5th grade Social Studies practice sheet
Alaska content standards · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Why did many colonies grow along rivers and harbors?
- The king ordered it
- There was no water inland
- Rivers kept people away
- Boats could carry goods and people
Boats could carry goods and people
Hint: Water was the easiest way to travel.
Question 2
Which raw material from New England forests was valuable for ships?
- Oil
- Gold
- Tall trees for masts
- Cotton
Tall trees for masts
Hint: Ships needed long, straight wood.
Question 3
How did the Tea Act actually change the price of tea?
- It made tea free
- It made British company tea cheaper, but kept the tax colonists objected to
- It doubled the price
- It banned tea
It made British company tea cheaper, but kept the tax colonists objected to
Hint: The principle mattered more than the price.
Question 4
Where were the first battles of the American Revolution fought in April 1775?
- Saratoga
- Gettysburg
- Lexington and Concord
- Yorktown
Lexington and Concord
Hint: The "shot heard round the world."
Question 5
Why was Shays' Rebellion (1786–1787) important?
- It showed the national government was too weak to keep order
- It ended the Revolution
- It created the Bill of Rights
- It started the French Revolution
It showed the national government was too weak to keep order
Hint: Farmers protested debts and taxes in Massachusetts.
Question 6
In what year did this happen? Georgia is founded
- 1776
- 1739
- 1732
- 1775
1732
Hint: Georgia is founded: 1732.
Question 7
New England had rocky soil and long winters. So many people there worked in…
- Fishing, shipbuilding and trade
- Gold mining
- Growing rice in swamps
- Growing cotton on huge plantations
Fishing, shipbuilding and trade
Hint: The sea was a better resource than the soil.
Question 8
A farmer chooses to plant wheat instead of corn. What is the opportunity cost?
- The wheat
- The farm
- Nothing
- The corn she could have grown
The corn she could have grown
Hint: What did she give up?
Question 9
In 1774, Thomas Jefferson wrote that Parliament…
- had no right to make laws for the colonies
- could tax the colonies freely
- should rule the colonies forever
- was always right
had no right to make laws for the colonies
Hint: His ideas later shaped the Declaration.
Question 10
What does "unalienable" mean?
- Can be sold
- Only for soldiers
- Belongs to the king
- Cannot be taken away
Cannot be taken away
Hint: These rights belong to people by nature.
Answer key
- 1. Boats could carry goods and people (The Thirteen Colonies)
- 2. Tall trees for masts (Colonial Trade & Work)
- 3. It made British company tea cheaper, but kept the tax colonists objected to (Road to Revolution)
- 4. Lexington and Concord (The American Revolution)
- 5. It showed the national government was too weak to keep order (Building a Government)
- 6. 1732 (Colonies to Constitution)
- 7. Fishing, shipbuilding and trade (The Thirteen Colonies)
- 8. The corn she could have grown (Colonial Trade & Work)
- 9. had no right to make laws for the colonies (Road to Revolution)
- 10. Cannot be taken away (The American Revolution)
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback. See all social studies units.