The United States in Today's World

Which situation is an example of a person using technology initially designed for the military?

• A teenager pumps gasoline into a new car.

• A man uses a credit card to pay for new purchases.

• A woman uses a Global Positioning System to navigate around town

• A pediatrician vaccinates patients against polio.

What was the primary goal of the 2009 Affordable Care Act under President Barrack Obama

• To eliminate state medical programs

• To nationalize medical care for the elderly

• To ease restrictions on healthcare providers

• To expand access to health insurance

How have computer technology entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos most directly affected the twenty-first-century economy?

• More people are able to shop for goods online.

• Restaurant owners are able to open fast-food franchises overseas.

• More people are able to get hired after graduating from high school

• Bankers are able to offer customized loans for potential home buyers.

Which situation demonstrates one way that U.S. culture has spread to other parts of the world?

• A young boy in Great Britain watches anime

• A teenage girl buys a hip-hop CD in China

• A businesswoman eats at a sushi restaurant in Canada

• A college athlete in Brazil trains for the Olympics

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

One advantage offered by hybrid cars is that they -

• Shorten the driving time to destinations

• Decrease household electricity usage

• Reduce the amount of money spent on gasoline

• Expand the use of carpools

One reason the 2008 presidential election was historically significant is that it was the first time -

• Traditionally Republican states voted Democratic

• Voters used computerized ballots

• An African American won the presidency

• A Southerner won the vice-presidency

Which factor contributed most to the flooding in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina?

• The location of the surrounding barrier islands

• The city’s low elevation

• The presence of offshore oil rigs

• The buildup of silt in the Mississippi

Which of the following is an example of using a renewable resource to generate electricity?

• Building pipelines to maximize the efficiency of transporting oil and gas

• Placing large wind turbines in areas with strong, steady winds

• Using hydraulic fracturing with water and sand to release oil and gas

• Conducting open-pit mining in areas where coal is found near the surface

What major natural disaster occurred in the 21st century?

• Hurricane Katrina

• Dust Bowl

• California Earthquake

• Southern Blizzard