World History, Grades 9-12

S6

Multiple Choice

A multiple-choice question

consists of a stem and a set of

alternatives. The stem usually

is in the form of a question or

an incomplete sentence. One

of the alternatives correctly

answers the question or

completes the sentence.

Read the stem carefully

and try to answer the

question or complete the

sentence before looking at

the alternatives.

Look for key words in the

stem. They may direct you

to the correct answer.

Read each alternative with

the stem. Don’t make your

final decision on the

correct answer until you

have read all of the

alternatives.

Eliminate alternatives that

you know are wrong.

Look for modifiers to help

you rule out incorrect

alternatives.

Carefully consider

questions that include all

of the above as an

alternative.

Take great care with

questions that are stated

negatively.

1. The Sahara is mostly

A.scattered with rocks and gravel.

B.made up of sand dunes.

C.located south of the equator.

D.covered with tall grasses and bushes.

2. Over hundreds of years, the Bantu people migrated from
   West Africa to

A.all of North Africa.

B.East and South Africa.

C.South and Southwest Asia.

D.every continent except Antarctica.

3. The traditional griots of West Africa passed on the
   histories of their people by

A.writing books.

B.painting murals.

C.telling stories.

D.all of the above

4. Which of the following is notone of
   the trading kingdoms of West Africa?

A.Mali

B.Songhai

C.Ghana

D.Aksum

answers:1 (A); 2 (B); 3 (C); 4 (D)

You can improve your test-taking skills by practicing the strategies

discussed in this section. First, read the tips on the left-hand page.

Then apply them to the practice items on the right-hand page.

Part 2: Test-Taking Strategies and Practice

alternatives

stem Mostlyis a key word

here. Changing it to

partly would alter the

sentence and call for a

different answer.

You can eliminate Dif

you remember that the

Sahara is a desert.

Absolute words, such

as all, never, always,

every,and only,often

signal an incorrect

alternative.

If you select this answer,

be sure that all of the

alternatives are correct.

Eliminate incorrect alternatives

by identifying those that are

West African trading kingdoms.

STRATEGIES