America’s Constitution Quiz

Which of the following is the best example of a conclave?

• Friends meet at a train station before boarding the train together.
• Students gather in groups to practice for a debate competition.
• Colleagues meet in the conference room for a policy discussion.
• Tourists gather outside a museum waiting to take a guided tour.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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What is the most likely meaning of eminent in the following sentence? Due to his brilliant grasp of strategy and his success in leading the French army to several major victories, Napoleon quickly became the most eminent military leader of his era.

• respected, admired
• noble, aristocratic
• fortunate, wealthy
• sneaky, clever

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CCSS.RI.11-12.4

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America’s Constitution: A Biography states: “The ancient world had seen small-scale democracies in various Greek city-states and pre-imperial Rome….” Which of the following best describes the crucial difference between the ancient governments and the American government?

• Ancient democracies did not ask citizens to design a government.
• Ancient democracies did not open up debate to the citizens.
• Ancient democracies did not elect wise or able leaders.
• Ancient democracies did not allow citizens to vote.

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Read this excerpt from America’s Constitution: A Biography. “Virtually no arch-loyalist went on to become a particularly noteworthy political leader in independent America. By contrast, many who would vigorously oppose the Constitution in 1787–88 … moved on to illustrious post-ratification careers”. Based on this excerpt, which is the most reasonable inference to draw about the success of early American political leaders?

• Early American political leaders who engaged in vigorous political debate were unsuccessful.
• Early American political leaders often disagreed and had trouble reaching universal agreement.
• Early American political leaders could disagree with one another and still be professionally successful.
• Early American political leaders encouraged voters to engage in fierce political debate.

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In America’s Constitution: A Biography, the author says that during the Revolutionary War, while the individual states were writing their constitutions, “conditions often made it impossible to achieve inclusive deliberation or scrupulous tabulation.” Which of the following is the best paraphrase of this statement?

• With the new nation under military attack, state governments were unable to write, debate, or vote on new constitutions.
• With the new nation under military attack, state legislatures decided not to let the people debate or vote on the new laws.
• With the new nation under military attack, state governments were unable to hold debates on new laws or count votes accurately.
• With the new nation under military attack, state legislatures were extra-careful to hold debates and ensure access to polling places.

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In America’s Constitution: A Biography, the author states the following. As Benjamin Franklin and other Americans had achieved famous advances in the natural sciences—in Franklin’s case, the invention of bifocals, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove—so with the Constitution America could boast a breakthrough in political science. Why does the author refer to the Constitution as a “breakthrough in political science”?

• Ordinary people were being asked to make judicial decisions that would affect their friends and neighbors.
• Ordinary people were being asked to think about, and vote on, the law that would affect them and generations to come.
• Ordinary people were being asked to express their thoughts and feelings about the law, even though they had no power to affect it.
• Ordinary people were being asked to acknowledge the superior intelligence of lawmakers who were making the decisions that would affect them

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In America’s Constitution: A Biography, the author states the following. Like the phrases ―I do‖ in an exchange of wedding vows and ―I accept‖ in a contract, the Preamble’s words actually performed the very thing they described. What is the main effect of the author’s use of analogy in describing the Preamble?

• The analogy helps readers keep track of the chronological order of events.
• The analogy helps readers recognize that the Preamble offers a solution to a problem.
• The analogy helps readers understand that the Preamble was both a statement of intention and a binding document.
• The analogy helps readers remember that the Preamble can be easily summarized by restating it as a main idea.

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The word pragmatist comes from the Latin root word pragmaticus, meaning “busy, active, practical.” Use this information as well as your knowledge of the suffix -ist to choose the correct definition of pragmatist.

• a practical, useful activity
• a practical, useful system
• a person who believes in practical action
• the quality of practicality and usefulness

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CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

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The word anarchist comes from the Greek root word anarkhos, meaning “without a ruler.” Choose the person who most clearly could be defined as an anarchist.

• Midori thought that all organized government was unnecessary.
• Ben knew that he could graduate with honors if he studied hard.
• Luis wished that he had chosen an easier topic for his senior thesis.
• Helga hoped that the candidate of her choice would win the election.

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Which of the following statements best explains why America’s Constitution: A Biography is an example of a historical narrative used as an argument?

• It presents a claim about a historical event and supports it with facts and details.
• It tells a true story of events that actually took place and the real people involved in them.
• It analyzes the full text of one of the founding documents in the history of the United States.
• It focuses on the specific words and actions of real people who lived through an important historical event.