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Social Studies Ultimate Challenge

Total questions: 120

Worksheet time: 3hrs 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is a timeline?

a)

A graph showing population growth

b)

A tool that shows events in the order they happened

c)

A list of vocabulary words

d)

A map of historical boundaries

2.

In which direction are events arranged on a horizontal timeline?

a)

Latest to earliest

b)

Random order

c)

Earliest (left) to latest (right)

d)

North to South

3.

What does chronological order mean?

a)

Alphabetical order

b)

Order from what happened first to what happened last

c)

Grouping events by category

d)

Placing the most important events first

4.

A timeline should have spaces that are the same distance apart. These are called:

a)

Eras

b)

Decades

c)

Equal intervals

d)

Chronologies

5.

Which unit of time is best for a timeline about your first week of school?

a)

Hours

b)

Days

c)

Decades

d)

Months

6.

Which unit of time is best for a timeline about the history of a state like Ohio?

a)

Hours

b)

Days

c)

Decades

d)

Seconds

7.

If you are making a timeline about your entire life so far, which unit is most appropriate?

a)

Minutes

b)

Hours

c)

Years

d)

Centuries

8.

What is the purpose of a title on a timeline?

a)

To list the author's name

b)

To give an idea of what the timeline is about

c)

To show the date it was created

d)

To list all the sources used

9.

What does BCE stand for?

a)

Before Christ Era

b)

Before Common Era

c)

Basic Current Era

d)

Before Century End

10.

What does CE stand for?

a)

Current Era

b)

Common Era

c)

Century Era

d)

Christ Era

11.

Which term is interchangeable with BCE?

a)

AD

b)

CE

c)

BC

d)

BP

12.

Which term is interchangeable with CE?

a)

BC

b)

BCE

c)

AD

d)

Before Nowadays

13.

Why do modern historians and schools use BCE and CE instead of BC and AD?

a)

To make the dates shorter

b)

To be inclusive of all cultures and religions

c)

Because the old terms were misspelled

d)

Because the alphabet changed

14.

"Anno Domini" (AD) means:

a)

Before the Lord

b)

In the year of our Lord

c)

After Death

d)

Common Era

15.

Which is the Absolute Rule for comparing BCE and CE?

a)

BCE is always newer than CE

b)

Any year in CE is always newer than any year in BCE

c)

Year zero is the most important date

d)

BCE numbers count forward

16.

How many years of CE history have we had approximately?

a)

100 years

b)

500 years

c)

2000 years

d)

5000 years

17.

What happens to the dates as you move closer to today in the CE era?

a)

The numbers get smaller

b)

The numbers get bigger

c)

The numbers run negative

18.

Which statement is true about BCE years?

a)

A bigger number means it is closer to today

b)

It is also known as the Warm Years

c)

A bigger number means it is further in the past (older)

d)

It counts forward normally like a ruler

19.

Which rule helps you remember how BCE dates work?

a)

Bigger is Better

b)

Colder is Older

c)

Left is Right

d)

Newer is Higher

20.

Is there a Year Zero on the historical timeline?

a)

Yes, it is the center of the timeline

b)

No, the calendar jumps from 1 BCE to 1 CE

c)

Only in the Ancient Age

d)

Only in Prehistory

21.

Which date is OLDER?

a)

2020 CE

b)

1300 CE

22.

Which date is OLDER?

a)

430 BCE

b)

1000 BCE

23.

Which date is OLDER?

a)

10 CE

b)

10 BCE

24.

Which date is OLDER?

a)

1300 CE

b)

2020 BCE

25.

According to the history of transportation timeline, which happened FIRST?

a)

Steamboat built

b)

Horse-drawn public bus service

c)

Gasoline-powered car invented

d)

First manned mission to the Moon

26.

What is a map title used for?

a)

To show the scale

b)

To tell what the map is about or its purpose

c)

To list the names of the mapmakers

d)

To show directions

27.

A pointer on a map that shows cardinal directions is called a:

a)

Map key

b)

Compass rose

c)

Scale

d)

Locator

28.

What are the four cardinal directions?

a)

Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest

b)

Up, Down, Left, Right

c)

North, South, East, West

d)

Latitude, Longitude, Equator, Meridian

29.

What are "intermediate directions"?

a)

Directions that point to the North Pole

b)

Directions halfway between cardinal directions (NE, SE, SW, NW)

c)

Directions used only on road maps

d)

Directions that show elevation

30.

Small drawings on a map that stand for real things are called:

a)

Scalers

b)

Locators

c)

Symbols

d)

Insets

31.

Where can you find the meaning of symbols used on a map?

a)

The Compass Rose

b)

The Map Key or Legend

c)

The Title

d)

The Inset

32.

What map element allows you to estimate the real distance between two places?

a)

Title

b)

Compass Rose

c)

Scale

d)

Grid

33.

A small map found within a larger map that shows where the subject is located in a larger area is a:

a)

Inset map

b)

Locator map

c)

Road map

d)

Elevation map

34.

What is the purpose of an "inset map"?

a)

To show cardinal directions

b)

To show details that are too small to see on the main map

c)

To show the history of the area

d)

To show time zones

35.

What does a physical map primarily show?

a)

Country borders and capitals

b)

Natural features like mountains, rivers, and lakes

c)

Only road names

d)

Population density

36.

What type of map uses colors or shading to show the height of land above sea level?

a)

Political map

b)

Road map

c)

Elevation map

d)

Time zone map

37.

Height of land above sea level is called:

a)

Latitude

b)

Scale

c)

Elevation

d)

Longitude

38.

What is the main focus of a political map?

a)

Showing the tallest mountains

b)

Showing human-made features like borders, states, and cities

c)

Showing the deepest parts of the ocean

d)

Showing annual rainfall

39.

Which type of map is most useful for finding a route between two cities?

a)

Elevation map

b)

Political map

c)

Road map

d)

Physical map

40.

Into how many time zones is the world divided?

a)

12

b)

24

c)

6

d)

100

41.

How many time zones does the United States have?

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

10

42.

Imaginary horizontal lines on a map that help find location are called:

a)

Meridians

b)

Scale lines

c)

Lines of latitude

d)

Lines of longitude

43.

Imaginary vertical lines on a map that meet at the North and South Poles are:

a)

Lines of latitude

b)

Lines of longitude (meridians)

c)

The Equator

d)

Compass roses

44.

The line of 0∘0^\circ longitude that runs through Greenwich, England is the:

a)

Equator

b)

Prime Meridian

c)

International Date Line

d)

Tropic of Cancer

45.

The imaginary line that divides the Earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres is the:

a)

Prime Meridian

b)

North Pole

c)

Equator

d)

Compass Rose

46.

On a physical map, which colors are typically used to show landforms?

a)

Bright pink and purple

b)

Natural colors like green and brown

c)

Neon yellow

d)

Only blue

47.

On a political map, which colors are typically used for different countries or states?

a)

National colors only

b)

Bright colors

c)

Only gray and white

d)

No colors are used

48.

What map feature tells you that Washington, D.C. is the capital of the U.S.?

a)

The Title

b)

The Scale

c)

The Map Key (symbolizing it with a star)

d)

The Elevation

49.

If a map has a scale where 11 inch == 100100 miles, how far apart are two cities that are 33 inches apart on the map? (Inferred from)

a)

100 miles

b)

200 miles

c)

300 miles

d)

3 miles

50.

Which direction is opposite of North?

a)

East

b)

West

c)

South

51.

Which direction is to the right of North on a compass rose?

a)

West

b)

East

c)

South

52.

Which direction is halfway between South and East?

a)

Southwest

b)

Southeast

c)

Northwest

d)

Northeast

53.

Which direction is halfway between North and West?

a)

Northwest

b)

Northeast

c)

Southwest

d)

Southeast

54.

Why do mapmakers use a scale?

a)

To make things larger than they are

b)

Because they must make things smaller than they really are to fit on paper

c)

To distort the shapes of countries

d)

To show colors more clearly

55.

Looking at the map of time zones, in which zone is Texas located?

a)

Eastern

b)

Central

c)

Mountain

d)

Pacific

56.

Who was at the very top of the Aztec social hierarchy?

a)

Nobles

b)

Merchants

c)

Rulers (Emperor or King)

d)

Common People

57.

How was an Aztec ruler appointed?

a)

Through a popular vote

b)

By counselors of the government

c)

By being the wealthiest merchant

d)

By winning a war

58.

The Aztec king was believed to be:

a)

Entirely human

b)

Part human and part god

c)

A common farmer

d)

A captured slave

59.

Which group was directly below the king in Aztec society?

a)

Enslaved people

b)

Common people

c)

Nobles, war leaders, and priests

d)

Artisans

60.

In Aztec society, who could attend the schools necessary to become a leader?

a)

Only sons of the king

b)

Sons of noblemen, leaders, and common people

c)

Only enslaved people

d)

No one was allowed to go to school

61.

What role could women have in the Aztec noble class?

a)

They could be kings

b)

They could become priestesses

c)

They were not allowed to attend school

d)

They were all forced to be farmers

62.

Which group was considered a lower class than Nobles but could earn reputations to enter higher society?

a)

Common People

b)

Enslaved People

c)

Merchants and Artisans

d)

The Ruler

63.

What was the primary occupation of the "Common People" in the Aztec empire?

a)

Government officials

b)

Priests

c)

Farmers from outlying villages

d)

Merchants

64.

What were the common people forced to pay to the Aztec government?

a)

Nothing

b)

Tribute

c)

Their children

d)

Their religious beliefs

65.

Were common people in conquered tribes allowed to keep their own religious practices?

a)

Yes

b)

No

66.

Which group in the Aztec empire had no rights?

a)

Artisans

b)

Merchants

c)

Enslaved People

d)

Nobles

67.

How were most enslaved people in the Aztec empire obtained?

a)

They were born into it

b)

They were captured from weaker or enemy tribes

c)

They volunteered

d)

They were paid to be slaves

68.

What often happened to enslaved people after they served the person they were enslaved to?

a)

They were set free

b)

They became nobles

c)

They were often sacrificed

d)

They became the king

69.

What is an "Artisan"?

a)

A buyer and seller

b)

An artist

c)

A government official

d)

A warrior

70.

What is a "Merchant"?

a)

An artist

b)

A buyer and seller

c)

A farmer

d)

A slave

71.

How many regions is the Western Hemisphere divided into?

a)

2

b)

4

c)

6

d)

10

72.

What are the four regions of the Western Hemisphere?

a)

North America, South America, Europe, Asia

b)

North America, Mesoamerica, South America, and the Caribbean

c)

USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil

d)

East, West, North, South

73.

What does the word "Mesoamerica" mean?

a)

Large America

b)

Middle America

c)

South America

d)

Ancient America

74.

Which of these countries is part of North America?

a)

Brazil

b)

Canada

c)

Jamaica

d)

Argentina

75.

Which of these countries is part of Mesoamerica?

a)

Canada

b)

Mexico

c)

Cuba

d)

Ecuador

76.

Which region is a "group of islands"?

a)

North America

b)

South America

c)

The Caribbean

d)

Mesoamerica

77.

Which biome is commonly found in the Caribbean?

a)

Taiga

b)

Tundra

c)

Rainforest

d)

Subtropical Desert

78.

Which region has biomes including Taiga and Temperate Grasslands?

a)

South America

b)

North America

c)

Mesoamerica

d)

The Caribbean

79.

Which landform is a major feature of South America?

a)

Rocky Mountains

b)

Andes Mountains

c)

Sonoran Desert

d)

Great Basin

80.

What is a major economic product of Mesoamerica?

a)

Cars

b)

Copper

c)

Coffee and Bananas

d)

Electronics

81.

Which region is known for exporting copper, meat, and shrimp?

a)

North America

b)

South America

c)

The Caribbean

d)

Mesoamerica

82.

What is a primary language spoken in the Caribbean region?

a)

French and English

b)

Haitian Creole and Spanish

c)

Portuguese

d)

Indigenous languages only

83.

What is a major language spoken in Brazil (South America)?

a)

Spanish

b)

English

c)

Portuguese

d)

French

84.

Which region has the highest population density (more densely populated)?

a)

North America

b)

South America

c)

The Caribbean

d)

Mesoamerica

85.

What is a major landform in North America?

a)

Highlands

b)

Rocky Mountains

c)

Amazon Basin

d)

Peninsulas

86.

What economic product is shared by both Mesoamerica and the Caribbean?

a)

Cars

b)

Clothing

c)

Copper

d)

Taiga

87.

Which region includes countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Peru?

a)

Mesoamerica

b)

The Caribbean

c)

South America

d)

North America

88.

Which region includes countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama?

a)

North America

b)

South America

c)

Mesoamerica

d)

The Caribbean

89.

The "Amazon Basin" is located in which region?

a)

North America

b)

Mesoamerica

c)

South America

d)

The Caribbean

90.

The Sierra Madres are located in which region?

a)

North America

b)

Mesoamerica

c)

South America

d)

The Caribbean

91.

5. History is the study of the ____.

a)

Future

b)

Past

c)

Present

92.

AD and _____ represent the same era of time on a timeline.

a)

BC

b)

DC

c)

BCE

d)

CE

93.

BCE and ______ represent the same era of time on a timeline.

a)

BC

b)

CE

c)

AD

d)

DC

94.

A __________ shows the chronological order in which events have occurred.

a)
timeline
b)
chronos
c)
title
d)
Anno Domini
95.

Match the following

a)

Chronological Thinking

1.

Timeline

b)

Eras

2.

Separated periods of time

c)

Context

3.

Having the "full picture"

d)

Artifacts

4.

Objects used and created by people

e)

Turning Points

5.

Certain time where change happened

96.

Match:

a)

This was the first major civilization of the Americas.

1.

Olmec

b)

The people of this culture built an empire that stretched nearly 2,500 miles from modern day Ecuador to chile

2.

Inca

c)

built a thriving civilization that excelled in astronomy

3.

Maya

d)

This culture created a powerful empire in modern day Mexico and Central America

4.

Aztec

97.

Match the following capital cities with the civilization.

a)

Tikal

1.

Maya

b)

Tenochtitlan

2.

Aztec

c)

Cuzco

3.

Inca

98.

What was the primary writing system used by the Maya civilization?

a)

Hieroglyphics

b)

Quipu

c)

Cuneiform

d)

Alphabetic

99.
Why did the Mayans abandon their city-states?
a)
To avoid the Spanish
b)
Overly populated
c)
Disease & warfare
d)
No one really knows
100.

The Maya civilization is well known for its advancements in what field?

a)

Agriculture

b)

Astronomy

c)

Metallurgy

d)

Maritime trade

101.

Where did the Maya people live?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

102.

Where did the Incas live?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

103.
What does the term "mesoamerican" mean?
a)
Middle Passage
b)
Middle America, between North and South America
c)
Middle America, including states like Texas and Oklahoma
d)
Messy America
104.
Which country would you visit if you wanted to see the Aztec ruins?
a)
Peru
b)
Chile
c)
Guatemala
d)
Mexico
105.

Name the main types of crops that the Incas grew:

(a)  

106.

Spanish explorers hoped to find ____ in South America.

a)

corn

b)

gold

c)

horses

d)

chinampas

107.

The Incas were able to farm in the mountains using ______.

a)

causeways and bridges

b)

chinampas and fields

c)

terraces and irrigation

d)

horses and llamas

108.

Most important crop to the Incan culture

a)

corn

b)

chocolate

c)

beans

d)

potato

109.

extra food or objects

a)

mita

b)

Inti

c)

hauca

d)

surplus

110.

Inca belief in many gods

a)

sacrifice

b)

monotheistic

c)

hauca

d)

polytheistic

111.

Tax paid to the Sapa Inca

a)

polytheistic

b)

hauca

c)

mita

d)

surplus

112.

Ridges cut into a mountain side to make leveled land for farming

a)

terrace farming method

b)

hauca farming method

c)

slash & burn farming method

d)

planting stick farming method

113.

Sapa Inca

a)

creator

b)

sole ruler; descended from Inti

c)

sun god

d)

Spanish leader

114.

The mountains the Inca lived in

a)

Rocky Mountains

b)

High Mountains

c)

Appalachian Mountains

d)

Andes Mountains

115.

The continent the Inca lived on

a)

South America

b)

Mexico

c)

North America

d)

Spain

116.

The Maya had a class system that divided people into different levels of society

a)

True

b)

False

117.

The Maya used glyphs to

a)

farm swamp land

b)

fight back against the conquistadors

c)

represent words, syllables, and sounds as part of a complex system of writing

d)

help build up hip muscle so they would be really good at the ball game

118.
Which of the following is an example of Maya architecture ?
a)
shinto shrine
b)
step pyramid
c)
castle
d)
ziggurat
119.
What mathematical achievements is associated with the Maya?
a)
geometry and the use of zero
b)
the concept of fractions and decimals
c)
Base 10 # system and the concept of algebra
d)
Base 20 # system and the concept of zero
120.
The Maya were the first recorded civilization to feature the concept of ________ in their number system.
a)
1
b)
- 1
c)
0
d)
Infinity

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