A
Which states are included in the economic region known as the Rust Belt?
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
(Lines: 4–6)
What was the Rust Belt known for before its economic decline?
It was once the dominant industrial region of the United States.
(Lines: 6–7)
What major change began in the 1950s, and how did it affect the Rust Belt?
Manufacturers began to relocate, causing a decline in the region’s population and economic strength.
(Lines: 7–9)
The word “reputed” in line 2 is closest in meaning to:
A. criticized
B. known
C. prepared
D. established
B
Why was Detroit particularly affected by the economic downturn?
Detroit was home to the nation’s automobile industry and was formerly one of the world’s largest manufacturing producers.
(Lines: 9–10)
How did the rest of the United States prosper while the Rust Belt’s economy continued to worsen?
The rest of the United States shifted its economic focus to industries in the service sector.
(Lines: 11–12)
What happened to the automobile and steel industries during the 1970s?
Automobile and steel manufacturing declined in both domestic and international markets.
(Lines: 12–14)
The word “prospered” in line 11 is closest in meaning to:
A. became successful
B. remained unchanged
C. experienced difficulty
D. increased production
A
How did the decline in manufacturing affect wages, unemployment, and welfare dependency?
Wages declined, unemployment increased, and more people went on welfare.
(Lines: 14–15)
What evidence indicates that the Rust Belt began to recover in the mid-1990s?
Out-migration, wage decline, production decline, crime, and unemployment either stopped or reversed. Exports also increased by 27 percent.
Lines: 16–19
How did Detroit’s population, average annual pay, and number of private businesses change during the recovery?
Its metropolitan population increased by nearly 5 percent, its average annual pay increased by 7 percent from 1994 to 1996, and its number of private non-farm businesses grew.
(Lines: 19–23)
The word “ceased” in line 17 is closest in meaning to:
A. accelerated
B. continued
C. stopped
D. returned
C
Was the economic upturn limited to Detroit? What evidence supports your answer?
No. Other Rust Belt areas, especially major cities in Ohio, also experienced an economic uptrend.
(Lines: 23–24)
Why did the Rust Belt’s recovery prove to be temporary?
The 1997 Asian financial crisis raised the value of the U.S. dollar, reducing international demand for American products. Manufacturing jobs also declined in the following decade.
(Lines: 25–28)
How did technological advancement and open trade policies negatively affect Rust Belt companies?
Technological advancement reduced the need for certain manufacturing jobs, while open trade policies allowed more foreign products to enter the market and compete with Rust Belt companies.
(Lines: 28–30)
The trends in out-migration, wage rate decline, production, crime rate, and unemployment either ceased or reversed direction.
A. The economic and social problems affecting the Rust Belt all reversed, resulting in improvements in migration, wages, production, crime, and employment.
B. Several economic and social trends in the Rust Belt either stopped continuing or began moving in the opposite direction.
C. Although declining wages and out-migration came to an end, changes in production, crime, and unemployment followed a different pattern.
D. Previously unfavorable conditions involving migration, wages, production, crime, and employment consistently developed into favorable ones.
B