PSC Unit 1 Exam questions n answers
graded A+
The United States is a(n) _____, which means that citizens are allowed to participate in
governance. - correct answer ✔✔democracy
The United States is a(n) _____, which means American citizens elect representatives to govern.
- correct answer ✔✔republic
Why do we have a government? - correct answer ✔✔It provides basic services that everyone
needs but that would be difficult for individuals to provide for themselves.
Government is best defined as the - correct answer ✔✔institutions and procedures by which a
territory and its people are ruled.
A government that recognizes no formal limits on its power but yet is kept in check by the
power of other political and social institutions is known as a(n) ________ government. - correct
answer ✔✔authoritarian
Consider a system of government in which some formal and effective limits are placed on the
powers of the government, yet most governing decisions are controlled by a small group of
wealthy people. Which of the following would best describe such a system? - correct answer
✔✔oligarchy
Citizenship refers to - correct answer ✔✔informed and active membership in a political
community.
,The decline in political efficacy in the United States is - correct answer ✔✔likely to have
negative effects on American democracy because it will lead to less citizen participation in
government.
As a result of the each state having two senators, Americans living in urban areas are - correct
answer ✔✔underrepresented within the national political system.
In 1900, Americans who traced their origin to Latin America or Asia each accounted for - correct
answer ✔✔less than 1% of the entire population.
immigrants from Asian countries were - correct answer ✔✔largely prohibited from entering the
United States prior to the 1940s.
Which of the following best describes the history of income inequality in the United States? -
correct answer ✔✔Income inequality decreased after the New Deal and postwar era, but has
sharply increased in recent years.
Over the course of American history, immigration - correct answer ✔✔has changed, with more
immigrants now coming from Asia and Latin America, and fewer from Europe.
Which of the following statements concerning political values in the United States is most
accurate? - correct answer ✔✔American values often conflict with each other in practice.
________ are the three core values in American politics. - correct answer ✔✔Liberty, equality,
and democracy
The Bill of Rights was designed to protect - correct answer ✔✔liberty
Overall, Americans' trust in their government has ________ since the 1960s. - correct answer
✔✔declined
, The discovery of gold in 1849 at which site contributed to the development of the region now
known as Nevada? - correct answer ✔✔Sutter's Mill, California
What happened to the Donner party that would slow down emigration through the Nevada
area to California? - correct answer ✔✔They were trapped by poor winter weather
They cannibalized fallen members
More than half of the party died
The earliest colonial expeditions into Nevada were primarily to acquire what resource. - correct
answer ✔✔fur
Which of the following is not a primary reason for the permanent settlement of Nevada by
immigrants? - correct answer ✔✔Discovery of Pyramid Lake
Captain John C. Frémont led the expedition that painstakingly and accurately mapped north-
west and central Nevada and named many of the area's features. - correct answer ✔✔true
The land that is present-day Nevada was acquired by the U.S. through the: - correct answer
✔✔Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Before achieving territorial status and statehood, the great majority of present-day Nevada was
part of which territory? - correct answer ✔✔Utah
The 'gentiles' in the area that would become present-day Nevada requested annexation by
California on more than one occasion in the 1850s. - correct answer ✔✔true
The federal government's power has grown over time, particularly through the New Deal
programs during the Great Depression. - correct answer ✔✔true
graded A+
The United States is a(n) _____, which means that citizens are allowed to participate in
governance. - correct answer ✔✔democracy
The United States is a(n) _____, which means American citizens elect representatives to govern.
- correct answer ✔✔republic
Why do we have a government? - correct answer ✔✔It provides basic services that everyone
needs but that would be difficult for individuals to provide for themselves.
Government is best defined as the - correct answer ✔✔institutions and procedures by which a
territory and its people are ruled.
A government that recognizes no formal limits on its power but yet is kept in check by the
power of other political and social institutions is known as a(n) ________ government. - correct
answer ✔✔authoritarian
Consider a system of government in which some formal and effective limits are placed on the
powers of the government, yet most governing decisions are controlled by a small group of
wealthy people. Which of the following would best describe such a system? - correct answer
✔✔oligarchy
Citizenship refers to - correct answer ✔✔informed and active membership in a political
community.
,The decline in political efficacy in the United States is - correct answer ✔✔likely to have
negative effects on American democracy because it will lead to less citizen participation in
government.
As a result of the each state having two senators, Americans living in urban areas are - correct
answer ✔✔underrepresented within the national political system.
In 1900, Americans who traced their origin to Latin America or Asia each accounted for - correct
answer ✔✔less than 1% of the entire population.
immigrants from Asian countries were - correct answer ✔✔largely prohibited from entering the
United States prior to the 1940s.
Which of the following best describes the history of income inequality in the United States? -
correct answer ✔✔Income inequality decreased after the New Deal and postwar era, but has
sharply increased in recent years.
Over the course of American history, immigration - correct answer ✔✔has changed, with more
immigrants now coming from Asia and Latin America, and fewer from Europe.
Which of the following statements concerning political values in the United States is most
accurate? - correct answer ✔✔American values often conflict with each other in practice.
________ are the three core values in American politics. - correct answer ✔✔Liberty, equality,
and democracy
The Bill of Rights was designed to protect - correct answer ✔✔liberty
Overall, Americans' trust in their government has ________ since the 1960s. - correct answer
✔✔declined
, The discovery of gold in 1849 at which site contributed to the development of the region now
known as Nevada? - correct answer ✔✔Sutter's Mill, California
What happened to the Donner party that would slow down emigration through the Nevada
area to California? - correct answer ✔✔They were trapped by poor winter weather
They cannibalized fallen members
More than half of the party died
The earliest colonial expeditions into Nevada were primarily to acquire what resource. - correct
answer ✔✔fur
Which of the following is not a primary reason for the permanent settlement of Nevada by
immigrants? - correct answer ✔✔Discovery of Pyramid Lake
Captain John C. Frémont led the expedition that painstakingly and accurately mapped north-
west and central Nevada and named many of the area's features. - correct answer ✔✔true
The land that is present-day Nevada was acquired by the U.S. through the: - correct answer
✔✔Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Before achieving territorial status and statehood, the great majority of present-day Nevada was
part of which territory? - correct answer ✔✔Utah
The 'gentiles' in the area that would become present-day Nevada requested annexation by
California on more than one occasion in the 1850s. - correct answer ✔✔true
The federal government's power has grown over time, particularly through the New Deal
programs during the Great Depression. - correct answer ✔✔true
