8th grade Social Studies practice sheet

Question 1

The Constitution took effect after… of the 13 states ratified it.

• three
• all
• nine

Question 2

Which amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures?

• The Sixth Amendment
• The First Amendment
• The Fourth Amendment
• The Eighth Amendment

Question 3

Which source is most likely biased on a ballot measure?

• An ad paid for by one side's campaign
• The official voters' pamphlet's neutral explanation
• A nonpartisan fact-check
• The text of the measure itself

Question 4

Prior restraint means the government…

• stops something from being published
• pays for newspapers
• owns all TV
• reviews books after printing

Question 5

An account written by a winner of a war may be…

• always true
• perfectly neutral
• told from the winner's point of view
• the only account

Question 6

A population pyramid has a very wide base and narrows quickly toward the top. What does this suggest?

• A stable population with equal age groups
• No children
• A high birth rate and a large share of young people
• A low birth rate and many older people

Question 7

Why is the census important for elections?

• It counts votes
• It picks the president
• It sets tax rates
• It decides how many House seats each state gets

Question 8

Why should you look up your representatives again after an election or redistricting?

• districts are random each day
• officeholders and district lines can change
• they never change
• representatives serve for life

Question 9

A $40 sweater is 25% off. What is the sale price?

• $15
• $30
• $35

Question 10

Use the table. If the price is set at $4, what happens?

• a shortage of 50
• a shortage of 70
• a surplus of 50
• no shortage or surplus