Craft & Structure
Read the sentence:
Washington's decision to step down after two terms was deliberate, establishing a tradition that future presidents would follow.
What does deliberate most nearly mean?
A. Accidental
B. Carefully planned
C. Confusing
D. Immediate
B. Carefully planned
The Declaration of Independence says governments receive their legitimate power from the consent of the governed.
What does this mean?
A. Government power comes from the military.
B. People have a role in giving government its authority.
C. Kings automatically have unlimited authority.
D. Government should make decisions without public input.
B. People have a role in giving government its authority.
Choose the correct verb:
The debate between federal power and state authority ______ continued throughout American history.
A. have
B. are
C. has
D. were
C. has
Choose the best transition:
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson. ______, several other members of the Committee of Five contributed to the final document.
A. However
B. In addition
C. Therefore
D. In contrast
B. In addition
A speaker says:
“Are we really willing to give up our freedom simply because resistance is difficult?”
What rhetorical strategy is being used?
A. Rhetorical question
B. Statistical evidence
C. Definition
D. Counterclaim
A. Rhetorical question
Read the sentence:
British officials considered the colonists' protests insolent, believing that the colonies should show greater respect for the crown.
What does insolent most nearly mean?
A. Disrespectful
B. Intelligent
C. Peaceful
D. Uncertain
A. Disrespectful
The Articles of Confederation created a central government with very limited power.
What was one major problem that resulted?
A. The government had difficulty collecting taxes and managing national finances.
B. The president became too powerful.
C. The federal government controlled every state.
D. The government eliminated state governments.
A. The government had difficulty collecting taxes and managing national finances.
Choose the correct punctuation:
The Constitution was ratified in 1788 ______ the debate over the Bill of Rights continued.
A. 1788,
B. 1788;
C. 1788
D. 1788 and
B. 1788;
Choose the best transition:
The British expected the rebellion to end quickly. ______, the Revolutionary War lasted for years.
A. Similarly
B. As a result
C. Instead
D. For example
C. Instead
An author repeatedly uses words such as liberty, tyranny, chains, freedom, and rights.
What is the most likely purpose of this word choice?
A. To create a neutral scientific tone
B. To emphasize the importance of freedom and oppression
C. To provide technical definitions
D. To make the argument humorous
B. To emphasize the importance of freedom and oppression
The Declaration of Independence first explains ideas about natural rights. It then provides a long list of complaints against King George III.
Why does Jefferson include the list of grievances?
A. To provide evidence supporting the argument that British rule had violated the colonists' rights
B. To explain how the British government was organized
C. To describe the geography of the colonies
D. To propose a new system of taxation
A. To provide evidence supporting the argument that British rule had violated the colonists' rights
The Great Law of Peace created a system in which several nations worked together through a council.
What idea does this system demonstrate?
A. One ruler should control every nation.
B. Shared power can help different groups resolve conflicts.
C. Nations cannot cooperate without military force.
D. Smaller groups should never have political power.
B. Shared power can help different groups resolve conflicts.
Choose the correct verb:
Neither the size of the army nor the experience of its officers ______ enough to guarantee victory.
A. were
B. are
C. was
D. have been
C. was
A student has these notes:
The student wants to emphasize Franklin's contributions to American civic life.
Which sentence best uses the notes?
A. Franklin worked as a printer and conducted scientific experiments.
B. Franklin made important contributions to civic life by helping establish a public library and participating in the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
C. Benjamin Franklin had many different jobs throughout his life.
D. Franklin was interested in science and politics.
B. Franklin made important contributions to civic life by helping establish a public library and participating in the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
An author argues that government must protect individual rights.
Which piece of evidence would best support this argument?
A. The government building has existed for 200 years.
B. Political philosophers have argued that legitimate government depends on protecting citizens' rights.
C. The government employs thousands of workers.
D. Many government buildings are located in cities.
B. Political philosophers have argued that legitimate government depends on protecting citizens' rights.
Patrick Henry asks:
“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?”
Why is this rhetorical question effective?
A. It provides the audience with statistical evidence.
B. It encourages the audience to question their willingness to remain passive.
C. It proves Henry does not know what he believes.
D. It asks the audience for a literal answer.
B. It encourages the audience to question their willingness to remain passive.
Federalist No. 10 argues that a large republic contains many different groups and interests.
Why does Madison believe this can protect against tyranny?
A. A large republic makes disagreement impossible.
B. Many competing groups make it harder for one faction to dominate everyone else.
C. A large republic gives one political party complete control.
D. Large republics do not need laws.
B. Many competing groups make it harder for one faction to dominate everyone else.
Choose the sentence with correct punctuation.
A. The Declaration establishes several important principles equality, liberty, and self-government.
B. The Declaration establishes several important principles; equality, liberty, and self-government.
C. The Declaration establishes several important principles: equality, liberty, and self-government.
D. The Declaration establishes several important principles, equality; liberty; and self-government.
C. The Declaration establishes several important principles: equality, liberty, and self-government.
A student is researching Thomas Paine's The Crisis.
Their notes say:
Which sentence best synthesizes the notes?
A. Thomas Paine wrote The Crisis in 1776.
B. The Crisis used emotionally powerful language to encourage American soldiers during a difficult period of the Revolutionary War.
C. George Washington was interested in reading political pamphlets.
D. Thomas Paine wrote several important works during the Revolutionary War.
B. The Crisis used emotionally powerful language to encourage American soldiers during a difficult period of the Revolutionary War.
Abigail Adams argues that women should have a greater voice in the laws that govern them.
Which statement would most directly strengthen her argument?
A. Many women managed farms and businesses while their husbands were away.
B. Women often enjoyed attending social gatherings.
C. Some women preferred to remain at home.
D. Many colonial women were skilled cooks.
A. Many women managed farms and businesses while their husbands were away.
Abigail Adams's letter to her husband combines personal information about family life with arguments about women's rights.
What is the effect of combining these subjects?
A. It makes the letter difficult to understand.
B. It shows how political decisions affect people's everyday lives.
C. It proves Adams was more interested in family than politics.
D. It prevents her argument from being taken seriously.
B. It shows how political decisions affect people's everyday lives.
The Declaration of Independence argues that people have the right to change or abolish a government that violates their fundamental rights.
What larger principle does this argument establish?
A. Government exists primarily to protect the authority of rulers.
B. Government's legitimacy depends on how it treats the rights and interests of the people.
C. Governments should never change once they are created.
D. Citizens should avoid challenging government authority.
B. Government's legitimacy depends on how it treats the rights and interests of the people.
Which sentence has the clearest and most logical modifier?
A. Writing the Federalist Papers, the arguments persuaded many readers.
B. While writing the Federalist Papers, Hamilton and Madison sought to persuade New York voters.
C. The Federalist Papers, writing persuasive arguments, influenced voters.
D. Persuasion was used while the Federalist Papers were being written by Hamilton and Madison.
B. While writing the Federalist Papers, Hamilton and Madison sought to persuade New York voters.
Read the paragraph:
1. The Stamp Act placed taxes on printed materials in the colonies. 2. Many colonists viewed the law as a violation of their rights. 3. Newspapers played an important role in spreading political ideas. 4. The protests surrounding the Stamp Act eventually contributed to its repeal.
Which sentence should be removed because it is least relevant to the paragraph's focus?
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 3
D. Sentence 4
C. Sentence 3
A politician argues:
“A strong government is necessary to protect the nation. However, a government that becomes too powerful can threaten the freedoms it was created to protect.”
What central tension is the speaker addressing?
A. Science versus religion
B. Individual liberty versus government power
C. Economic growth versus education
D. War versus geography
B. Individual liberty versus government power