New York State Test Prep Social Studies 5 Content

Now that you have practiced selecting the correct answer for multiple choice questions, let's look at some multiple choice questions that are just a little different.

These multiple choice questions ask you to look at some type of visual information. It could be a map, a graph, a cartoon, a picture or some other type of document.

You will then be asked to answer a question using information that you found by looking at the map, graph, etc. You follow the same steps for answering this type of multiple choice question as you did for the other. Let's review them:

Step 1
	READ the whole question. Take a minute to understand what the question is asking you to find.
Step 2
	*READ all* of the choices**
Step 3
	Eliminate all of the choices you know are WRONG.
Step 4
	Look at your remaining answers, think about which one REALLY answers the question and make a choice.

(You can click on underlined words for the definitions)

This type of question asks you to analyze the information that is presented to you and then select the answer that best answers that question using the information from the picture/graph/map etc.

Let's take a look at some of these types of questions below. Remember - you need to look at the information provided, analyze it and then look CLOSELY at the question. Ask yourself - "what information does this question want me to find?" Don't forget to use your steps that we have already learned about selecting the correct answer for a multiple choice question.

What is the main idea of this cartoon?

A. Federal taxes are too high.

B. The federal government needs money to pay its bills.

C. Federal taxes take money the states should have.

D. Taxpayers should invest their money more wisely.

In order to find the answer to this question, you need to look very closely at the political cartoon. What do you see?

That's right, you see Uncle Sam (the government) taking a person called the "taxpayer" and shaking him up and down to get all of his money from him. The taxpayer is asking Uncle Sam to "Please let me keep some of my money." Do you think that the taxpayer thinks Uncle Sam takes too much money in taxes? Why do you think that?

That's correct. This cartoon is saying that the government takes TOO much money from the American tax payers. It is a statement that taxes are too high for people to pay.

Now look at your choices again.

A. Federal taxes are too high.

B. The federal government needs money to pay its bills.

C. Federal taxes take money the states should have.

D. Taxpayers should invest their money more wisely.

Do you see an answer that makes the best sense?

You are correct, the best answer to this question is choice A - Federal taxes are too high.

You did a great job! You are now ready to go on and practice some multiple choice Social Studies questions! Remember...... take the time to really LK at all the choices before you make a selection!

Let's practice what we have learned!

The word analyze means to look at the information and study it closely. Really think about what the information is telling you about the subject.

A cartoon is a drawing that makes a humorous or funny point. A political cartoon is a drawing that makes a humorous or funny point about a political issue, person or topic.

Uncle Sam is a fictional image of Sam Wilson that has emerged as a white bearded, red - white - and - blue clad symbol of America.