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GED Social Studies (Latest 2025 Update) Questions and
Verified Answers
Social Security CORRECT ANSWER>>> the use of contributions made by workers and employers through
a social security tax to provide income to people and their families during retirement or in the case of unemployment, disability, or death
sovereignty CORRECT ANSWER>>> the ultimate, supreme power in a state
socialism CORRECT ANSWER>>> an economic system in which property and the distribution of income
are subject to social and governmental control rather than individual determination of market forces
spatial CORRECT ANSWER>>> pertaining to distribution, distance, direction, areas, and other aspects of
space on Earth's surface specialization when a business focuses on producing a limited number of goods and leaves the production of other goods to other businesses; how each person working to produce a good might work on one part of the production instead of producing the whole good
standard of living CORRECT ANSWER>>> the overall quality of life that people experience
tariff CORRECT ANSWER>>> a tax on an imported good
supply CORRECT ANSWER>>> the quantity of a product or service a producer is willing and able to offer
for sale at each possible price
summarize CORRECT ANSWER>>> to briefly express a writer's key thought
structural unemployment CORRECT ANSWER>>> unemployment caused by a rapid change in the
character of the economy
suffrage CORRECT ANSWER>>> the right to vote
technology CORRECT ANSWER>>> the application of processes, methods, or knowledge to achieve a
specific purpose
theocracy CORRECT ANSWER>>> any government in which the leaders of the government are also the
leaders of the religion and they rule as representatives of the deity
totalitarianism CORRECT ANSWER>>> a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of
differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life
treaty CORRECT ANSWER>>> a formal agreement between sovereign nations to create or restrict rights
and responsibilities
unitary government CORRECT ANSWER>>> a government system in which all governmental authority is
vested in a central government from which regional and local governments derive their powers
United Nations CORRECT ANSWER>>> an international organization composed of most of the nations of
the world, formed in 1945, to promote global peace, security, and economic development
urbanization CORRECT ANSWER>>> the process of an increasing number of people moving to cities to
work and live, and the development that results
veto CORRECT ANSWER>>> a privileged single vote that, according to some systems of rules for decision-
making, has the effect of blocking or negating a majority decision
voluntary exchange CORRECT ANSWER>>> trade between people when each one feels he or she is better
off after the trade
wealth CORRECT ANSWER>>> an accumulation of goods having economic value
protectionism CORRECT ANSWER>>> the practice of protecting domestic industries from foreign
competition by imposing import duties or quotas
public service CORRECT ANSWER>>> service to local, state, or national communities through appointed
or elected office
quota CORRECT ANSWER>>> a limit on how much of a good can be imported; set either by quantity or by
the dollar value
radical CORRECT ANSWER>>> a person who advocates sweeping changes in the laws and methods of
government with the least delay
ratify CORRECT ANSWER>>> to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction
reactionary CORRECT ANSWER>>> a political philosophy that advocates for the resisting of change and a
return to an earlier social order or policy
referendum CORRECT ANSWER>>> a form of direct democracy in which citizens of a state, through
gathering signatures, can require that a legislative act come before the people as a whole for a vote; also allows the legislature to send any proposal for a law to the people for a vote
refugee CORRECT ANSWER>>> a person who has fled or been expelled from his or her country of origin
because of natural disaster, war or military occupation, or fear of religious, racial, or political persecution
region CORRECT ANSWER>>> a larger-sized territory that includes many smaller places, all or most of
which share similar attributes, such as climate, landforms, plants, soils, language, religion, economy, government, or other natural or cultural attributes
property tax CORRECT ANSWER>>> money paid by property owners in local communities to local
government to offset expenses of services provided including street construction and maintenance and often public schools
progress CORRECT ANSWER>>> a series of improvements in human life marked by inventions and
discoveries
principle CORRECT ANSWER>>> a basic rule that guides or influences thought or action
producer CORRECT ANSWER>>> a person who changes resources into an output that tends to be more
desirable than the resources were in their previous form
profit CORRECT ANSWER>>> the monetary difference between the cost of producing and marketing
goods or services and the price subsequently received for those goods or services
opinion CORRECT ANSWER>>> a statement that expresses the writer's feelings or ideas about a topic;
influenced heavily by the writer's background, values, and outlook on life; cannot be proved or disproved
oligarchy CORRECT ANSWER>>> a system of government in which a small group of people exercises total
control
overriding a veto CORRECT ANSWER>>> the ability of Congress to pass a bill into law by a two-thirds
majority vote after it has been vetoed by the president
physiographic CORRECT ANSWER>>> naturally occurring traits of a geographical area
pluralism CORRECT ANSWER>>> the acceptance of many groups in society
political cartoon CORRECT ANSWER>>> a visual aid that expresses opinions about political events in a
humorous and pointed way
poverty CORRECT ANSWER>>> the condition of having insufficient resources or income; a lack of basic
human needs, such as adequate and nutritious food, clothing, housing, clean water, and health services
price ceiling CORRECT ANSWER>>> a government policy that prevents the price of a good or service from
exceeding a particular level
primitive economy CORRECT ANSWER>>> an economic system in which the acquisition and distribution
of goods is completely absorbed within the traditional mode of existence as a whole
Mayflower Compact CORRECT ANSWER>>> the document drawn up by the Pilgrims in 1620, while on the
Mayflower, before landing at Plymouth Rock; provided a legal basis for self-government
microeconomics CORRECT ANSWER>>> the branch of economics concerned with the decisions made by
individuals, households, and firms and how these decisions interact to form the prices of goods and services and the factors of production
migrations CORRECT ANSWER>>> movements of groups from one location to another
moderate CORRECT ANSWER>>> generally, a "middle-of-the-road" set of beliefs, rather than an ideology
monarchy CORRECT ANSWER>>> a type of government in which political power is exercised by a single
ruler under the claim of divine or hereditary right
monetary policy CORRECT ANSWER>>> management of the money supply and interest rates to influence
economic activity
money CORRECT ANSWER>>> any medium of exchange that is widely accepted in payment for goods
and services and in settlement of debts
mortgage CORRECT ANSWER>>> a legal document that pledges a house or other real estate as security
for repayment of a loan; enables a person to buy property without having the funds to pay for it outright
national security CORRECT ANSWER>>> condition of a nation's safety from threats, especially threats
from external sources
natural disaster CORRECT ANSWER>>> a process taking place in the natural environment that destroys
human life, property, or both
natural resources CORRECT ANSWER>>> naturally occurring materials such as plants, animals, mineral
deposits, soil, clean water, clean air, and fossil fuels, which can be used by people
normal unemployment CORRECT ANSWER>>> the level of unemployment that is considered acceptable
for a healthy economy (usually less than 4 percent)
mercantilism CORRECT ANSWER>>> an economic and political policy in which the government regulates
industry, trade, and commerce with the national aim of obtaining a favorable balance of trade
landform CORRECT ANSWER>>> a description of Earth's shape at a certain place, such as a mountain
range, plateau, or flood plain.
latitude CORRECT ANSWER>>> the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees along a
line of longitude
legend CORRECT ANSWER>>> the map key that explains the meaning of symbols on a map
liberalism CORRECT ANSWER>>> a political viewpoint or ideology that advocates political change in the
name of progress, especially social improvement through governmental action
liquidity CORRECT ANSWER>>> the ease and speed with which something can be turned into cash
longitude CORRECT ANSWER>>> The distance east or west, almost always measured in relation to the
prime meridian that runs north and south through Greenwich, England
isolationism CORRECT ANSWER>>> the belief that the United States should not be involved in world
affairs and should avoid involvement in foreign wars
gross domestic product CORRECT ANSWER>>> a measure of how much an economy produces within its
borders each year, stated in the dollar value of final goods and services
gross national product CORRECT ANSWER>>> a measure of the total amount of goods and services
produced by an economy, both domestically and internationally
inalienable rights CORRECT ANSWER>>> fundamental rights of the people that may not be taken away; a
phrase used in the Declaration of Independence
incentive CORRECT ANSWER>>> a benefit offered to encourage people to act in certain ways
hemisphere CORRECT ANSWER>>> the northern or southern half of Earth divided by the equator or the
eastern or western half divided by a meridian
human capital CORRECT ANSWER>>> the knowledge and skills that enable workers to be productive
human characteristics CORRECT ANSWER>>> the pattern that people make on the surface of Earth, such
as cities, roads, canals, farms, and other ways people change Earth
human resources CORRECT ANSWER>>> labor used to produce goods and services
hypothesis CORRECT ANSWER>>> a conjecture that is made for the purpose of explaining an event; may
be proved or disproved with the passage of time or the acquisition of more information about why or how events occur
immigration CORRECT ANSWER>>> the process of moving to a country (or other political unit)
impeachment CORRECT ANSWER>>> the act of accusing a public official of misconduct in office by
presenting formal charges against him or her by the lower house, with a trial to be held before the upper house
imperialism CORRECT ANSWER>>> the practice by which powerful nations or peoples seek to extend and
maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples
initiative CORRECT ANSWER>>> a form of direct democracy in which the voters of a state can propose a
law by gathering signatures and having the proposition placed on the ballot
globalization CORRECT ANSWER>>> the integration and democratization of the world's culture,
economy, and infrastructure through transnational investment, rapid proliferation of communication and information technologies, and the impacts of free-market forces on local, regional, and national economies
good CORRECT ANSWER>>> a product that is desired and purchased by consumers
government CORRECT ANSWER>>> a political organization constituting the individuals and institutions
authorized to formulate public policies and conduct affairs of state
graph CORRECT ANSWER>>> a visual aid that makes comparisons of numbers or amounts by using lines,
bars, circles, or pictures
Great Compromise CORRECT ANSWER>>> an agreement made at the Constitutional Convention of 1787
that balanced the interest of the small and large states, resulting in the United States Senate being made up of two senators from each state and a House of Representatives based on population
feudalism CORRECT ANSWER>>> a political and economic system in which a lord required services from
a vassal, and in return granted the vassal certain privileges, such as control over a castle and the surrounding territory
fiscal policy CORRECT ANSWER>>> how the government uses taxes and/or government expenditures to
change the level of output, employment, or prices
foreign policy CORRECT ANSWER>>> policies of the federal government directed to matters beyond U.S.
borders, especially relations with other countries
free enterprise CORRECT ANSWER>>> the freedom of private businesses to operate competitively, for
profit, and without government controls
freedom of expression CORRECT ANSWER>>> the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and petition that
are protected by the First Amendment
global warming CORRECT ANSWER>>> the progressive gradual rise of Earth's surface temperature
thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate patterns
freedom of the press CORRECT ANSWER>>> the freedom to print or publish without governmental
interference
genocide CORRECT ANSWER>>> the systematic destruction of an entire cultural or ethnic group
frictional unemployment CORRECT ANSWER>>> unemployment caused by workers quitting jobs because
they are dissatisfied
fact CORRECT ANSWER>>> a statement that can be proved to be true
Federal Reserve System CORRECT ANSWER>>> a system of 12 district banks and a Board of Governors
that regulates the activities of financial institutions and controls the money supply
federal supremacy CORRECT ANSWER>>> a concept established in Article VI of the Constitution
providing that the Constitution and all federal laws and treaties shall be the "supreme Law of the Land;" therefore, all federal laws take precedence over state and local laws
cultural diffusion CORRECT ANSWER>>> the adoption of an aspect (or aspects) of another group's
culture, such as the spread of the English language
distributive system CORRECT ANSWER>>> an economic system in which every member in a society
receives as much as he or she needs
cultural landscape CORRECT ANSWER>>> the visual outcome of humans living in a place
distribution CORRECT ANSWER>>> the arrangement of items over an area
dictatorship CORRECT ANSWER>>> a system of government in which one person has absolute authority,
including complete domination of the citizens' lives; the most basic of citizens' rights are taken away in order to guarantee the leader's hold on power
developing nation CORRECT ANSWER>>> a country with low levels of well-being, as measured by
economic, social, and technological sophistication
demographics CORRECT ANSWER>>> the statistical data of a population
democracy CORRECT ANSWER>>> the practice of the principle of equality of rights, opportunity, and
treatment
demand CORRECT ANSWER>>> how much a consumer is willing and able to buy at each possible price
delegated powers CORRECT ANSWER>>> powers granted to the national government under the
Constitution, as enumerated in Articles I, II and III
deflation CORRECT ANSWER>>> a general lowering of prices; the opposite of inflation
culture CORRECT ANSWER>>> the learned behavior of people, such as belief systems and languages,
social relations, institutions, organizations, and material goods such as food, clothing, buildings, and technology
cyclical unemployment CORRECT ANSWER>>> unemployment caused by a recession or other unstable
economic times
amendment CORRECT ANSWER>>> changes in, or additions to, a constitution; must be proposed by a
two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures; ratified by approval of three-fourths of the states
Articles of Confederation CORRECT ANSWER>>> the first constitution of the United States (1781);
created a weak national government; replaced in 1789 by the Constitution of the United States
authority CORRECT ANSWER>>> the power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior
balance of trade CORRECT ANSWER>>> the difference between the total amount of exports and imports
for a country in one year
barter CORRECT ANSWER>>> the direct exchange of one good or service for another without the use of
money
chart CORRECT ANSWER>>> a visual aid that lists information in orderly rows and columns with easily
readable headings and captions; also called a table
case study CORRECT ANSWER>>> an in-depth examination of an issue
capitalism CORRECT ANSWER>>> an economic system that is based on the private ownership of property
and the resources of production
capital gains tax CORRECT ANSWER>>> money paid to the federal government out of profits from the
sale of land, buildings, stocks, and other capital assets
B.C.E and C.E CORRECT ANSWER>>> Before the Common Era (formerly known as B.C.) and Common Era
(formerly known as A.D.)
bicameral CORRECT ANSWER>>> a legislative body composed of two houses
capital CORRECT ANSWER>>> manufactured resources such as tools, machinery, and buildings that are
used in the production of other goods and services; sometimes called real capital
Bill of Rights CORRECT ANSWER>>> the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution; ratified
in 1791; limits governmental power and protects basic rights and liberties of individuals
bureaucracy CORRECT ANSWER>>> an administrative organization that implements government policies
business cycle CORRECT ANSWER>>> the periods of recession and expansion that an economy goes
through because production does not increase continuously over time
cabinet CORRECT ANSWER>>> secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the
federal government; appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate
concurrent powers CORRECT ANSWER>>> powers that may be exercised by both the federal and state
governments
confederate CORRECT ANSWER>>> of, or pertaining to, a group of states more or less permanently
united for common purposes
conservatism CORRECT ANSWER>>> a general preference for the existing order of society and an
opposition to all efforts to bring about rapid or fundamental change in that order
consumer CORRECT ANSWER>>> a person or organization that purchases or uses a product or service
consumer sovereignty CORRECT ANSWER>>> the power consumers have in directing market economies
because goods and services are produced and exchanged mostly to satisfy consumer wants
