History 1301 (PCM)
Sample Questions
The following are sample test questions you might expect to encounter on the exams covering the textbook material. They fall into three categories: 1) the "Except type question, 2) the "All of the above are correct" variety, which may include selections such as “Only A and B” or “Only B and C,” and 3) the one-concept answer type question.
The "Except question" is used when there is more than one factor or cause that precipitated the event mentioned in the Learning Objective and it is important that you recognize all of these factors. For example, Chapter 1 Learning Objective 1 asks you to identify life styles of the first settlers. If you turn to page 4 in America: Past and Present you will see a number of aspects listed: they crossed from Asia on a land bridges small bands of hunters who came in nomadic bands without any sense of common identity. Therefore the question reads:
1. All are true of the first settlers in North America EXCEPT: A) They came from Asia 15,000-20,000 years ago, B) They crossed into North America over a land bridge, C) They were mostly small bands of hunters, D) They came in small nomadic bands without a sense of national identity, E) They came to America in the year 4004 B.C. In this case the correct answer is choice "E" which is the exception. If you know the various factors listed in the textbook, then picking this answer is simple.
The second type of question, the "All of the above are correct"
question, is used when there are 4 or 5 important factors and you need
to know
them. For instance, Chapter 1 Learning Objective 8asks you to describe
the participants
& results of the Treaty of Tordesillas. Turning to page 18 in
the
text, you discover Pope Alexander VI negotiated a settlement between
5.The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 A) was negotiated by Pope Alexander VI, B) divided the world between Spain & Portugal, C) gave Portugal the West Coast of Africa & the eastern route to China, D) gave Spain North America & the western route to China E) All of the above are correct. In this case the correct answer is choice "E" since all of the first four choices are correct parts of the total answer. If you just select "An, "B", "C", or "D" it will be counted as incorrect since it is only part of the correct answer.
The third type of question is the one concept answer type of
question. An
example of this is Chapter 5 Learning Objective 12 requiring you to
name the
location of the first battle of the American Revolution. Turning to
page 146 in
the textbook you find the answer is
6. The American Revolution began when militia resisted British troops at A) New York, B) Lexington, C) Concord, D) Philadelphia, E) none of these is correct. Obviously "B" is the correct answer.
Most of the Learning Objectives have several important factors, influences, steps, results or developments (whichever the Learning Objective requires) and therefore as you review the text to find the answers, you ought to find three or four factors, etc. for each Learning Objective. Relatively few of the Learning Objectives can be answered with one word answers such as found in the third type of question. As you find the three or four pertinent factors, etc. for each Learning Objective, WRITE OUT your answer, and then study your notes; you ought to do well on the exams. If you simply skim the text looking for one word answers to the Learning Objectives, you WILL have difficulty with the exams. Put the time into studying and you should be pleased with your test results.