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 5 of 5

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

1CommunityCommunity and civic reasoning: which term fits this description? A duty or expectation connected to a role or action.

A. ResponsibilityB. AccountabilityC. DemocracyD. Citizen

2CommunityA project has a budget of 100 units and two stated components cost 35 and 45. What remains?

Your answer

3CommunityWhich 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

4Economics basicsA town expects revenue of $20 million and plans to spend $200 million this year. What is the result?

A. a surplus of $180 millionB. a surplus of $220 millionC. a deficit of $180 millionD. a deficit of $220 million

5Economics basicsLena has one free Saturday afternoon and ranks the options: 1) playing soccer with friends, 2) going to a movie, 3) practising piano. Lena chooses playing soccer with friends. What is the opportunity cost of this choice?

A. playing soccer with friendsB. going to a movieC. practising pianoD. nothing, because the afternoon was free

6Economics basicsAn excellent harvest produces many more apples than usual. Assuming nothing else changes, what will most likely happen to the price?

A. It will most likely rise.B. It will most likely fall.C. It will stay exactly the same.

7Government & citizenshipThe Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination. Which group of Charter rights is this?

A. equality rightsB. mobility rightsC. democratic rightsD. official languages of Canada

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

A. consideration by the SenateB. report stage

9Government & citizenshipWhat is the minimum voting age in Canadian federal elections?

A. 18B. 21C. 25D. 16

10Messages & sourcesWhich statement is an opinion? • Summer is the best season. • The store opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.

A. The store opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.B. Summer is the best season.

11Messages & sourcesWhich persuasion technique does this advertisement mainly use? “Pop singer Mia Ray says these are the only headphones she uses.”

A. celebrity endorsementB. emotional appealC. bandwagonD. scarcity or urgency

12Messages & sourcesA post says “a study proves” something. What should you look for?

A. Who did the study, where it was published, and whether other studies agreeB. Whether the post has many sharesC. Whether the post uses the word “proves”D. Whether the post is short

From Grade 8

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

13Messages & sources (Grade 8)Is this statement a fact or an opinion? “The new mural downtown is beautiful.”

A. an opinionB. a fact

14Community (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.

15Government & citizenship (Grade 8)What is the capital city of Quebec, where its legislature meets?

A. VictoriaB. HalifaxC. Quebec CityD. Iqaluit