8th grade Social Studies practice sheet
Washington State Learning Standards · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Which is a secondary source?
- a Renaissance painting
- a Roman coin
- a textbook about the Renaissance
- a letter by Leonardo
a textbook about the Renaissance
Hint: It interprets the past.
Question 2
A population pyramid has a very wide base and narrows quickly toward the top. What does this suggest?
Share of population by age (%) - A low birth rate and many older people
- A stable population with equal age groups
- No children
- A high birth rate and a large share of young people
A high birth rate and a large share of young people
Hint: A wide base means many children for the number of adults.
Question 3
The Magna Carta (1215) influenced American founders because it…
- Limited the power of a ruler and said rulers must follow the law
- Made the king all-powerful
- Created the US Senate
- Ended slavery
Limited the power of a ruler and said rulers must follow the law
Hint: Even the king was under the law.
Question 4
Which amendment guarantees a speedy and public trial with a lawyer?
- The Fourth Amendment
- The First Amendment
- The Tenth Amendment
- The Sixth Amendment
The Sixth Amendment
Hint: Rights of the accused at trial.
Question 5
The first two political parties formed over disagreements between…
- Lewis and Clark
- Adams and Madison
- Washington and Lincoln
- Hamilton and Jefferson
Hamilton and Jefferson
Hint: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.
Question 6
The Mexican-American War (1846–1848) ended with Mexico giving up…
- Texas only
- California and much of the Southwest
- Oregon
- Florida
California and much of the Southwest
Hint: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Question 7
Steamboats changed river travel by…
- Letting boats travel upstream easily
- Replacing roads
- Making rivers flow backward
- Stopping all river travel
Letting boats travel upstream easily
Hint: Robert Fulton, 1807.
Question 8
About how many Black soldiers served in the Union army and navy?
- About 200,000
- About 20 million
- About 200
- None
About 200,000
Hint: The 54th Massachusetts was famous.
Question 9
Which statement about Reconstruction is accurate?
- It brought real gains in rights, many of which were later rolled back
- It happened before the Civil War
- It changed nothing
- It ended racism forever
It brought real gains in rights, many of which were later rolled back
Hint: Gains and losses.
Question 10
Drawing a conclusion means…
- copying
- making a judgement based on evidence
- memorizing dates
- guessing
making a judgement based on evidence
Hint: Support conclusions with evidence.
Answer key
- 1. a textbook about the Renaissance (Sources & Evidence)
- 2. A high birth rate and a large share of young people (Maps, Graphs & Data)
- 3. Limited the power of a ruler and said rulers must follow the law (Founding Ideals)
- 4. The Sixth Amendment (Rights & Amendments)
- 5. Hamilton and Jefferson (A New Nation)
- 6. California and much of the Southwest (Westward Expansion)
- 7. Letting boats travel upstream easily (Factories & Reformers)
- 8. About 200,000 (The Civil War)
- 9. It brought real gains in rights, many of which were later rolled back (Reconstruction)
- 10. making a judgement based on evidence (Sources & Evidence)
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.