HiSET Social Studies Version 1
Practice exam for HiSET under High School Equivalency Exams (High School Exams). 5 sample questions.
Sample Questions
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Question 1
The U.S. Supreme Court considered a case in which a political activist was jailed for stating publicly that World War I was a rich man's war but a poor man's fight. To which case is this case most similar?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The case described involves a political activist jailed for antiwar speech, which aligns closely with Schenck v. United States, where Charles Schenck was convicted for mailing antiwar pamphlets. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction, ruling that speech posing a 'clear and present danger' was not protected under the First Amendment, similar to the activist's situation. Commonwealth v. Hunt deals with labor unions, Muller v. Oregon with labor laws for women, and Brown v. Board of Education with school desegregation, none of which involve free speech issues related to antiwar activism.
Rationale: The case described involves a political activist jailed for antiwar speech, which aligns closely with Schenck v. United States, where Charles Schenck was convicted for mailing antiwar pamphlets. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction, ruling that speech posing a 'clear and present danger' was not protected under the First Amendment, similar to the activist's situation. Commonwealth v. Hunt deals with labor unions, Muller v. Oregon with labor laws for women, and Brown v. Board of Education with school desegregation, none of which involve free speech issues related to antiwar activism.
Question 2
Which of these pairs of cases deals with First Amendment rights?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The First Amendment protects freedoms like speech and religion. Schenck v. United States directly addresses free speech, as the Court ruled on the legality of antiwar pamphlets. Engel v. Vitale (though not detailed in the document) is a well-known case addressing the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, prohibiting school-sponsored prayer. Commonwealth v. Hunt and Muller v. Oregon focus on labor issues, and Brown v. Board of Education addresses equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment, not First Amendment rights.
Rationale: The First Amendment protects freedoms like speech and religion. Schenck v. United States directly addresses free speech, as the Court ruled on the legality of antiwar pamphlets. Engel v. Vitale (though not detailed in the document) is a well-known case addressing the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, prohibiting school-sponsored prayer. Commonwealth v. Hunt and Muller v. Oregon focus on labor issues, and Brown v. Board of Education addresses equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment, not First Amendment rights.
Question 3
Assume that the state of Kansas passed a law limiting the number of hours teenagers could work on farms, and the state's farmers challenged the law. The decision in which of these cases could be cited in support of Kansas's law?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Muller v. Oregon upheld a law limiting women's working hours, establishing a precedent for state laws regulating labor conditions to protect specific groups. A Kansas law limiting teenagers' farm work hours is similar, as it regulates labor for a vulnerable group. Commonwealth v. Hunt addresses union rights, Brown v. Board of Education deals with desegregation, and Engel v. Vitale concerns school prayer, none of which are relevant to labor hour restrictions.
Rationale: Muller v. Oregon upheld a law limiting women's working hours, establishing a precedent for state laws regulating labor conditions to protect specific groups. A Kansas law limiting teenagers' farm work hours is similar, as it regulates labor for a vulnerable group. Commonwealth v. Hunt addresses union rights, Brown v. Board of Education deals with desegregation, and Engel v. Vitale concerns school prayer, none of which are relevant to labor hour restrictions.
Question 4
Which of these statements best describes the difference between Commonwealth v. Hunt and Muller v. Oregon?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Both Commonwealth v. Hunt and Muller v. Oregon address labor issues. Commonwealth v. Hunt legalized labor unions, ruling they were not criminal conspiracies. Muller v. Oregon upheld a law limiting women's work hours, supporting state regulation of labor conditions. Option C is incorrect because Muller v. Oregon does not give businesses rights to challenge unions. Options A and B are incorrect as they mischaracterize the cases' focus.
Rationale: Both Commonwealth v. Hunt and Muller v. Oregon address labor issues. Commonwealth v. Hunt legalized labor unions, ruling they were not criminal conspiracies. Muller v. Oregon upheld a law limiting women's work hours, supporting state regulation of labor conditions. Option C is incorrect because Muller v. Oregon does not give businesses rights to challenge unions. Options A and B are incorrect as they mischaracterize the cases' focus.
Question 5
What was the impact of the Brandenburg v. Ohio ruling on an individual's right to freedom of speech?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), though not detailed in the document, is a landmark case refining the 'clear and present danger' test from Schenck. It ruled that speech is protected unless it incites imminent lawless action and is likely to produce such action, thus expanding free speech protections compared to Schenck's broader restrictions. This allows more freedom, making A correct. It did not create restrictions (B), affect only racial speech (D), or have no effect (C).
Rationale: Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969), though not detailed in the document, is a landmark case refining the 'clear and present danger' test from Schenck. It ruled that speech is protected unless it incites imminent lawless action and is likely to produce such action, thus expanding free speech protections compared to Schenck's broader restrictions. This allows more freedom, making A correct. It did not create restrictions (B), affect only racial speech (D), or have no effect (C).