ST R AT E G I E S

Primary Sources
In 1974, the oldest and most well-preserved skeleton of an
Primary sources are materials
erect-walking human ancestor was found in Ethiopia.
produced by people who traveled
Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, who named the skeleton Lucy,
to the places they describe or
describes the geography of the remote Afar desert region where Lucy
who took part in or witnessed the
events they portray. Letters,
was found. The region is rich with geological and paleontological
diaries, speeches, newspaper and information. Eventually, Johanson and his colleagues discovered the
magazine articles, travelogues, bones of at least 13 ancient individuals, now known as the First
and autobiographies are all Family, in this desert area.
primary sources. So, too, are legal
At Hadar, which is a wasteland of bare rock, gravel and sand, the
documents, such as wills, deeds,
fossils that one finds are almost all exposed on the surface of the
and financial records.
ground. Hadar is . . . an ancient lake bed now dry and filled with
Look at the source line and sediments that record the history of past geological events. You can
identify the author. Consider trace volcanic-ash falls there, deposits of mud and silt washed down
what qualifies the author to from distant mountains, episodes of volcanic dust, more mud, and
write about the places or so on. Those events reveal themselves like layers in a slice of
events discussed in the
cake in the gullies of new young rivers that recently have cut
passage.
through the lake bed here and there. It seldom rains at Hadar, but
Skim the document to form when it does it comes in an overpowering gush—six months’ worth
an idea of what it is about.
overnight. The soil, which is bare of vegetation, cannot hold all that
Note special punctuation. water. It roars down the gullies, cutting back their sides and
Ellipses indicate that words bringing more fossils into view.
or sentences have been
Johanson’s description
—Donald Johanson, Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind
removed from the original
is very detailed because
passage.
he took several field
Carefully read the passage expeditions to Hadar Although the author is a
looking for fossils. scientist, he wrote this
and distinguish between
book for a general
facts and the author’s 1 Now a wasteland of bare rock, gravel, audience to explain the
opinions. (Note that the and sand, Hadar was once a work and the excitement
author’s use of a metaphor, of finding fossils.
like layers in a slice of cake, A volcano.
conveys a clear image of the B mountain chain.
land to the reader who
cannot see Hadar in person.) C lake bed.

Consider for whom the D river.

author was writing. The
intended audience may
influence what and how an 2 The author most likely describes Hadar and its geological
author writes. history for which of the following reasons?
Before rereading the A Because knowing about the area’s geological past might help to locate
passage, skim the questions and identify fossils
to identify the information
you need to find. B To illustrate how the area’s current climate and geography reveal its past
geological events
C To explain why fossils are found on the surface of the ground at Hadar
D All of the above
answers: 1 (C), 2 (D)

S8
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Read the following excerpt from a letter written by the Spanish conquistador
Hernán Cortés in which he describes the Aztec capital city. Use the passage and your
knowledge of world geography to answer the questions.

The Aztec Capital: The Great City of Tenochtitlán in Mexico

The great city of Tenochtitlán is built in the midst of this salt lake, and it
is two leagues from the heart of the city to any point on the mainland.
Four causeways lead to it, all made by hand and some twelve feet wide.
The city itself is as large as Seville or Córdova. The principal streets are
very broad and straight, the majority of them being of beaten earth, but a
few and at least half the smaller thoroughfares are waterways along which
they pass in their canoes. Moreover, even the principal streets have
openings at regular distances so that the water can freely pass from one to
another, and these openings which are very broad are spanned by great
bridges of huge beams, very stoutly put together, so firm indeed that over
many of them ten horsemen can ride at once.
—Hernán Cortés, in a letter to the King of Spain
Excerpt from "The Second Letter of Hernán Cortés," from Five Letters of Hernán Cortés, 1519–1526,
translated by J. Bayard Morris (New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Inc.). Norton Paperback Edition
published in 1969, reissued in 1991. Reprinted by permission of W. W. Norton and Company, Inc.

1 Which of the following statements best 3 Which of the following statements

describes the location of Tenochtitlán? reveals that Cortés admires the city
of Tenochtitlán and its builders?
A It was built on a peninsula, and all of its
roads were waterways. A “The city itself is as large as Seville or
B It was built next to a lake, which the people Córdova.”
crossed over by ferry boats. B “These openings . . . are spanned by great
C It was built on an island connected to the bridges of huge beams, very stoutly put
mainland by four hand-built causeways. together.”

D It was built on the mainland with several C “The principal streets are very broad and
bridges connecting it to an island in the straight.”
nearby salt lake. D All of the above

2 The letter contains the information 4 Eventually, Cortés and the Spanish
that the Aztec citizens and the Spanish destroyed most of Tenochtitlán. On
conquistadors traveled around the its ruins, they built what became the
city by present-day city of
A canoe and horse. A Seville.
B canoe only. B Baja.
C foot only. C Mexico City.
D wagons and foot. D Tijuana.

S9
 ST R AT E G I E S
You might ask: What makes
organized crime in Russia
different from organized crime in
Secondary Sources other countries? Are crime and
corruption in all levels of society
Organized Crime in Russia new to Russian culture?
Secondary sources are
descriptions of places, people, This highlights the key feature of Russian criminality: its
cultures, and events. Usually, pervasiveness. “Organised crime usually deals with [minor]
secondary sources are made economic issues . . . [but] in Russia it’s the mainstream,” notes Toby
by people who are not directly Latta of Control Risks, a London security [firm]. Russian criminality
involved in the event or living reaches the highest levels of government—is, indeed, often
in the place being described or indistinguishable from it. And it affects the humblest activity. Buy
discussed. The most common a jar of coffee? More likely than not, you are feeding organised
types of written secondary
crime: according to a grumbling Nestlé, most coffee sold in Russia
sources are textbooks, reference
has evaded full import duties. Give money to a beggar? He will
books, some magazine and
have paid the local mafia for his spot on the street. Build a factory?
newspaper articles, and
biographies. A secondary source
You will pay one lot of bureaucrats to get it going, another to keep
often combines information from it running. In Russia, organised crime and corruption are
several primary sources. everywhere.
The last sentence
restates the main idea. Excerpt from “Russian Organised Crime,”
Read the title to preview the from The Economist, August 28, 1999.
content of the passage. Copyright © 1998 The Economist.
Reprinted by permission.
Look at the source line to
learn more about the
document and its origin.
1 What is the main idea of this passage?
(The spelling of the word
organized indicates that the A The Russian economy is in a depression.
magazine is probably from
B The Russian government is ineffective.
Great Britain.)
C Organized crime operates in all areas of the Russian economy.
Look for topic sentences. Ask
yourself what the main idea is. D Russia is on the verge of collapse.

As you read, use context

clues to guess at the
meaning of difficult or
2 Which of the following conclusions can you draw from
unfamiliar words. (You can this passage?
use the description of crime
A Anyone who wants to start a business in Russia may have to pay
in the rest of the passage to
the mafia first.
understand that the word
pervasiveness most likely B The Russian government loses money because some import taxes
means “being everywhere” are not paid.
or “existing throughout.”)
C The Russian mafia operates within the government.
Read actively by asking and
D All of the above
answering questions about
the passage.
Before rereading the
passage, skim the questions
to identify the information
you need to find.

answers: 1 (C), 2 (D)

S10
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the passage about Mohandas K. Gandhi’s work for social reform in India
and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

Gandhi’s Work in the 1920s

Gandhi’s understanding of economic relations was shot through with
emphasis originating in Hindu tradition, such as the duty of the wealthy to
extend charity. . . . But in the 1920s he was forced to confront very precisely
some of the aspects of India’s social order which were rooted in Hindu
tradition. . . .
His primary social concern at this time was the problem of
untouchability, the rejection of a whole group of the poorest and most
menial in society as a result of Hindu ideas of hierarchy. . . . Now, as he
travelled widely, he saw in harsh practice the power of this social division,
and the poverty and degradation it caused. . . .
Personal example was one of Gandhi’s strategies to end untouchability.
He mixed freely with [the “untouchables”], as everybody knew; he ate with
them. . . . But Gandhi did not expect everyone to go this far. For most caste
Hindus the obligation was to treat the untouchables as a caste within Hindu
society, affording them citizens’ rights. They should be allowed to use wells,
roads and public transport, attend schools and enter temples, though
conventions prohibiting marriage or meals with them would remain.
—Judith M. Brown, Gandhi: Prisoner of Hope

1 In Hindu tradition, there are four main 3 According to the author, which of the
classes in the social hierarchy known following ideas did Gandhi promote?
as the caste system. You can tell from
A Citizens’ rights for members of the lowest
the passage that the “untouchables” are
caste
A the highest social group. B Intermarriage among members of low and
B the lowest social group. high castes
C priests and scholars. C Abolishing the caste system altogether
D merchants, traders, and farmers. D Scholarships for members of the lowest
caste

2 As the passage explains, Gandhi broke

with Hindu tradition by 4 You can infer from the last paragraph
that low caste Indians in the 1920s
A trying to convert the poorest people to Islam.
were not usually allowed to
B extending charity to the poorest people.
A use public wells.
C spending time with the poorest people.
B ride on public buses.
D rejecting the poorest people.
C attend schools.
D All of the above

S11
 ST R AT E G I E S

Political Cartoons
Political cartoons are drawings
made to express a point of view
on political issues of the day.
Cartoonists use words, symbols,
and such artistic styles as
caricature—exaggerating a
person’s physical features—to
get their message across.

Identify the subject of the

cartoon. Titles, captions, and
labels are often clues to the
subject matter. (The subject
here is Chechnya’s fight for
independence from Russia.)
© 2000 Washington Post Writers Group. Reprinted with permission.
Identify the main characters
in the cartoon. (The main Putin represents the Russian Drawing Chechnya as a
character is Russian government and army. The mouse exaggerates the
President Vladimir Putin.) exaggeration of Putin’s nose difference in size of Chechnya
makes him appear ridiculous. compared to Russia.
Note the symbols—ideas
and images that stand for
something else—used in the 1 Chechnya is portrayed as a mouse because
cartoon. (The bear is an
A it is so much smaller and less powerful than Russia.
often-used symbol of Russia.)
B the region has no natural resources.
Study labels and other
written information in the C its rebel leaders lack courage and the will to fight.
cartoon. D the region produces so much cheese.
Analyze the point of view.
How cartoonists use
caricature often shows how 2 Which of the following statements best represents the
they feel. cartoonist’s point of view?
Interpret the cartoonist’s A Russia should maintain firm control of Chechnya.
message.
B Chechnya is not important to Russia.
C Russia is a military powerhouse and should be feared by other countries.
D Russia used more military might than necessary in fighting the rebellion
in Chechnya.

answers: 1 (A), 2 (D)

S12
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the political cartoon and your knowledge of geography to answer the questions below.

Copyright © 1989 Rob Rogers/The Pittsburgh

Press/United Feature Syndicate

1 The cartoonist has drawn the “Berlin 3 The cartoonist is implying that
Mall,” to refer to the
A free-market countries and corporations
A main shopping district in the center of Berlin. looked for new markets in Berlin.
B seat of city government in East Germany. B the people of former communist countries
C Berlin Wall, which divided the city of Berlin in Europe were eager to buy products not
into democratic and communist sections. previously available to them.

D World War II division of Germany. C the fall of the Berlin Wall changed
economics and politics in Europe.
D All of the above
2 What does the “Berlin Mall” most likely
stand for in the cartoon?
4 The father’s statement to his son
A the European Union
implies that this Berlin site
B Western capitalism
A was recently built on the site of an old
C Eastern philosophy
market.
D Soviet communism
B is very different from what it used to be.
C is the only shopping area located in Berlin.
D All of the above.

S13
 ST R AT E G I E S

Charts
Adult
Adul
Adultt Li
ul Lite
Literacy
tera
teracy
racy Rates
Rat
Rates
ates in
in So
Sout
South
uth
uth Asia
Asia by
by Gender,
Gend
Gender
nder,, 1995
er 1995
Charts present information in a
visual form. Geography textbooks Country
Coun
Countr
untryy
tr Male
Male Fema
Female
male
Female Total
Tota
Totall
ta
use several types of charts, Bang
Bangla
nglade
ladesh
de sh
Bangladesh 49%
49% 226%
6% 38%
38%
including tables, flow charts, Venn
Bhut
Bhutan
ut an
Bhutan 56%
56% 28%
28% 42%
42 %
diagrams, and infographics. The Based
Bas ed on the data data in
type of chart most commonly Indi
Indiaa
di
India 66%
66% 338%
8% 52%
52% thiss char
thi cchart,
hart,t, you mi
har might
ght
found in standardized tests is the conclu
con clude
clu
conclude de tha
thatt male
m aless in
ale
males in
Maldives
Mald
Maldiv
ldives
ives 93%
93% 93%
93 % 93%
93% mostt of
mos of thes
tthese
hesee coun
hes ccountries
ountri
oun tries
tries
table, which organizes information receiv
rec eivee more
eiv
receive more education
in columns and rows for easy Nepal
Nepa
Nepall
pa 41%
41% 14%
14% 28%
28% thann fema
tha ffemales.
emalesles.
les
viewing. Sri
Sri Lanka
Lank
Lankaa
nk 93%
93 % 87%
87% 90%
90 %

Read the title to identify the Pakistan

Paki
Pakist
kistan
st an 50%
50% 224%
4% 38%
38 %
broad subject of the chart. Sources:: World Health Organization
Sou Organization;
Compare and contrast CIA, The World Fact Book 2000
Read the column and row the literacy rates of
headings and any other males and females in
labels. The headings and each country.
labels will provide more
details on the subject of
1 What is the general pattern in the literacy rates for males
the chart.
and females of this region?
Compare and contrast the
information from column to A The rates for males and females are similar.
column and row to row. B The rates for males are generally much higher than those for females.
Try to draw conclusions from C The rates for females are generally much higher than those for males.
the information in the chart.
D The rates for both sexes are extremely low in all the countries.
Ask yourself: What trends
or patterns does the chart
show?
2 One observation that you can make about the literacy rate in
Read the questions and then
these countries is that the
study the chart again.
A higher the female literacy rate is, the higher the total literacy rate is.
B higher the literacy rate, the less interest females have in reading
and writing.
C literacy rate in mountainous countries is higher than the rate in island
countries.
D lower the total literacy rate is, the higher the female literacy rate is.

answers: 1 (B), 2 (A)

S14
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the chart and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

Comparison of European, American, and Japanese Workers’ Hours

Country Scheduled Weekly Number of Annual Annual Hours
Hours Days Off/Holidays Worked

Germany 39 42 1,708

Netherlands 40 43.5 1,740

Austria 39.3 38 1,751

France 39 34 1,771

Italy 40 39 1,776

United Kingdom 39 33 1,778

Sweden 40 37 1,792
United States 40 22 1,912
Portugal 45 36 2,025
Japan 44 23.5 2,116

Source: “Comparison of European, American, and Japanese Workers’ Hours,”

from Hammond New Century World Atlas. Copyright © 2000 by Hammond
World Atlas Corporation. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

1 People are scheduled to work the most 3 People have the least number of
hours annually in holidays and days off work in
A the United States. A the United States.
B Portugal. B Portugal.
C Germany. C the United Kingdom.
D Japan. D Japan.

2 If Germany has a five-day work week, 4 Compared to the Americans and

the Germans’ time off equals how Japanese, Europeans work
many work weeks?
A fewer hours per week.
A More than 2 work weeks B fewer days per year.
B More than 4 work weeks C more hours per week.
C More than 6 work weeks D more days per year.
D More than 8 work weeks

S15
 ST R AT E G I E S

Line and Bar Graphs

Three
Thre
Threee Fastest
re Fast
Fastes
stestt Growing
es Grow
Growin
owing
ing States
Stat
States
ates in
in the
the United
Unit
United
ited States,
Sta
State
tates,
tes, 1990–1996
1990
1990–1
90 –199
–1 9966
99
Graphs show statistics in a visual
form. Line graphs are particularly 45 Follow
Follow ththee grid
grid lines
lines to
40 identify
identi
ide ntify
nti number
fy the nu mberr of
numbe
mbe of
useful for showing changes over
people
peo ple..
ple
people.
time. Bar graphs make it easy to 35

People
ns of People
compare numbers or sets of 30
A gene
g eneral
ene raliza
ralizatio
iza
generalization tionn you
tio you
numbers. 25 might
mig ht mak
makee here
here is th that
at

Millions
lions
20 populations
the po
popul
pulati
pul ations
ations of th thee
Read the title to identify the Millio
Mil lio 15
three
three sta
states
tes increased
incre
in crease
cre ased
ase d
by sim
simila
ilarr amou
ila
similar aamounts.
mounts
mou nts..
nts
broad subject of the graph. 10
5 1990
1990 In thi
thiss bar
bar graph,
graph, the
the different
diff
diff
ifferent years
erent
ere years
Study the labels on the 1996
1996 are sh own by color.
shown color
color..
lor
vertical and horizontal Texas
Texas California
Cali
C alifor
alifornia
fornia Florida
Florid
Flo rida
rida
axes to see the kinds of Source:
Source
Source:: Texas
rce Texas Sta
State
te Dat
Dataa Cent
C
Center;
enter;
enter;
U.S. Census
U.S. Cens
Cens
ensus
us Bureau
Bureau
information presented in the
graph. Note the intervals 1 Thee population
Th popu
popula
pu lati
lation
tion ooff Te
Texa
Texas
xass in
xa incr
increased
crea
crease
eased
sed be
betw
between
twee
tween
een
between amounts and 1990
1990 aand
nd 1
199
996
99
1996 6 by about
aabo
bout
bout —
between dates.
A 2 million
millllllio
mi ion
ion
Study any keys or legends. B 5 million
millllllio
mi ion
ion
C 10 million
mililillililion
m on
Look at the source line and
evaluate the reliability of the D 10
100,000
100,
0,00
0,0000
00
information in the graph.
Federal and state government
statistics, as well as those Projected
Proj
Projec
ojecte
ected
ted Population
Pop
opul
ulat
ulatio
ation
ion Gr
Grow
Growth
owth
owth in
in China,
Chin
China,
ina, 1950
1950 tto
o 20
2050
50
from universities, tend to be 1,600
1,6 00
reliable. 1,400
1,4 00
People
ople
le

1,200
1,200
Peop
op

Study the information in the

of Pe

1,000
1,000
graph and note any trends.
ns of

800
Millions
ions
llio
io

Draw conclusions and make 600

Mill
Mill

generalizations based on 400

these trends.
200

Read the questions carefully

0
0
70
80
90
00
10
20
30
40
50
5
6

and then study the graph

19

20
20

20
19

20

20
19

19
19

20

again.
Source:
Source
Source:: U.S.
rce U.S. Census
Cens
Cens
ensus
us Bureau,
Bureau
Bureau,, Inte
eau IInternational
nterna
nternatio
rnational
tional Da
Data
ta Base
Base

1 What is expected to happen to China’s population after

the year 2040?
A It will decline sharply.
B It will begin to decline slowly.
C It will continue to increase slowly.
D It will increase very sharply.
answers: 1 (A), 2 (B)

S16
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions:
Dire
Direct
rectio
ctions
ions:: Us
ns Usee the
the graphs
grap
graphs
aphs and
and your
yyou
ourr kn
ou know
knowledge
owle
owledg
ledgee of world
dg wor
world
orld geography
geo
geogr
eograp
graphy
aphy to
to answer
answ
answer
swer the
the questions
que
quest
ue stio
stions
ions below.
bel
below
elow.
ow

World’s
Worl
World’
rld’ss Ma
d’ Majo
Major
jorr Energy
jo Ener
Energy
ergy C
Con
Consumers,
onsu
onsume
sumers
mers,, 19
rs 1998
98 Global
Glob
Global
obal A
Ave
Average
vera
verage
rage T
Tem
Temperatures,
empe
empera
peratu
rature
tures,
res, 18
1880
1880–2000
80–2
80 –200
–2000
00 0
100 58.4
58. 4
58.2
58. 2
58.0
58. 0
80

Fahrenheit
enheit
eit
(Btu)
Btu))

57.8
57. 8
British
tish
h
s ((Btu
Btu

ahrenh
enh
Britis
tis

57.6
57. 6
on Bri

reess Fahr
ahr
60
Units
nits

57.4
57. 4
rmall Unitnit
Quadrillion
llion

F
57.2
57. 2
U

Degrees
drilli
lli

Degree
ree
Thermal

57.0
57. 0
Quadri
dri
Therma
rma

40

Deg
56.8
56. 8
Qua
The

56.6
56. 6
20 56.4
56. 4
56.2
56. 2
56.0
56. 0

20

00
es

ina

ia

da
ia

e
an

0
8

8
nc
pa
ss

Ind
tat

19

20
19
18

19

19

19
na
Ch

rm

Fra
Ja
Ru
dS

Ca
Ge
i te
Un

Source: Energy Information Administration Source: Goddard Institute for Space Studies

1 Which of the following statements is 3 What has been the general trend
true according to the graph? in the global average temperature
since 1960?
A All of the countries consume about the same
amount of energy. A It has been rising every five years.
B The country with the largest area consumes B It has been decreasing.
the most energy. C It has risen and fallen, but overall
C The United States consumes the most it has risen.
energy. D It has stayed fairly steady.
D The country with the largest population
consumes the most energy.
4 Which of the following statements
accurately reflects information in
2 Which of the following statements the graph?
is not accurate?
A Global average temperatures go up and
A The United States consumes more energy down over time.
than China, Russia, and Japan combined. B The temperature has not changed by more
B The five top energy consumers are all large than one degree in any 20-year period.
countries. C It is difficult to make long-term climate
C India consumes more energy than France. predictions from this graph alone.
D Japan consumes more energy than India. D All of the above

S17
 ST R AT E G I E S A generalization you
might make here is that
the population is not
evenly distributed. The
Population Pyramids very young age groups
greatly outnumber the
Population Pyramid for Bolivia, 2000 older age groups.
A population pyramid is a type of
graph that shows the gender and Male Age Female
age distribution of a population. It 80+
75-79
is useful in showing patterns in 70-74
65-69
these and other categories, such 60-64
55-59
as ethnicity. The size of one age 50-54
45-49
group compared to another may 40-44
35-39
have important economic, social, 30-34
and political consequences. For 25-29
20-24
example, if the number of 15-19
10-14
working-age adults in a country is 5-9
0-4
small, the labor pool might be 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600
small.
Number of persons (in thousands) The number of females
aged 5–9, for example,
Read the title to identify the is about 530,000.
population that the graph
represents. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base

Study the age groups labeled 1 Most Bolivians are

along the vertical axis in the
center of the pyramid. Each A between the ages of 35 and 39.
horizontal bar represents the B below the age of 40.
size of an age-and-gender
C between the ages of 45 and 49.
group. Note that the intervals
between the numbers along D older than 59.
the base of the pyramid
identify the size of each
age-gender group. 2 Which statement best characterizes the gender distribution
Compare the sizes of the of Bolivia’s population?
gender groups and note any
A Males greatly outnumber females.
patterns. Then compare the
sizes of the age groups and B Females greatly outnumber males.
note any patterns. C The population has about an equal number of males and females.
Draw conclusions and make D Females outnumber males in the youngest age groups.
generalizations based on the
patterns you see.
Read the questions carefully
and then refer to the graph
again to answer them.

answers: 1 (B), 2 (C)

S18
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the graph and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

Population Pyramid for France, 2000

Male Age Female

85+
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Number of persons (in millions)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base

1 The largest age group in France 3 Which statement accurately reflects

is composed of people the information in this graph?
A from 10 to 24 years of age. A French women live longer than French men.
B under 10 years of age. B French men live longer than French women.
C from 25 to 54 years of age. C Very few French people live past the age
D 55 years of age and over. of 54.
D There are fewer French teenagers than
any other age group.
2 Which statement best characterizes the
population distribution between the
genders in France? 4 Which of the following conclusions
can you draw from this graph?
A Males outnumber females in all age groups.
B Females outnumber males in all age groups. A Large families are common in France.

C The genders are roughly equal except in the B France has a high infant mortality rate.
youngest age group. C There was a “baby boom” in France after
D As the population ages, it changes from 1945.
slightly more males to more females. D France has a labor shortage.

S19
 ST R AT E G I E S

Pie Graphs
Typical Growing Season Work Day for
A pie, or circle, graph shows 10-Year-Old Girl in Rural Nepal
relationships among the parts of a
Sometimes the information in the
whole. These parts look like slices legend is shown as labels around
of a pie. The size of each slice is the outside of the pie graph.
proportional to the percentage of Collecting fodder
the whole that it represents. 14%
Fetching water
9%
Caring for animals
Read the title and identify the 57% 9%
broad subject of the pie graph. Eating The pie graphs show
11% clearly that planting rice
Look at the legend to see Planting Rice
is likely to be important
what each of the slices of in Nepal.
the pie represents.
Read the source line and Source: Adapted from “A working day in the life of a 10-year old girl in Nepal,”
from Listening to Smaller Voices by Victoria Johnson, Joanna Hill, and Edda
note the origin of the data
Ivan-Smith. Copyright © 1995 by ActionAid Nepal. Reprinted by permission.
shown in the pie graph.
Compare the slices of the pie,
1 A typical 10-year-old girl in rural Nepal spends the greatest
and try to make generalizations percentage of her time
and draw conclusions from your
A planting rice.
comparisons.
B eating.
Read the questions carefully The word fodder refers to feed for
and review difficult terms. C collecting fodder. livestock. It is usually coarsely
chopped straw or hay.
Think carefully about questions D fetching water.
that have not in the stem.
Eliminate choices that you 2 Which of the following is not a conclusion you can draw
know are wrong.
from the information in this pie graph?
A Young girls spend no time raising animals in rural Nepal.
B During the growing season, children in rural Nepal
do farm chores most of the day.
C Rice is an important part of the diet in Nepal.
D Children in Nepal do not attend school during the growing season.

You can eliminate B because

the pie graph shows they do
spend most of their day doing
farm chores.

answers:
answers: 1 (A), 2 (A)

S20
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the pie graphs and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

Trends in World Urbanization, 1900 and 2015

1900 Distribution of the 2015 Projected Distribution

World Population of the World Population
World Population: 1.6 billion Projected World Population: 7.2 billion

1.6% 8.7%
12% 12%
5%
14.1%

16% 46.6%
86.4% 65% 30.6%

Rural Rural
Cities of less than 1 million Urban areas of 5 million or more
Cities of more than 1 million Urban areas of 1 to 5 million
Urban areas of less than 1 million

Source: "Trends in World Urbanization," from Introduction to Geography, Sixth Edition

by Arthur Getis, Judith Getis, and Jerome D. Fellman. Copyright © 1998 by McGraw-
Hill Companies, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

1 In 1900, most people of the world 3 The percentage of people living in

lived in rural areas in 2015, as compared to
the percentage in 1900, is projected
A cities of more than one million people.
to decline by approximately
B cities of less than one million people.
A 10 percentage points.
C suburban areas.
B 20 percentage points.
D rural areas.
C 40 percentage points.
D 60 percentage points.
2 Which of the following statements best
describes the projected change
in the distribution of people in 2015? 4 The current rise in the number of
cities and the lifestyle changes that
A The same number of people will live in urban
result from it are called
as live in rural areas.
B The largest percentage of people will live A land-use patterns.
in urban areas of over one million people. B urbanization.
C More people will live in urban than in C industrialization.
rural areas. D suburbanization.
D Forty percent of people will live in urban
areas of all sizes.

S21
 ST R AT E G I E S

Political Maps
Kenya: Political
Political maps show features on
the earth’s surface that are
created by humans. Included on a SUDAN
political map may be the location ETHIOPIA
of cities, states, provinces, 4°N
Lake
territories, or countries. There also Turkana Moyale
Lodwar
may be some physical features, UGAN DA Di da Galg alu

Turkwel R.
De s e r t
such as rivers, seas, oceans, and SOM ALI A
Marsabit

y
lakes. You can use these features

lle
2°N
Wajir

Va
to show an area’s shape and size

G r e a t R R.
ift
Kerio
and where it is located on the
earth’s surface. You can also look Mt. Kenya
Eldoret 17,058 ft.
at its location in relation to other (5,199 m.)
Equator 0°
areas, and how all of these Kisumu

physical facts might affect a place Lake a

. R
ar Nairobi At
in ways such as its economy or Victoria M

Tana
hi
R.
population.

R.
Lamu 2°S
IN D IAN
Read the title to determine the Galana R.
OC EAN
subject and purpose of the National capital Malindi N
map.
Other city
W E
Mombasa
Review the map labels, which 0 75 150 miles TAN ZAN IA
reveal specific features that 0 75 150 kilometers
S

further illustrate the subject Mercator Projection 36°E 38°E 40°E 42°E
and purpose of the map.
Study the legend to find the Map scales typically Instead of a compass
meaning of the symbols used show distances in both rose, some maps have a
miles and kilometers. North arrow.
on the map.
Look at the lines of latitude 1 About how far is Mombasa from the capital of Kenya?
and longitude. This grid makes
A About 100 miles
locating places easier.
B About 200 miles
Use the compass rose to
determine directions on the C About 300 miles
map. D About 400 miles
Use the scale to measure the
actual distances between
places shown on the map. 2 The country that borders Kenya on the south is
Read the questions and then A Somalia.
carefully study the map to
B Tanzania.
determine the answers.
C Ethiopia.
D Uganda.

answers: 1 (C), 2 (B)

S22
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the map and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

Mexico: Political

CAL I F . Mexicali ARI Z. N . ME X . UN ITED STATES

N
Nogales
30°N E
Ciudad L A.
T EX AS W
Gu

R.

Juárez
i
lf

Yaqu

R. S

Guaymas Conchos
of
Ca

Nuevo Laredo
Gulf of Mexi co
lif

25°N
Monterrey
or
ni

Cancer
a

La Paz Tropic of
PAC IFIC
Mazatlán Tampico Cancún
O C EAN Progreso
20°N Puerto Bay of
Vallarta Guadalajara Campeche
Mexico
City Veracruz
National capital
Balsas Puebla Usu
Other city R. ma
cin BELIZE
ta
R.
0 100 200 miles
Acapulco
0 100 200 kilometers GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
Conformal Conic Projection 110°W 105°W 100°W 95°W 90°W

1 Which statement best describes the 3 Mexico is bordered on the north by

location of the capital of Mexico?
A Louisiana and Texas.
A It is located on the Gulf of Mexico. B California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
B It is located on the Pacific Ocean. C Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
C It is located near the U.S.-Mexico border. D only Texas.
D It is centrally located within the country.

4 The popular resort cities of Acapulco,

2 Which of the following countries does Puerto Vallarta, and Cancún all have
not share a border with Mexico? in common their location
A Honduras A on the Pacific Ocean.
B Belize B on a coast.
C Guatemala C north of the Tropic of Cancer.
D The United States D in the interior of the country.

S23
 ST R AT E G I E S

Physical Maps
Australia: Physical
Physical maps show the
landforms and bodies of water in
I N D O N E S I A PAPUA
a specific area. They use color, Arafura Sea
NEW GUINEA

shading, or contour lines to

N Timor
indicate elevation or altitude, Sea

G re
Darwin Gulf of

at
which is also called relief. Many W E
Carpentaria

Ba
maps combine features of both Co r al

rr
Gre

ie
S
Se a

r
ee

R
physical and political maps—that f

at
N ORT HER N
20°S 20°S
is, they show physical T E RR I TORY

D
ges

iv
l Ran
characteristics as well as political Mac donnel

id
Mountain ranges, rivers, Tropic of Capricorn n

i
g
boundaries. deserts, and some large W E ST E R N
A U S T R A L I A R
a
bodies of water are AUST RAL IA QUEE N S L AN D n g e
Brisbane
S OUTH
L. Eyre
labeled on this map. Great Victoria AUSTR AL IA
(dry)
Read the title to determine the Desert L. Gairdner L. Frome R.
(dry) (dry) ling
area shown on the map. Nul l a r b or Pla i n
Da
r
Perth N E W S OUT H
Great Australian WAL E S
Study the legend to find the Bight Adelaide M Sydney
urr
meaning of the colors used on a y R.
Canberra
INDIAN OCEAN V I CT OR IA
the map. Typically, different Melbourne Tas ma n
colors are used to indicate Elevation Bass Strait Sea
13,100 ft. (4,000 m.) 40°S
levels of elevation. Match the 6,600 ft. (2,000 m.)
legend colors to places on the 1,600 ft. (500 m.) TAS MAN IA PACIFIC
650 ft. (200 m.) OCEAN
map.
0 ft. (0 m.)
Below sea level
Review the labels on the map
to see what physical features National capital 0 400 800 miles

are shown. Other city 0 400 800 kilometers

140°E Miller Projection
Look at the lines of latitude
The legend tells you that
and longitude. You can use
highlands are identified
this grid to identify the location by the color brown and
of physical features. lowlands by green.

Use the compass rose to

determine directions on the 1 South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales contain
map. mostly
Use the scale to measure the
A mountains.
actual distances between
places shown on the map. B plateaus.

Read the questions and then C lowlands.

carefully study the map to D deserts.
determine the answers.

2 Where is the Great Barrier Reef located?

A Along the Nullarbor Plain
B In the Great Australian Bight
C In the Coral Sea
D Near the Great Victoria Desert
answers: 1 (C), 2 (C)

S24
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the map and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

Egypt: Physical

25°E 30°E 35°E

Elevation
13,100 ft. (4,000 m.)
Med ite r r a n ean Se a 6,600 ft. (2,000 m.)
ISRAEL 1,600 ft. (500 m.)
Alexandria
650 ft. (200 m.)
JORDAN
I I I I
Suez
Libyan Plateau Cairo Canal 0 ft. (0 m.)
I
I I Below sea level
30°N
SINAI National capital
PENINSULA
Other city

E GYP T
AR

0 150 300 miles

Ni

AB
le

0 150 300 kilometers

LI

Ri

IA

We s te r n Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area Projection

ve
r
BY

Re

Desert
DE

25°N
AN

d
SE

25°N SAUDI
Se
RT

ARABIA
DE

Aswan
N
SE

Tropic of Cancer
Lake
Nasser
RT

E
W

S
25°E SUDAN 30°E 35°E 40°E

1 The location of Egypt’s capital is 3 Which of the following statements

approximately best characterizes the Nile River?
A 30°N 31°E. A It is the longest river in Egypt.
B 30°S 31°W. B It extends the full length of the country.
C 25°N 33°E. C It is one of the few rivers in Egypt.
D 25°S 33°W. D All of the above

2 The physical feature that dominates 4 Which of the following conclusions

Egypt’s landscape is can you draw from this map?
A mountains. A Egypt has a well-distributed water supply.
B deserts. B Agriculture is important in Egypt’s
C mesas. southwest area.

D lakes. C Much of Egypt has a dry climate.

D All of Egypt is sparsely populated.

S25
 ST R AT E G I E S

Thematic Maps
Ethnic Diversity in the Former Yugoslavia
A thematic map, or special-
purpose map, focuses on a
N 0 100 200 miles
particular topic. The location of AUSTRI A
W
state parks, a country’s natural 0 100 200 kilometers
E
SLOVENIA Conformal Conic Projection
resources, the vegetation of a S
HUN GARY
region, voting patterns, migration CROATIA
routes, and economic activities
are all topics you might see R OMAN IA
VOJVODINA
illustrated on a thematic map. Albanians

Y U G
BOSNIA AND
Bulgarians HERZEGOVINA
Read the title to determine Croats

O S L A V I A
the subject and purpose of Hungarians
the map. SERBIA

Ad
Macedonians

ri
Examine the labels on the Montenegrins MONTENEGRO

at
ic
map to find more detailed Muslims

Se
KOSOVO
information on the map’s Serbs

a
subject and purpose. Slovenes BULG.

No clear ethnic I T AL Y
Study the legend to find the majority
MACEDONIA

meaning of the symbols and Former Yugoslavia

AL BA N I A
colors used on the map. Republic boundaries GRE E C E

Look at the symbols and colors Autonomous province

boundaries
on the map, and try to identify
patterns. The map and legend
Read the questions and then show you nine distinct
ethnic groups that This map is a visual tool
carefully study the map to reside in the former that might help you
determine the answers. Yugoslavia, which is understand the ethnic
now eight republics or and religious conflicts in
provinces. Bosnia.

1 According to the map, which of the following ethnic groups

live in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
A Croats, Macedonians, and Slovenes
B Serbs, Albanians, and Hungarians
C Bulgarians, Italians, and Albanians
D Croats, Serbs, and Muslims

2 The former Yugoslavia did not include

A Kosovo.
B Slovenia.
C Romania.
D Croatia.
answers: 1 (D), 2 (C)

S26
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the map and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

The Mongolian Dzud and Livestock Deaths

R U S S I A
KHUVSGUL
UVS SELENGE
BAYAN
ULGII DARKHAN-UUL DORNOD
BULGAN
A

ZAVKHAN ORKHON
Ulaanbaatar
L

KHOVD ARKHANGAI
T

KHENTII
A

I TUV
UVUR- SUKHBAATAR
M
OR

T GOBI-ALTAI KHANGAI
GOBISUMBER
NG

S.
HO

DUNDGOBI
NK
YA

DORNOGOBI
BA

UMNUGOBI N

E
W
C H I N A
Livestock Deaths S

Provinces severely affected by dzud 0 150 300 miles

Provinces moderately affected by dzud
0 150 300 kilometers
Provinces potentially affected by dzud Conformal Conic Projection

dzud: Mongolian word meaning severe winter conditions

Source: United Nations

1 How many provinces in Mongolia were 3 One of the reasons a record of

severely affected by dzud, the winter livestock deaths is important to
weather conditions? Mongolia is that
A Over half A there are not many livestock in the country.
B One third B raising livestock is the basis of the
C All of them Mongolian economy.

D None of them C the livestock deaths are unusual because

the climate tends to be moderate.
D the country is shifting from a managed-
2 Which of the following province’s style economy to a free-market economy.
livestock losses were only potentially
affected by dzud?
4 This map is most likely of the
A Zavkhan
greatest use to
B Dornod
A the Mongolian government and
C Dornogobi
international relief agencies.
D Uvur-Khangai
B mapmakers and elementary schools.
C the Chinese and the Russian governments.
D Mongolian religious organizations.

S27
 ST R AT E G I E S

Time Lines
Dates of Independence for Selected African Countries
A time line is a type of chart that
lists events in the order in which On vertical time lines, the
they occurred. In other words, earliest date is shown at
1900
the top. On horizontal time
time lines are a visual method of lines, it is on the far left. This time line lists the
showing what happened when. African country followed
1910 South Africa
(Britain) by the colonial country
Read the title to discover the from which it gained
subject of the time line. independence.

Identify the time period

covered by the time line by 1922 Egypt (Britain)
noting the earliest and latest
dates shown. 1951 Libya (Italy)

Read the events and their 1956 Morocco, Tunisia

(France); Sudan
dates in sequence. Notice the
(Britain and Egypt) In the 1960s, the United
intervals between events.
1957 Ghana (Britain) States was embroiled in
1960 Cameroon, Senegal, the Vietnam War.
Use your knowledge of
Mali (France); Republic of
history to develop a fuller the Congo (Belgium);
picture of the events listed in Nigeria (Britain)
the time line. For example,
1962 Algeria (France);
place the events in a broader 1961 Tanganyika (later Tanzania),
Uganda (Britain);
context by considering what Sierra Leone (Britain)
Rwanda, Burundi
was happening elsewhere in (Belgium) 1963 Kenya (Britain)
the world. 1966 Botswana, Lesotho (Britain)
1964 Malawi, Zambia
Use the information you have (Britain)
gathered from these 1975 Mozambique, Angola,
strategies to answer the Cape Verde (Portugal)
questions. 1975

1 Which of the following colonial powers is not shown on the

time line as freeing one of its colonies in 1960?
A France
B Belgium
C Britain
D Portugal

2 You can infer from the information on the time line that
French is most likely an important second language in
A Egypt.
B Morocco.
C Sierra Leone.
D Angola.
answers: 1 (D), 2 (B)

S28
 ST R AT E G I E S F O R TA K I N G STA N DA R D I Z E D T E STS
P R A CT I C E For more test practice online . . .

TEST PRACTICE
CL ASSZONE .COM

Directions: Use the time line and your knowledge of world geography to answer the questions below.

Milestones in World Communication

1876
The telephone 1982
Compact
1890s discs
Motion pictures
1957 1991
1826 1920s Artificial The World
Photography Television satellites Wide Web
1800 2000
1837 1895 1969
The telegraph 1877 Radio The Internet
The phonograph
1946
Digital
computers

1 Two inventions of the 1800s that made 3 The Internet followed the
long-distance communication possible introduction of the digital computer
were by about
A motion pictures and compact discs. A 1 decade.
B television and the Internet. B 2 decades.
C the telegraph and the telephone. C 3 decades.
D the phonograph and artificial satellites. D 4 decades.

2 About how many years after the 4 A design company has offices in
introduction of photography were Tokyo, Madrid, and Los Angeles.
motion pictures invented? Which medium would the designers
most likely use to share visual and
A 34 years
written information almost instantly?
B 64 years
A Telegraph
C 94 years
B Television
D 124 years
C Compact discs
D The World Wide Web

S29