Praxis 7815
Question 1 of 5.
For which of the following reasons might the teacher want to direct the students to choose new sources?
A. The migration of farmers to California from Oklahoma was not an effect of the Great Depression.
B. Oral accounts made long after a historical event may contain factual inaccuracies.
C. Historians do not often use oral accounts in their research.
D. Research should be conducted using peer-reviewed secondary sources.
Explanation: Oral accounts from the 1980s about the Great Depression (1930s) may be unreliable due to memory lapses over time, making them less suitable as sole sources.
Question 2 of 5.
Which of the following would be the most effective activity for developing civic engagement in students in a social studies classroom?
A. Having students read articles on current topics that are of interest to them
B. Watching a news report before beginning the day's lesson
C. Bringing in community members to discuss their jobs
D. Providing opportunities for classroom discussions and debates of current issues
Explanation: Discussions and debates actively involve students in analyzing and debating civic issues, enhancing their engagement.
Question 3 of 5.
In which of the following ways can the United States Senate constrain the power of the president under the system of checks and balances as outlined in the Constitution?
A. Refusing to confirm a cabinet appointment
B. Vetoing a federal spending bill
C. Ruling a proposed law unconstitutional
D. Granting a pardon to a federal offender
Explanation: The Senate's authority to approve or reject cabinet appointments limits the president's ability to appoint officials, a key check on executive power.
Question 4 of 5.
A fifth-grade teacher is planning a lesson activity involving primary source documents written in favor of American independence from Great Britain before the American Revolution. Which TWO of the following documents should be included in the activity?
A. Common Sense, by Thomas Paine
B. Republic, by Plato
C. The Federalist papers, by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison
D. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, by George Mason
E. The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith
Explanation: Common Sense and The Virginia Declaration of Rights were pre-Revolution documents advocating independence, unlike the others.
Question 5 of 5.
Which of the following best represents what Ms. Osaka taught the students about community?
A. The government exists to fund various services on a first-come, first-served basis.
B. Government and community are mutually exclusive and do not respond to general requests.
C. Community interests are best served when neighborhoods have inherent power and wealth.
D. The government can work to fill the needs of its citizens if the community advocates for what it needs.
Explanation: The student's advocacy leading to government action reflects the lesson that community involvement can drive government response.