Test Taking Strategies for the Social Studies AHSGE

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Test Taking Strategies for the Social Studies
AHSGE

• Many of the questions on the social studies AHSGE
  will ask you to recall facts and definitions.
• One way to answer these questions is to use the
  process of elimination.
• Using the process of elimination, you rule out
  answer choices you know are wrong. Then, choose
  the best answer from the answer choices that
  remain.

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Process of Elimination

• Use the following guidelines to help you
  eliminate the wrong answer choices.
• Find a statement that does not make sense and
  eliminate it.
• Eliminate an answer that states the opposite of
  what the paragraph says.
• Look for something in the answer choice that is
  not mentioned in the paragraph.

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Let's Practice
Directions Read the selection on the following
slides. Complete the activity that follows.
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The Civil War Comparing North and South When
the war began, both sides had advantages and
disadvantages. How hey used those strengths and
weaknesses helped to determine the wars
outcome. The North enjoyed the advantages of a
larger population to support the war effort, more
industry, and more abundant resources than the
South. The North also benefited from a better
banking system that helped finance the war, a
larger navy which was used to blockade Southern
ports, and a more extensive and efficient railway
network. Disadvantages faced by the North
included the need to invade the South and
maneuver among a hostile population, a difficult
task for any military force. Furthermore, public
opinion in the North was divided over the war,
and support for the war effort remained shaky
until very near the end. One of the main
advantages the south had was the strong support
of its white population gave the war.
Southerners also had the advantage of fighting on
familiar territorydefending their land, their
homes, and their way of life. At least at first,
Southern military leadership was superior to the
Norths. The South had a large pool of
well-trained officers. The South faced material
disadvantages. It had a smaller population,
possessed fewer factories, and produced less
food than the North. Moreover, with less than
half the miles of railroad track and fewer
trains, the Confederate government had difficulty
supplying its troops.
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• Choose the correct answer.
• Which of the following was an advantage for the
  South?
• A. Larger population
• B. More industry
• C. Extensive railway network
• D. Familiar territory
• Step 1. The question asks you to recall a key
  point from the reading. Do not try to memorize
  the reading, just read it carefully once and then
  review it to answer the questions. If you look
  back at the passage, it will help you choose the
  right answer. Now you can use the process of
  elimination. For each answer choice, use the
  following checklist to eliminate wrong answer
  choices.
• Is this answer choice correct?
• Yes, it is correct, Ill read the other answer
  choices just in case.
• No, it is not correct because ____________________
  ______.
• I dont know. Ill keep it and read the other
  answer choices.
• Step 2. Which answer choices remain?
• If more than one answer remains, review the
  paragraph to answer the
• question. Use the most logical answer.

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• Choose the correct answer.
• Which of the following was an advantage for the
  South?
• A. Larger population
• B. More industry
• C. Extensive railway network
• D. Familiar territory
• Step 1. The question asks you to recall a key
  point from the reading. Do not try to memorize
  the reading, just read it carefully once and then
  review it to answer the questions. If you look
  back at the passage, it will help you choose the
  right answer. Now you can use the process of
  elimination. For each answer choice, use the
  following checklist to eliminate wrong answer
  choices.
• Is this answer choice correct?
• Yes, it is correct, Ill read the other answer
  choices just in case.
• No, it is not correct because ____________________
  ______.
• I dont know. Ill keep it and read the other
  answer choices.
• Step 2. Which answer choices remain?
• If more than one answer remains, review the
  paragraph to answer the
• question. Use the most logical answer.