CSET Social Science Exam 2026
Questions and Answers
Rousseau - Correct answer-(1712-1778) Believed that society threatened natural
rights and freedoms. Wrote about society's corruption caused by the revival of
sciences and art instead of it's improvement. He was sponsored by the wealthy and
participated in salons but often felt uncomfortable and denounced them. Wrote
"The Social Contract."
epic - Correct answer-A long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
glaciation vs. interglaciation - Correct answer-we are in interglaciation stage of ice
age (ha!)
ice age and species - Correct answer-primacy of mammals vs. cold blood vs. plants
limiting competition, requiring migration
early humans and food - Correct answer-needed to leave lush jungle
migratory herds were most reliable food source
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,thaw led to abundant vegetation therefore - Correct answer-humans realized no
need to migrate, but herds didn't know this. need to domesticate in order to stay in
place
early use of dogs - Correct answer-probably first for sheep, then other animals
how did domestication of animals lead to agriculture - Correct answer-herd
animals allowed humans to stay put long enough for a harvest
steps leading to human hierarchies - Correct answer-Step 1: A person does
something awesome or terrible to the people.
Step 2: Out of love for or fear of that person, the people decide to follow him.
Step 3: The leader realizes he cannot possibly handle everything himself.
Step 4: He divides his responsibilities and authority among subordinates.
The most common form of hierarchy is - Correct answer-an aristocracy. In this
system, status is based on one's lineage
The system Jethro proposed was a theocracy, - Correct answer-a hierarchy based
on religion
At core of human hierarchies for most of history - Correct answer-kinship (knights,
kings, city states, emperors)
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,mother goddess worship - Correct answer-oldest sculptures. reach peak in Minoan.
bull as constrained male force?
Noah story - Correct answer-told for thousands of years. probably stems from prior
cultures. influence of actual flood? lake in north america?
indo european diaspora - Correct answer-8000 years ago. proto-indo-european
from black sea basin. scatter. common language roots. (ma). spreads civilization
and farming around the world
one of the black basin farmers ends up in mesopotamia. what periods? what result?
- Correct answer-ubaid. uruk. division of skills. population surplus. creation of
networks to feed central.
walled cities like jericho - Correct answer-defeat barbarians for many years
rivers essential ________ but _______ - Correct answer-for moving
supplies___but ultimately you're going to need roads if you want to expand into
other territories
roads not feasible until - Correct answer-discovery of how to make bronze, which
can be used to cut stone. (and weapons)
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, advent of horses - Correct answer-steppe and assyrians embraced. but not
widespread until advent of the stirrup. plus, early horses not great for a lot of
things.
bronze + horse = - Correct answer-empire. defines success for next 1000 years.
sumerians. hittites.
roads of various empires connected by - Correct answer-darius
how do chariots defeat Jericho - Correct answer-horses attack so fast many goods
can't be moved inside. then they are starved.
civilizations (with agriculture) create surpluses, divisions of labor, modern
advancements (e.g. bronze) in exchange for a lack of sustainability but - Correct
answer-restricted to areas with lots of water and good climate. Competing systems
went to less hospitable areas.
horse people could compete in fertile areas - Correct answer-because of archery,
pastoral food supplies, maneuverable horses (no need for roads)
The struggle between settled agriculturalists and nomadic pastoralists is the longest
standing conflict in human history. - Correct answer-Settled agriculturalists take all
the best land and make fine products. Horse peoples run in, take the fruits of
civilization's labor, and head back to the steppe.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Questions and Answers
Rousseau - Correct answer-(1712-1778) Believed that society threatened natural
rights and freedoms. Wrote about society's corruption caused by the revival of
sciences and art instead of it's improvement. He was sponsored by the wealthy and
participated in salons but often felt uncomfortable and denounced them. Wrote
"The Social Contract."
epic - Correct answer-A long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds
glaciation vs. interglaciation - Correct answer-we are in interglaciation stage of ice
age (ha!)
ice age and species - Correct answer-primacy of mammals vs. cold blood vs. plants
limiting competition, requiring migration
early humans and food - Correct answer-needed to leave lush jungle
migratory herds were most reliable food source
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,thaw led to abundant vegetation therefore - Correct answer-humans realized no
need to migrate, but herds didn't know this. need to domesticate in order to stay in
place
early use of dogs - Correct answer-probably first for sheep, then other animals
how did domestication of animals lead to agriculture - Correct answer-herd
animals allowed humans to stay put long enough for a harvest
steps leading to human hierarchies - Correct answer-Step 1: A person does
something awesome or terrible to the people.
Step 2: Out of love for or fear of that person, the people decide to follow him.
Step 3: The leader realizes he cannot possibly handle everything himself.
Step 4: He divides his responsibilities and authority among subordinates.
The most common form of hierarchy is - Correct answer-an aristocracy. In this
system, status is based on one's lineage
The system Jethro proposed was a theocracy, - Correct answer-a hierarchy based
on religion
At core of human hierarchies for most of history - Correct answer-kinship (knights,
kings, city states, emperors)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,mother goddess worship - Correct answer-oldest sculptures. reach peak in Minoan.
bull as constrained male force?
Noah story - Correct answer-told for thousands of years. probably stems from prior
cultures. influence of actual flood? lake in north america?
indo european diaspora - Correct answer-8000 years ago. proto-indo-european
from black sea basin. scatter. common language roots. (ma). spreads civilization
and farming around the world
one of the black basin farmers ends up in mesopotamia. what periods? what result?
- Correct answer-ubaid. uruk. division of skills. population surplus. creation of
networks to feed central.
walled cities like jericho - Correct answer-defeat barbarians for many years
rivers essential ________ but _______ - Correct answer-for moving
supplies___but ultimately you're going to need roads if you want to expand into
other territories
roads not feasible until - Correct answer-discovery of how to make bronze, which
can be used to cut stone. (and weapons)
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, advent of horses - Correct answer-steppe and assyrians embraced. but not
widespread until advent of the stirrup. plus, early horses not great for a lot of
things.
bronze + horse = - Correct answer-empire. defines success for next 1000 years.
sumerians. hittites.
roads of various empires connected by - Correct answer-darius
how do chariots defeat Jericho - Correct answer-horses attack so fast many goods
can't be moved inside. then they are starved.
civilizations (with agriculture) create surpluses, divisions of labor, modern
advancements (e.g. bronze) in exchange for a lack of sustainability but - Correct
answer-restricted to areas with lots of water and good climate. Competing systems
went to less hospitable areas.
horse people could compete in fertile areas - Correct answer-because of archery,
pastoral food supplies, maneuverable horses (no need for roads)
The struggle between settled agriculturalists and nomadic pastoralists is the longest
standing conflict in human history. - Correct answer-Settled agriculturalists take all
the best land and make fine products. Horse peoples run in, take the fruits of
civilization's labor, and head back to the steppe.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
