United States should have no official government.

4. During the Industrial Revolution, Great Britain quickly became the world’s top producer of goods. Which of the following was NOT a factor in Britain’s rise to dominance in world trade during the 1800s?

Great Britain imposed tariffs on goods imported from other countries.Great Britain had lots of coal available to power the machines needed for the mass production of goods.Great Britain’s extensive colonization gave it access to raw materials.Great Britain had made advances in the steam train and had developed a rail network, making the transport of goods relatively easy.

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

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

6. During World War II, women on the U.S. home front made a significant contribution to the war effort by

not openly protesting the war effort.taking a reduction in work hours to allow minorities to work longer hours.filling jobs that were needed for the war effort because so many men were away fighting the war.taking a reduction in pay so that the working men could still support their families.

7. The free market system depends on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs start businesses to produce goods and services that are in short supply and then sell those goods and services at a profit. Which of the following is NOT true about the free market system?

Natural resources have no impact on the profit margin of a business, as these costs are fixed over time.Physical capital (buildings and tools) can help businesses increase their profit margins.Managing human capital (education, training, wages, hours worked, and so on) can help businesses increase profit margins.Entrepreneurs often develop new technologies or methods of production and marketing to maximize profits.

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

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

11. 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.

12. Which of the following statements correctly summarizes communism and capitalism?

Communism is associated with private ownership, income redistribution, and classless society, whereas capitalism is associated with state-owned industries, profit motive, and competitive markets.Communism is associated with state-owned industries, income redistribution, and competitive markets, whereas capitalism is associated with private ownership, profit motive, and classless society.Communism is associated with state-owned industries, income redistribution, and classless society, whereas capitalism is associated with private ownership, profit motive, and competitive markets.Communism is associated with private ownership, profit motive, and competitive markets, whereas capitalism is associated with state-owned industries, income redistribution, and classless society.

13. What trend in the media has NOT been a major factor in the U.S. presidential elections since 1960?

The growth of fake news websites has blurred the lines between fictional and factual information about candidates and elections.People now rely more on mainstream news than ever for reliable information about candidates and elections.The televised presidential debates continue to command large audiences.The convenience of online news has challenged the dominance of major newspapers as the primary source of information about candidates and elections.

14. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 in 1942, just over two months after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The executive order had serious consequences for over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry who were living in the United States. What was the intent of this order?

to remove the right of citizenship from all Japanese Americansto force people of Japanese ancestry living in America to emigrate to Japanto encourage people of Japanese ancestry in America to issue a formal apology and take responsibility for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harborto relocate people of Japanese ancestry living in America to ten different internment camps away from the western American coastlines for the duration of the war

15. How do the president’s Supreme Court justice selections help secure his own legacy even after he is out of office?

The Supreme Court has a minimal role in helping establish a president’s legacy after he leaves office.The president helps secure his own legacy by appointing Supreme Court justices, who will serve long after he’s gone.A president serves only eight years at the most and has insufficient time to build a lasting legacy.The Supreme Court can reinstate the president even after he is voted out of office.

16. Which of the following is a true statement?

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.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.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.

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

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

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

24. The quote below is from Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers.
'Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.'
How does the Constitution of the United States 'calculate for the possible change of things'?

It states that the powers of the president will not be questioned.It protects the Supreme Court from having to explain their decisions.It does not contain any provisions that allow for change.It allows for amendments to be made when necessary.Use the following information and the quote from President John Quincy Adams for Questions 453 through 455.During the 19th century, it was believed that the United States should continue its westward expansion and that it was destined to stretch from coast to coast. This prevailing attitude, known as Manifest Destiny, helped fuel both the forcible removal of Native American from their homeland and the war with Mexico. Here are Adams’s words:'The whole continent of North America appears to be destined by Divine Providence to be peopled by one nation, speaking one language, professing one general system of religious and political principles, and accustomed to one general tenor of social usages and customs.'

25. Which of the following is most likely to be studied by a macroeconomist?

the main causes of inflationhow much a car salesman saves each month for his retirementhow a company turns raw materials into a finished producthow a computer manufacturer prices its laptops

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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