Summary
Get ready for the GED and earn a high school equivalency diploma! Our test experts show students how to master the Social Studies section of the GED. This new edition of REA's comprehensive GED Social Studies review covers every exam topic: interpreting graphs, maps & charts, distinguishing fact from opinion, political cartoons, and more. Features 2 practice exams that thoroughly evaluate skills and subject knowledge. Practice exam answers are fully explained for better subject understanding. Appendix allows for speedy look-up of tested information. Proven test strategies and drills help students master the GED and get their high school equivalency diploma. DETAILS - Detailed review of every Social Science exam topic to appear on the exam - Proven test tips, strategies & drills - Diagnostic pre-test pinpoints GED strengths and weaknesses - Post-Test evaluates progress as studies proceed - Practice exam questions are answered in thorough detail for smarter study - Comprehensive appendix
Table of Contents
Introduction |
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v | |
About this Book |
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vii | |
About the GED Program |
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vii | |
About the GED Exam |
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viii | |
About the Social Studies Test |
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ix | |
When Should I Start Studying? |
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ix | |
Before the Test |
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ix | |
Top Test Tips When Taking the GED |
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x | |
After the Test |
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x | |
About Research & Education Association |
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xi | |
Acknowledgments |
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xi | |
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1 | (14) |
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3 | (6) |
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9 | (1) |
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10 | (2) |
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Pre-Test Answers and Explanations |
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12 | (3) |
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Comprehending What You Read |
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15 | (26) |
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17 | (3) |
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20 | (3) |
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23 | (4) |
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Asking Who, What, Where, and When |
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27 | (5) |
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Using Context Clues to Understand Unfamiliar Words |
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32 | (5) |
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37 | (4) |
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41 | (22) |
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43 | (9) |
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52 | (6) |
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58 | (5) |
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63 | (26) |
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Comparing and Contrasting |
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65 | (3) |
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68 | (4) |
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Cause and Effect Relationships |
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72 | (5) |
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77 | (4) |
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Distinguishing Fact from Opinion |
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81 | (1) |
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82 | (7) |
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89 | (24) |
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Applying Information from Charts |
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91 | (3) |
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Applying Information from Graphs |
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94 | (3) |
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Applying Information from Maps |
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97 | (6) |
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Applying Information from Political Cartoons |
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103 | (3) |
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Applying Information from Other Practical Documents |
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106 | (1) |
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107 | (6) |
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113 | (14) |
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115 | (7) |
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122 | (1) |
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Post-Test Self-Evaluation |
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123 | (2) |
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Post-Test Answers and Explanations |
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125 | (2) |
Appendix: Glossary of Terms |
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127 | |
Excerpts
EXCERPT ABOUT THIS BOOK This book is designed to help you strengthen the skills you will need to take the "Social Studies " test of the General Educational Development (GED) Examination. A Pre-Test section in the beginning of this book will help you assess the areas where you need to work the hardest. After you have completed the review areas and answered all of the drill questions, you will be given a Post-Test that will show your improvement in certain areas and show you which areas you still need to study. In the Post-Test section you will answer questions very similar to those you will face on the actual GED. The Pre-Test and Post-Test provide detailed explanations to all of the questions, illustrating not only why the correct answer choice was right, but also why the incorrect answer choices were wrong. The reviews cover all areas tested on the Social Studies test of the GED examination. Sections on comprehending what you read, graphs and charts, reading patterns, and applying information are covered extensively. Each section contains a drill so you can monitor your progress as you use this book. By mastering the skills presented in this book, you will be able to approach the Social Studies test with confidence. ABOUT THE GED The GED is an examination for adults who did not complete high school and would like to earn a high school equivalency diploma. The exam is given by each state, which then issues a GED diploma. The GED is taken by adults who want or need a diploma for work, college, or personal satisfaction. Nearly 800,000 people take the GED each year. The GED is broken into five tests: Language Arts: Writing; Social Studies; Science; Language Arts: Reading; and Mathematics. You are given a little more than seven hours to complete all five tests. There is a total of 240 multiple-choice questions and one essay question on the GED examination. The Social Studies test on the GED has 50 multiple choice questions. You will have 70 minutes in which to answer questions based on a passage, graph, map, chart, or figure. The test consists of 40% history questions, 20% economics questions, 25% political science questions, and 15% geography questions. The test questions will deal 20% with evaluation, 30% with analysis, 30% with application, and 20% with comprehension. The GED examination is administered by the GED Testing Service of the American Council of Education (ACE) and is developed by writers who have secondary and adult education experience. Because the GED test-takers come from such diverse backgrounds, the ACE makes sure the test writers are also diverse. Once the questions have been written, they are standardized according to a certain level of difficulty and content. The GED comes in several versions to fit the special needs of its examinees. For example, there are Spanish, French, and Braille versions of the exam, as well as large-print and audio versions. If you would like to obtain more information about the GED, such as when and where it is administered, contact your local high school or adult education center. You can also call or write to the GED Testing Service at: 1-800-62MYGED / (1-800-626-9433) General Educational Development GED Testing Service American Council on Education One Dupont Circle, NW Washington, D.C. 20036 Website: http://www.ged.org HOW TO USE THIS BOOK Before you begin reading the chapter on comprehending what you read, take the Pre-Test at the front of this book. This Pre-Test will assess your current skills and indicate both your strengths and weaknesses. This book is broken down into four sections, each dealing with a specific area of social studies: comprehending what you read, graphs and charts, reading patterns, and applying information. Each section includes exercises to help you develop your skills as well as skill-buildi