Grade 9 Social studies diagnostic

15 questions on economics basics, government & citizenship, messages & sources and community, plus 3 from Grade 8. Answer what you can, then check your answers to see which topics are secure and what to practise next.

15 questions4 topicsAbout 15 minutesSet 4 of 5

Skip a question if you do not know the answer. It is better than guessing, because it shows what to practise.

1CommunityWhich action makes a decision more transparent?

A. Hiding the criteria until after the resultB. Deleting disagreementC. Publishing the criteria, evidence and reasonsD. Reporting only a slogan

2CommunityCommunity and civic reasoning: which term fits this description? A person recognized as a member of a political community under its rules.

A. CompromiseB. CitizenC. RuleD. Consensus

3CommunityA survey is sent only to one club. Can it automatically represent an entire town?

A. No.B. Yes, always.C. Only if the club agrees unanimously.

4Economics basicsLena has one free Saturday afternoon and ranks the options: 1) visiting a grandparent, 2) practising piano, 3) working a shift at the bakery. Lena chooses visiting a grandparent. What is the opportunity cost of this choice?

A. practising pianoB. working a shift at the bakeryC. nothing, because the afternoon was freeD. visiting a grandparent

5Economics basicsA town expects revenue of $75 million and plans to spend $144 million this year. What is the result?

A. a deficit of $219 millionB. a deficit of $69 millionC. a surplus of $219 millionD. a surplus of $69 million

6Economics basicsA toy goes out of fashion, and far fewer people want it. Which change does this describe?

A. Demand decreased.B. Supply decreased.C. Demand increased.D. Supply increased.

7Government & citizenshipIn a class election, Gus got 27 votes, Eli got 11 votes and Chen got 11 votes. What percentage of all votes did Gus get? Round to one decimal place.

Your answer%

8Government & citizenshipA government bill starts in the House of Commons. Which stage comes first: second reading or report stage?

A. second readingB. report stage

9Government & citizenshipIn Canada, which level of government is mainly responsible for printing money (currency)?

A. municipal (local)B. federalC. provincial or territorial

10Messages & sourcesWhich persuasion technique does this advertisement mainly use? “Sale ends at midnight tonight!”

A. emotional appealB. bandwagonC. scarcity or urgencyD. celebrity endorsement

11Messages & sourcesWhich statement is a fact that could be checked? • That movie was boring. • Earth travels around the Sun.

A. That movie was boring.B. Earth travels around the Sun.

12Messages & sourcesWhich headline is most likely designed to provoke emotion rather than inform?

A. “Province reports 3% rise in apprenticeship registrations”B. “You Won’t BELIEVE What This Town Did!!!”C. “Library extends weekend hours starting in May”D. “City council approves new bike lanes on Main Street”

From Grade 8

These questions check skills from the grade below, so gaps can be spotted early.

13Community (Grade 8)Which is a relevant reason to hear different users of a shared park?

A. They must all agree immediately.B. They may have different needs and information.C. They remove every trade-off.D. They make evidence unnecessary.

14Government & citizenship (Grade 8)Victoria is the capital of which province or territory?

A. British ColumbiaB. YukonC. Prince Edward IslandD. Alberta

15Messages & sources (Grade 8)Is this statement a fact or an opinion? “The new mural downtown is beautiful.”

A. an opinionB. a fact