Modern America

Which statement best describes a major impact Bill Gates has had on U.S. business and technology?

• He set up the first computer network systems for the military.

• He designed the heat-shield technology used on space shuttles.

• He started the company that provides operating software for most personal computers.

• He created an online store that changed the way people purchase consumer goods.

How did Hurricane Katrina affect New Orleans?

• Tornadoes gained momentum in open land areas.

• Storm surges caused a massive shift in tectonic plates.

• Mud slides trapped residents in the city.

• Storm waters flooded the city after several levees broke.

What does President Clinton’s impeachment trial reflect about modern U.S. politics?

• Elected officials face greater scrutiny of their personal lives.

• Media outlets focus more on policy issues than on the actions of elected officials.

• Campaign finances are monitored by a regulatory agency.

• Congress conducts more thorough investigations of judicial nominees.

One way the development of the Internet has improved the quality of life in the United States is by —

• decreasing the influence of advertising on consumers

• increasing the reliability of available information

• increasing the ease of obtaining information

• improving privacy protection for individuals

Why did the United States become involved in the Persian Gulf War in 1991?

• The United States saw the invasion of Kuwait as a threat to its national interests

• The United States fought to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq

• The United States fought to end human rights violations by Iraq’s government

• The United States was forced into the war by treaty obligations

What treaty stated that as of January 1, 2008, all tariffs and quotas were eliminated on U.S. exports to Mexico and Canada?

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

• Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

• North American Free Trade Agreement

One similarity between the Korean War and the Persian Gulf War is that in each conflict the –

• United States attempted to limit traffic through the Suez Canal

• sentiment of the American public turned against the conflict

• United Nations took action to halt the aggression

• dictators of North Korea and Iraq were removed from office

Barack Obama's 2008 election victory was the first in which —

• religious beliefs played a significant role in the presidential campaign

• federal courts ordered voter recounts to stop

• naturalized immigrants had access to multilingual ballots

• a minority candidate was elected president

Which headline describes an event that resulted from the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001?

• “Troops Deployed to Afghanistan”

• “Russia Increases Petroleum Exports”

• “Debt Crisis Shakes European Union”

• “Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Resume”

What is the primary aim of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001?

• To increase funding for military contracts

• To prevent acts of terrorism against the United States

• To promote the growth of small businesses

• To limit the amount of foreign investments in the United States