GACE Middle Grades Social Science

The Middle Grades Social Science assessment, offered as part of the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators, is composed of one test. The test consists of 65 selected-response questions. The content areas covered by the test are: the United States and Georgia; government and economics; and world regions.

The topics covered by the United States and Georgia subarea are: the geography of North America and the development of early Native American cultures; the causes, events, and results of the American Revolution; the origins and consequences of the Cold War; and the basic structure and functions of Georgia government. The topics covered by the government and economics subarea are: how power is distributed in different governmental systems; the four basic economic systems; and basic economic concepts such as wants, needs, supply, demand, trade and trade barriers, gross domestic product (GDP), scarcity, and the four factors of production. The topics covered by the world regions subarea are: the development of Latin America from European colonies to independent nations; contemporary issues in Latin America and Canada; the impact European exploration and colonization had on Africa; and the physical and human geography of southern and eastern Asia.

The examination must be completed within two hours. Test-takers will receive performance indices indicating their success in each subarea of the examination. Scores will be available approximately a month after the date of the examination; unofficial results are posted on the internet, and an official score report is mailed to the test-taker, the Professional Standards Commission, and the institution specified by the test-taker during registration.

GACE Middle Grades Social Science Practice Questions

1. According to the law of supply, what will happen when the price of a product goes up?

A: the supply will go up
B: the supply will go down
C: the demand will go up
D: the demand will go down

2. In emergencies, state governments sometimes will ask the federal government for assistance. What principle of the American system of governance does this illustrate?

A : constructionism
B: public assistance
C: constitutionalism
D: federalism

3. Which of the following is NOT an example of propaganda?

A: editorial
B: public service announcement
C: advertisement
D: article abstract

4. A bill is introduced in the Senate. After it has been debated on the floor and approved by a majority, what happens next?

A: the bill is sent to a conference committee
B: the bill is introduced in the House of Representatives
C: the bill is studied by Senate committees
D: the bill is sent to the president

5. The Constitution declares that the president should make sure that “the laws be faithfully executed.” Which instrument of power stems from this declaration?

A: impoundment
B: executive agreement
C: executive order
D: patronage

Answer Key

1. A. The law of supply asserts that price and supply are directly proportional.
2. D. Federalism is the division of power between the federal, state, and local governments.
3. D. Any message that seeks to change opinion or behavior is considered propaganda.
4. B. Bills that originate in one branch of Congress must be introduced and approved by the other before they can be sent to the president.
5. C. In an executive order, the president will describe in detail the way that a new law should be interpreted.