Factual Recall Questions

A factual recall question requires you to know important facts and data. This question typically focuses on the important material that you must know in order to understand and analyze more complex data and information. Factual recall questions will test your understanding of the basics.

Factual recall question #1

Question:
The right to a trail by jury is found in the—
     A     5th Amendment
     B     6th Amendment
     C     7th Amendment
     D     8th Amendment

Explanation:
This question requires knowledge of the Constitution. The sixth amendment reads in part:  "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury..." No other information or analysis is required to answer this question.

 

Factual recall question #2

Question:
In one form of government, council members perform the legislative functions of the city collectively, and each member of the council acts as an administrative head of a department. This form of government is known as the —
     A     strong mayor-council form.
     B     weak mayor-council form.
     C     council-manager form.
     D     commission form.

Explanation:
All four options are forms of local government; the task is to read the definition contained in the question and match it to the correct form of government. The textbook states "In the commission form of local government, commission members act not only as legislators, but also as the administrative head of a department like public safety, public works, or human services." No other information is required to answer this question.

 

Factual recall question #3

Question:
 Which of these forms of government is considered least free?
     A     Anarchy
     B     Socialism
     C     Capitalism
     D     Libertarianism

Explanation:

Least Free---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Most Free

Totalitarianism

Communism

Socialism

Capitalism

Libertarianism

Anarchism

 

 


Application Questions

Application questions require you to use information for analysis, evaluation, or explanation in order to identify the correct answer. Unlike factual recall questions, which require you to know specific facts, application questions go beyond the facts and require you to use and apply the facts or information. Application questions tend to be longer and more complex than factual recall questions.

 

Application question #1

Question:
Which of these freedoms is absolute, beyond any control or limitations of the Constitution?
     A     Freedom to practice any religion you want
     B     Freedom to express any view or say anything you want
     C     Freedom to believe any religion you want
     D     Freedom to write anything you want about someone, even if it isn't true

Explanation:
The first requirement to answer the question is that you know some rights in the Constitution are absolute and some rights can be modified or limited. With this knowledge (the facts), you must now apply this understanding to four examples in order to determine which is an "absolute" freedom and which are freedoms that can be limited. The government does place some limits on the practice of religion - no matter what the religion, burning people at the stake or cutting off their right hands (option "A") is not allowed by our government. Likewise, there are limits on what you can say (option "B"); for instance, you may not incite violence or engage in obscene behavior and expect constitutional protections. Option "C" is correct because the government can not hold you accountable for your beliefs, only when you act on those beliefs. (Actions are subject to government control, what goes on inside your heart or head is not.) Option "D" follows the same logic as option "B" - libel (writing something that is untrue) is never protected by the Constitution.

 

Application question #2

Question:
Venezuela, a country on the north coast of South America, has a national government responsible for finance, defense, and foreign affairs. In addition, Venezuela has 21 states that are responsible for education, traffic laws, and welfare. What system of government does Venezuela have?
     A     unitary
     B     capitalistic
     C     federal
     D     monarchy

Explanation:
You must take the information in the question and test it against the four types of governments listed in the options. Does this type of government match the definition of a unitary government (option "A")? No. Does this type of government match the definition of a capitalistic government (option "B")? There is no way to tell, since the question makes no mention of economic activity, so the answer must be no. Does this type of government match the definition of a federal government (option "C")? Yes. Federal governments have a national government responsible for certain activities and state governments responsible for others. Does this type of government match the definition of a monarchy (option "D")? There is no way to tell, since the question makes no mention of who rules, so the answer must be no.