Skills and methods

Question 1 (Social Studies Skills and Methods)
Governor Stone is running for re-election. In a letter to the editor of a local newspaper, a citizen writes:

In another letter, Governor Stone replies:

Governor Stone's statement could be reliable because

A. it was printed in the newspaper.
B. Governor Stone is an elected official.
C. it contains information that can be verified.
D. the original letter writer represents the average family.

A newspaper prints an article on a controversial political issue.

This article could be considered biased if its author

A. formed logical conclusions based on fact.
B. contacted supporters of only one side.
C. presented statistical information on the issue.
D. included information that had not been published before.

The school board of a particular school district has proposed a school uniform policy. It believes that the policy will
improve student behavior.

This thesis could be supported or refuted by

A. data on student behavior in other school districts that do not have school uniform policies.
B. data from other school districts comparing student behavior before and after similar uniform policies were
put into effect.
C. data from schools within the school district regarding students’ views of the uniform policy.
D. data from schools within the school district regarding current student behavior.

Use the following graph to answer question 42.

In 1970, a state government announced a program to reduce the number of state highway accidents to fewer than
1,000 per year within 10 years. In 1980, the state’s governor asserted that the goal of the accident reduction program
had been met.

Using the data in the graph above, support or refute the governor’s assertion. Write your answer in the Answer
Document . (2 points)

A local politician believes that allowing graffiti artists to paint on a designated wall in a city park would reduce illegal
graffiti in other parts of the city.

Which statement would help support this thesis?

A. Many people in the city do not approve of graffiti.
B. Graffiti has appeared on buildings in many parts of the city.
C. Illegal graffiti is not protected by the right to free speech.
D. Similar programs have reduced illegal graffiti in other cities.

At a public meeting, community residents will be able to comment on a proposal for a new city park.

The live broadcast of the meeting will likely be a credible source of information about the meeting attendees’
feelings about the proposed park because

A. the speakers’ opinions will be unbiased.
B. the speakers will be heard in their own words.
C. television makes presentations more interesting.
D. many journalists and citizens will be in the audience.

Use the following chart to answer question 15.

The data above support the thesis that between 1990 and 2000

A. the price of newspapers decreased steadily.
B. information in newspapers became more reliable.
C. people became more informed about world events.
D. people decreasingly relied on newspapers as a source of information.

Below are two points of view about a local landfill.

From a local citizens group:

From a county environmental safety official:

Which statement about the two points of view presented above is accurate?

A. The point of view of the county official includes data to support it.
B. The point of view of the citizens group is composed of facts.
C. Both points of view fail to mention their sources of information.
D. Both points of view include support from reliable sources of information.

In order to decide which writers’ opinions are most credible on a particular subject, a reader should look for writers
who

A. have written on many different topics.
B. express conclusions consistent with information.
C. use stereotypes to support their claims.
D. write with simple words and short sentences.

During the 1960s, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) organized Freedom Rides throughout the South to end
segregation on interstate bus routes. James Farmer, national director of CORE at that time, described in an
interview one of the strategies used by the Freedom Riders:

James Farmer’s statement would be a credible source of information about a strategy used during the civil rights
movement because

A. it is free of bias.
B. it was published in a book.
C. he was a civil rights leader.
D. he uses statistics to support his opinions.

A school superintendent believes that physical education (PE) classes improve student academic performance.

This thesis could be supported or refuted by

A. data from schools on the cost of PE equipment.
B. data from a survey of student opinions about PE classes.
C. data comparing student physical fitness before and after PE.
D. data comparing student test scores in schools with and without PE.

The Statistical Ab stract of the United States, published by the U.S. government, contains statistics gathered by
numerous government agencies.

Why would the most recent edition of the Statistical Ab stract be a more reliable source of information than previous
editions?

A. The most recent editions would not contain any errors.
B. The most recent edition would be less biased than previous editions.
C. The most recent edition would be a secondary source of information.
D. The most recent edition would contain the most up-to-date information.

Use the following table to answer question 6.

Using the data in the table above, support or refute the following thesis:

In 2001, Italy had a higher standard of living than Japan.

Write your answer in the Answer Document. (2 points)

A town’s mayor believes that she can reduce crime by providing some police officers with bicycles.

Which statement would help support this thesis?

A. Sales tax revenues will be used to pay for the bicycles.
B. Bicycle police require several weeks of extra training.
C. Other towns with bicycle police have reduced crime rates.
D. Bicycle theft is the leading property crime in the town.

In an election campaign, voters receive letters describing each candidate’s position on the issues.

These letters might be considered credible sources of information if they

A. identify the writer so that his/her qualifications and reputation may be evaluated.
B. use stereotypes effectively in describing the candidates.
C. avoid references to other sources of information about the candidates.
D. avoid presenting facts that would confuse the reader.

Use the following graphs to answer question 13.

The graphs could be used to support which thesis?

A. After 1975, there was an increase in bank profits.
B. After 1975, there was a decrease in the number of bank employees.
C. After 1985, there was a decrease in the number of bank branches.
D. After 1985, there was an increase in mergers between banks.

A state is considering lowering state income tax rates by one percent. At a public hearing on the issue, supporters
and opponents of the tax decrease make the following statements:

Supporters
I’ve talked to people from all parts of the state, and everyone agrees that tax
rates are too high. If the state receives less revenue from income taxes, the
legislature might be less wasteful with the taxpayers’ money. This tax cut is
a good idea.

Opponents
The State Budget Office estimates that this tax cut will cost the state $50
million a year in lost tax revenue. The leading accounting firm in the state
estimates that the average taxpayer will see their taxes decrease by only
$27. This tax cut is simply not worth the cost.

Which of these two statements includes credible sources of information that uphold the statement’s position?

Why does agreement with credible sources of information help make a statement believable?


In 1963, Betty Friedan, founder of the National Organization for Women, wrote,

We can no longer ignore that voice within women that says: “I want something more than my husband and my
children and my home.”

Source: Betty Friedan, Excerpt from The Feminine Mystique (1963) reprinted in 100 Key Documents
in American Democracy, ed. by Peter Levy, Praeger Pub., 1994, p. 436.

The excerpt above could be used to support the thesis that

A. the U.S. birthrate would increase as more women entered the workforce.
B. the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote should be ratified.
C. increased numbers of women in the workforce would result in unemployment for men.
D. in the 1950s and 1960s, many American women were redefining their roles in society.

Use the following cartoon to answer the question.

This cartoon could be used to support the thesis that opposition to women’s suffrage was

A. based on unemployment statistics comparing men and women.
B. stronger among women than among men.
C. stronger in western states than in eastern states.
D. based on stereotyping of women’s roles.

On March 12, 1947, President Truman addressed a joint session of Congress to recommend that the United States
provide economic assistance to Greece and Turkey. His reasons were as follows:

The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want. They spread and grow in the evil soil of
poverty and strife....

The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms.

If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world―and we shall surely endanger the welfare
of our own Nation.

President Harry S. Truman,
address to Congress, March 12, 1947

This statement would be helpful in supporting the thesis that, in 1947, President Truman believed the United States

A. had little to gain from membership in the United Nations.
B. was more interested in foreign policy than in domestic issues.
C. should help maintain democratic governments in other countries.
D. should conserve its resources to maintain its own economic strength.

Which source of information would be the most credible (least biased) in determining the durability of various

brands of computers?

A. a salesman at a computer products store
B. a neighbor who works for a computer manufacturing company
C. a television advertisement for the most popular brand of computer
D. an independent survey of consumers who have purchased computers

A political action committee produces a television commercial that criticizes past actions of a candidate for
president.

The advertisement could be a credible source of information if the claims in the advertisement

A. rely on the use of stereotypes.
B. are based on unstated assumptions.
C. are consistent with other credible sources of information.
D. are presented in a manner that is clear and easy to understand.

A city council member believes that installing more trash cans along city streets will help reduce the city’s litter
problem.

This thesis could be supported by data showing that

A. the city’s litter problem has gotten worse in recent years.
B. most city residents consider the litter problem to be serious.
C. people use trash cans if they are readily available.
D. there is enough money in the city budget to pay for the trash cans.

When considering the reliability of a report that promotes hybrid gas-electric cars as environmentally friendly, what
should be carefully considered?

A. the length of the report
B. the cost of producing the report
C. the number of claims in the report
D. the accurate use of facts in the report

A mayor believes that an increase in the city bus fee has led to fewer riders. This thesis could be supported or
refuted by which type of data?

A. data showing the average bus fees in several cities
B. data showing that road construction has increased
C. data from a survey of bus riders about route popularity
D. data comparing the number of riders before and after the increase

The famous American writer Mark Twain expressed his opinion about U.S. actions in the Philippines after the
Spanish-American War with the following words:

“I have seen that we do not intend to free, but to subjugate (place under control) the people of the Philippines. We
have gone to conquer, not to redeem (save). … I am opposed to having the [American] eagle put its talons on any
other land.”

The New York Herald, October 15, 1900

This statement would be helpful in supporting the thesis that Mark Twain believed that

A. U.S. imperialism was wrong.
B. U.S. imperialism would bring stable government to the Philippines.
C. U.S. imperialism was necessary for the United States to become a world power.
D. U.S. imperialism civilized the people of the Philippines.

During World War I, two revolutions took place in Russia while Russia was at war with Germany. Vladimir Lenin,
leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, said:

There can be no doubt that our
army is absolutely in no condition
... to beat back a German
offensive successfully. ...
Source: V. I. Lenin, Collected Works, 4th
English Edition, Progress Publishers,
Moscow, 1964, p. 447.

The excerpt above could be used to support the thesis that

A. Lenin had few skills as a military leader.
B. Russia shared in the responsibility for World War I.
C. Lenin believed that Russia should withdraw from World War I.
D. The Bolshevik Revolution had the support of the Russian army.

Which source has the appropriate qualifications to be a credible source of information about the city streets with the
most car-pedestrian accidents?

A. data collected on a personal blog
B. a conversation with a personal injury lawyer
C. a letter to the editor by an injured pedestrian
D. data collected by the local police department

Which source of information about a candidate for the school board would likely be biased?

A. A televised debate of all of the school board candidates.
B. A copy of the candidate’s voting record from her previous term.
C. A letter to the newspaper editor from a supporter of the candidate.
D. A copy of the candidate’s latest income tax return.

A state is considering passing a law to ban cell phone use while driving. At a public hearing on the issue, supporters
of the proposed law make the following statement:

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study showing that drivers who use cell phones are four
to five times more likely to be involved in accidents than other drivers. A study by the State Highway Safety
Board found that crashes involving cell phone use are more likely to result in serious injury. This proposed
law is the only way to protect the citizens of this state.

The supporters cite two sources in their statement.

Provide one explanation of how the use of both sources makes the supporters’ statement more credible.

Support your explanation with information from the supporters’ statement.


Which source has the appropriate qualifications to be a credible source of information about how a proposed tax cut
would affect the U.S. national debt?

A. a letter to the editor of the New York Times from an astrophysicist
B. a film producer of a documentary about the New Deal era
C. a recent report published by the Congressional Budget Office
D. a television advertisement sponsored by a veterans’ group

If you wanted to learn what it was like to live in your town during World War II, why would reading a collection of letters
written by townspeople during the war be a more credible source of information than a description in a recent history
book?

A. The letter writers would be free of bias.
B. The letters would be easier to understand.
C. The letter writers are more likely to be experts on the history of war.
D. The letters contain firsthand knowledge of events when they occurred.

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