Reform Movements
Which of the following best characterizes the abolitionist movement in the United States during the mid-19th century?
A) A movement that advocated for the gradual phase-out of slavery by paying slaveholders for their loss of "property."
B) A political coalition that sought to limit slavery to the Southern states while allowing it to expand into new Western territories.
C) A diverse social and political crusade that demanded the immediate and unconditional end of slavery on moral and religious grounds.
D) A labor-focused initiative that aimed to replace enslaved workers with low-wage European immigrants in Southern cotton fields.
C) A diverse social and political crusade that demanded the immediate and unconditional end of slavery on moral and religious grounds.
Which of the following sentences uses the semicolon correctly?
A) I wanted to go for a run; but it started raining heavily.
B) The bake sale was a success; we raised over two hundred dollars.
C) Please bring the following items; a sleeping bag, a flashlight, and a tent.
D) She was tired; after working a twelve-hour shift at the hospital.
B) The bake sale was a success; we raised over two hundred dollars.
Explanation: A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses (complete sentences) that are closely related in thought without using a coordinating conjunction like "and" or "but."
What was the name of the captain who successfully piloted the emergency water landing on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009?
A) Captain Jeffrey Skiles
B) Captain Richard Phillips
C) Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger
D) Captain Alfred Haynes
C) Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger
On what date is International Kite Day primarily celebrated?
A) January 1st
B) January 14th
C) January 21st
D) January 30th
B) January 14th
What creatures does an ichthyologist study?
A) Insects
B) Birds
C) Fish
D) Reptiles and Amphibians
C) Fish
Which philosophical movement, popular in the mid-19th century, emphasizes that the ultimate truth can be found through intuition and by observing the spiritual connection within nature?
A) Existentialism
B) Transcendentalism
C) Stoicism
D) Rationalism
B) Transcendentalism
In the sentence "I would like to thank my parents, Tiffany, and God," what is the role of the comma after "Tiffany"?
A) It is a serial (Oxford) comma used to separate the last item in a list.
B) It is a comma splice used to fix a run-on sentence.
C) It is an appositive comma used to define who the parents are.
D) It is an unnecessary mark that should be removed in formal writing.
A) It is a serial (Oxford) comma used to separate the last item in a list.
Explanation: The Oxford comma is the final comma in a list of three or more items, used before the conjunction (and/or) to prevent ambiguity.
Which Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner met with President Donald Trump at the White House on January 15, 2026, to discuss the country’s transition to democracy?
A) Edmundo González Urrutia
B) Juan Guaidó
C) María Corina Machado
D) Delcy Rodríguez
C) María Corina Machado
Which city in India is considered the "Kite Capital of the World" and hosts a famous week-long international festival?
A) Mumbai
B) New Delhi
C) Ahmedabad
D) Jaipur
C) Ahmedabad
From what language did English borrow the word "rodeo"?
A) French
B) Spanish
C) German
D) Italian
B) Spanish
What was the term for the large religious gatherings during the Second Great Awakening that used emotional preaching to revive spiritual fervor?
A) Parishes
B) Revivals
C) Synods
D) Communes
B) Revivals
Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show possession for a plural noun ending in "s"?
A) The two boys' uniforms were covered in mud after the game.
B) The two boy's uniforms were covered in mud after the game.
C) The two boyses uniforms were covered in mud after the game.
D) The two boys uniforms' were covered in mud after the game.
A) The two boys' uniforms were covered in mud after the game.
Explanation: For plural nouns that already end in "s," you typically show possession by adding only an apostrophe after the "s."
As of January 2026, which of the following best describes the current government and political status of Greenland?
A) An independent sovereign nation with full control over its own military and foreign policy.
B) A territory of the United States, administered as a commonwealth similar to Puerto Rico.
C) A semi-autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark with its own parliament and prime minister.
D) A direct province of Denmark with no local legislative power or self-governing authority.
C) A semi-autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark with its own parliament and prime minister.
In the context of competitive kite flying, what is "Manja"?
A) The name of a specific kite shape
B) A traditional kite-flying dance
C) Amenthol-based snack eaten during the festival
D) String coated with powdered glass for "kite fighting"
D) String coated with powdered glass for "kite fighting"
In the Star Wars franchise, what is the name of Princess Leia's home planet where she was raised?
A) Tatooine
B) Naboo
C) Alderaan
D) Endor
C) Alderaan
Which major religious movement swept across the United States in the early 19th century, leading to a surge in church membership and the rise of social reform movements?
A) The Enlightenment
B) The Great Schism
C) The Second Great Awakening
D) The Transcendentalist Movement
C) The Second Great Awakening
Which sentence follows the correct rules for using a colon?
A) My favorite colors are: blue, green, and silver.
B) He had only one goal in mind: to win the championship.
C) To make the cake you will need: flour, sugar, and eggs.
D) The weather was: hot, humid, and miserable.
B) He had only one goal in mind: to win the championship.
In which state did the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good occur on January 7, 2026, during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation?
A) Texas
B) Colorado
C) Minnesota
D) Oregon
C) Minnesota
Historically, which country is credited with inventing the kite over 2,000 years ago?
A) China
B) Egypt
C) Greece
D) Japan
A) China
Mageirocophobia is the persistent and irrational fear of what activity?
A) Flying
B) Cooking
C) Public speaking
D) Spiders
B) Cooking
Which of the following best defines the concept of Universal Health Care?
A) A system where the government owns and operates all hospitals and medical facilities within a country.
B) A health care system where all citizens are required to purchase private insurance from a list of approved providers.
C) A system ensuring all individuals have access to necessary health services without experiencing financial ruin.
D) A program that provides free medical services only to those who fall below a specific national poverty line.
C) A system ensuring all individuals have access to necessary health services without experiencing financial ruin.
Identify the sentence that correctly uses an em dash (—) for emphasis or abrupt interruption.
A) The recipe calls for two—thirds of a cup of sugar.
B) I ran to the bus stop—but I was already too late.
C) We are looking for a long—term solution to the problem.
D) The pre—revolutionary era was a time of great unrest.
B) I ran to the bus stop—but I was already too late.
Explanation: An em dash is used to indicate a break in thought or for emphasis. Options A, C, and D require hyphens (-), which are shorter marks used to join words together (like "two-thirds" or "long-term").
Why did the four-member SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on January 15, 2026, roughly a month earlier than originally scheduled?
A) An incoming solar flare posed a radiation risk to the station's living quarters.
B) A "serious but stable" medical condition involving one of the crew members required ground-based diagnostic tools.
C) A critical failure in the station’s oxygen recycling system forced an immediate reduction in crew size.
D) Unusually high levels of orbital debris from a satellite collision necessitated an emergency evacuation.
B) A "serious but stable" medical condition involving one of the crew members required ground-based diagnostic tools.
What are the four basic components required for a kite to fly?
A) Frame, Sail, Tail, and Bridle
B) Paper, Glue, Wind, and Sky
C) String, Weight, Helium, and Wood
D) Propeller, Battery, Remote, and Wings
A) Frame, Sail, Tail, and Bridle
What are the two official languages of Djibouti?
A) Somali and Afar
B) French and Arabic
C) French and Somali
D) Arabic and English
B) French and Arabic