Question: 11 of 47

CORRECT

• Time Remaining: 07:58:20

Read the passage below before answering the question.

After the assassination on November 22, 1963, a commission was formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding President Kennedy's death. The Warren Commission determined that no conspiracy was behind the assassination, but conspiracy theorists persisted in their belief that Oswald didn't act alone. 

Stimulus: 2 of 2

Based on their titles, which of the following articles would provide the most reliable information for a student who wanted to learn more about the Kennedy assassination?

“The Political Landscape of Cold War America, 1965-1990”

Kennedy was killed in 1963, so this might tell a student about the after-effects, but not about the assassination.

“The Lone Gunman: Lee Harvey Oswald, Sole Conspirator?”

Since this refers to Oswald as a conspirator, it might be about conspiracy theories and not provide objective, reliable information.

“Did JFK Play a Part in His Own Death?”

This article reveals in its title a bias that Kennedy brought on his own death, so it does not offer an objective view of the events.

“November 22, 1963: A Brief History”

MY ANSWER

This article offers historical information about the day of Kennedy's assassination, so a student can expect the main topic to be the factual events of the assassination.

Question: 10 of 47

INCORRECT

• Time Remaining: 07:59:35

Read the passage below before answering the question.

After the assassination on November 22, 1963, a commission was formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding President Kennedy's death. The Warren Commission determined that no conspiracy was behind the assassination, but conspiracy theorists persisted in their belief that Oswald didn't act alone. 

Stimulus: 1 of 2

Which of the following additional sentences would be appropriate if this passage were found in a United States history textbook?

The ambiguous audio recordings and flawed government investigations are proof that there was more to Kennedy's assassination than meets the eye.

MY ANSWER

Conjecture by conspiracy theorists is not considered proof in an academic textbook, so a history textbook would not include it.

In spite of the mystery that surrounds the President's death, one thing is clear – American politics was fundamentally changed that November day.

This sentence is about the big picture and the consequences after the President's death, so it would be appropriate for a history textbook.

Though the nation mourned, no one mourned more than Jacqueline Kennedy.

This might be true, but it takes a personal look at the events of the assassination from Jacqueline Kennedy's perspective, while a history textbook would look at how the events affected the nation as a whole.

The Kennedy family is still one of the most well-known political families in the United States today.

This might be true, but it changes focus from the assassination of Kennedy to biographical information about the family today and is unlikely to be found in a paragraph about the assassination and the Warren Commission as related to United States history.

Question: 9 of 47

CORRECT

• Time Remaining: 08:02:51

Use the map below to answer the question.​

 

Stimulus: 2 of 2

What highway runs along the east coast of the lake? (Note: The numbers on the map represent highway names.)

16

MY ANSWER

Highway 16 follows the eastern shore of the lake.

22

Highway 22 runs along the northwestern side of the lake.

85

Highway 85 runs across the northern side of the lake.​

Baseball has long been known as "the national pastime." But does the name still fit? While baseball's contribution to U.S. culture dates back to the early part of the 19th century, football seems to have supplanted baseball in the U.S. imagination. For instance, in 2007, the top 10 sports broadcasts in television ratings were all games from the National Football League. Meanwhile, participation in youth baseball has fallen, and Major League Baseball teams are now composed of nearly 30% foreign-born players. While the criteria for the status of national pastime are elusive, football fans can make a persuasive argument that there's a new national pastime in the U.S.

Question: 8 of 47

CORRECT

• Time Remaining: 08:03:27

Use the map below to answer the question.​

 

Stimulus: 1 of 2

The majority of the campgrounds are located on what side of the lake?

South

The south side of the lake only has one campground.

North

MY ANSWER

The majority of the campgrounds are on the north shore of the lake along Highway 22.

East

There are no campgrounds on the east side of the lake.

West

The west shore of the lake has one campground at the junction of Highway 22 and 766.

Stimulus: 2 of 2

Which of the following is the author's main purpose in the passage?

To argue that football should be considered America's "national pastime"

MY ANSWER

The author provides supporting details for the argument that football has supplanted baseball as America's "national pastime."

To inform readers about the historical association between baseball and American culture

This is a supporting detail in the passage rather than the author's main purpose.

To persuade readers that America should revive the popularity of baseball

There are no indications in the passage that the author wants to revive the popularity of baseball.

To express feelings about the importance of football in American culture

Read the "The Nearings" passage before answering the question.​

To access the "The Nearings" passage, click on the "Exhibit" button. You can move the passage by clicking at the top of the window frame and dragging it. You can open and close the passage as many times as you require.

Exhibit 1

The Nearings

Among those who subscribe to self-sufficiency and moving back to the land, Helen and Scott Nearing are a legendary couple. Together, the Nearings exemplified the notion of the good life by living simply in a rural setting. 

Scott (1883-1983) came from a wealthy Pennsylvania coal mining family, and Helen Knothe Nearing (1904-1995) was the daughter of an intellectual Ridgewood, New Jersey family. Together they would travel a path very far away from their rather conventional beginnings. By the time he was in his early 20s, Scott had taken to social activism, speaking out against the unsafe working conditions in the Pennsylvania coal mines. Helen spent a brief period working in a factory before meeting Scott and leaving behind the creature comforts of her former lifestyle.

The two met first in 1921 and again in 1928, and were together from that point. In 1932, they left New York City for rural southern Vermont, where they developed a self-sufficient lifestyle and philosophy. They divided their waking hours into three 4-hour blocks: “bread labor,” which was work for food, shelter, fuel, etc.; civic work, such as community service; and recreational or professional pursuits, economics research for Scott and music for Helen. Until 1952, their bread labor in Vermont was primarily maple products; after 1952, when they moved to Maine, it was blueberries. They were prolific builders of stone and concrete structures, completing 21 in all, and all by hand. Since they were cult figures of a sort, they often had the willing help of enthusiastic young volunteers who made the pilgrimage to New England. 

The two authored many books, the most famous of which is Living the Good Life (1954). This and other titles by the Nearings are credited with spurring the “back to the land” movement in the 1960s.

Stimulus: 1 of 5

Which of the following is a logical conclusion based on the passage?

The Nearings' writings were their most influential contribution to the culture.

While many people visited the Nearings to follow their example, it is a logical conclusion that the Nearings' writings were available to a larger number of people and continue to be available. Also, the last sentence states that their books were credited with spurring the "back to the land" movement.

Community service was an example of "bread labor" as defined by the Nearings.

Community service was considered by the Nearings to be civic work, not bread labor.

The Nearings inherited their philosophy from the "back to the land" movement.

MY ANSWER

The passage indicates that the Nearings developed their own philosophy and that they preceded the "back to the land" movement.

The Nearings followed in their parents' footsteps in embracing a rural lifestyle.

There is nothing in the passage to indicate that the Nearings' parents came from a rural lifestyle.

The author does not express personal feelings about the importance of football in American culture. 

Baseball has long been known as "the national pastime." But does the name still fit? While baseball's contribution to U.S. culture dates back to the early part of the 19th century, football seems to have supplanted baseball in the U.S. imagination. For instance, in 2007, the top 10 sports broadcasts in television ratings were all games from the National Football League. Meanwhile, participation in youth baseball has fallen, and Major League Baseball teams are now composed of nearly 30% foreign-born players. While the criteria for the status of national pastime are elusive, football fans can make a persuasive argument that there's a new national pastime in the U.S.

Question: 13 of 47

CORRECT

• Time Remaining: 07:55:01

Exhibit 1

   by the Nearings are credited with spurring the “back to the land” movement in the 1960s.

Stimulus: 2 of 5

Read the "The Nearings" passage before answering the question.

The Nearings

​

Among those who subscribe to self-sufficiency and moving back to the land, Helen and Scott Nearing are a legendary couple. Together, the Nearings exemplified the notion of the good life by living simply in a rural setting.

 

Scott (1883-1983) came from a wealthy Pennsylvania coal mining family, and Helen Knothe Nearing (1904-1995) was the daughter of an intellectual Ridgewood, New Jersey family. Together they would travel a path very far away from their rather conventional beginnings. By the time he was in his early 20s,

Scott had taken to social activism, speaking out against the unsafe working conditions in the Pennsylvania coal mines. Helen spent a brief period working in a factory before meeting Scott and leaving behind the creature comforts of her former lifestyle.

The two met first in 1921 and again in 1928, and were together from that point. In 1932, they left New York City for rural southern Vermont, where they developed a self-sufficient lifestyle and philosophy. They divided their waking hours into three 4-hour blocks: “bread labor,” which was work for food, shelter, fuel, etc.;

​civic work, such as community service; and recreational or professional pursuits, economics research for Scott and music for Helen. Until 1952, their bread labor in Vermont was primarily maple products; after 1952, when they moved to Maine, it was blueberries. They were prolific builders of stone and concrete structures, completing 21 in all, and all by hand. Since they were cult figures of a sort, they often had the willing help of enthusiastic young volunteers who made the pilgrimage to New England. 

The two authored many books, the most famous of which is Living the Good Life (1954). This and other titles

To access the "The Nearings" passage, click on the "Exhibit" button. You can move the passage by clicking at the top of the window frame and dragging it. You can open and close the passage as many times as you require.

Scott Nearing was likely involved in which of the following activities the year Helen was born?

Writing Living the Good Life

Helen was born in 1904. Scott wrote this book with Helen in 1954.

Harvesting blueberries

Helen was born in 1904. Blueberries were part of the Nearings' "bread labor" in the years after 1952.

Speaking against unsafe coal mines

MY ANSWER

Helen was born in 1904. In 1904, Scott would have been 21 years old. The passage states that he was involved in social activism about unsafe working conditions in the coal minds during his early 20s.

Building concrete structures by hand

Helen was born in 1904. The Nearings began work on building stone and concrete buildings by hand sometime after they met in 1928.

Stimulus: 1 of 2

Which of the following is a supporting detail of the author's main idea?

Baseball has long been known as "the national pastime."

This detail does not support the main idea presented in the passage.

Baseball's contribution to American culture dates back to the early part of the 19th century.

This detail does not support the main idea presented in the passage.

Football fans can make a compelling case that there's a new "national pastime" in America.

This is the main idea of the passage, rather than a supporting detail.

The top 10 sports broadcasts in television ratings were all games from the National Football League.

MY ANSWER

This detail supports the main idea of the passage, which is that football could be considered the new "national pastime" in America.