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AP Reading Passage
AP Reading Passage
Congress
Name:_________________________________Date: _______
In the United States we have a democratic government that is
composed of three branches: the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch,
The Role of the U.S. Congress
and the Legislative Branch. The President and Vice President make up
Multiple Choice Questions
the Executive Branch; the Supreme Court is the Judicial Branch; and the
Legislative Branch is composed of the U.S. Congress. Legislative means
Circle the correct answer.
that the Congress has the power to legislate, that is, make laws for the
country.
1. The U.S. Congress is in which branch of the government?
When the U.S. government was first defined by the U.S.
a. Executive
Constitution, which was written in 1787, the authors of the document
b. Judicial
wanted checks and balances in the new government. Each of the three
c. Legislative
branches has power to keep the leaders of the other two branches from
d. All of the above
seizing more power in the government than the Constitution allows. One
2. Checks and balances affect which branch of the government?
important role of the Congress is to make sure that the President and
a. Executive
the Supreme Court perform their duties. The Congress makes laws at
b. Judicial
the federal level, laws that affect everyone in the country. States also
Reading Passage
c. Legislative
enact laws that affect just the citizens of that state.Under the
d. All of the above
Constitution the President cannot create a new law or change existing
3. Congress makes laws at what level?
laws. Only the Congress has that power.
a. Federal
The U.S. Congress has two parts: the House of Representatives
b. State
and the Senate. All members of Congress are elected by the people of
c. County
the state they represent. Every state has two Senators but the number
d. City
of Representative it has depends on the state’s population. Larger states
4. How many Senators does each state have?
have more Representatives. Senators serve for six years and
a. One
Representatives serve for just two years. For a law to be enacted it has
b. Two
to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and
c. Three
be approved by the President. Should the President veto a law, Congress
d. Based on population of the state
can override the veto if two-thirds of the members vote to do so.
5. The income tax rate citizens pay to the federal government is
Congress has a long list of duties. An important duty is to handle
determined by
the country’s finances. Congress creates the budget that says how much
a. The Supreme Court
money goes to each department of the government, like for roads and
b. Only the Senate
National Parks. Congress also controls how taxes are levied to pay for
c. Only the House of Representatives
everything. Congress is responsible for maintaining the U.S. military and
d. The Congress
is the only part of the government that can declare war on another
6. Which of the following is controlled by Congress?
country. Other duties include regulating dealings among businesses in
a. Declaring war
different states and other countries.
b. The federal budget
c. Maintaining the military
d. All of the above
South America is the fourth largest of the seven continents. The Geography of South America
South America is roughly triangular in shape with the tip of the triangle Multiple Choice Questions
at the
southernmost point of South America. The northern one-third of South Circle the correct answer.
America lies on the equator making the climate hot. The continent is
almost completely surrounded by ocean except for its narrow connection 1. Which geometric figure best describes the shape of South America?
in the north with the continent of North America. The Pacific Ocean lies a. Triangle
to the west of South America and the Atlantic Ocean makes the eastern b. Rectangle
border of the continent. The Caribbean Sea, a subdivision of the Atlantic c. Square
Ocean, makes the northern border. d. Circle
Cape Horn is considered to be the southernmost point of South 2. Which of the following oceans borders on South America?
America. The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet off the coast of Cape a. Atlantic Ocean
Horn causing some of the roughest sea conditions on earth. Many sailing b. Indian Ocean
ships never completed their journey around Cape Horn but modern c. Arctic Ocean
vessels are better equipped to handle the challenge. The Scotia Sea d. All of the above
which lies between Cape Horn and the continent of Antarctica is 3. Which statement best describes the northern areas of South America?
considered to be partly in the Atlantic Ocean and partly in the Southern a. The Andes Mountains stretch east and west across this area.
Ocean. b. The Amazon River drains this area.
The mighty Amazon River of South America is the second longest c. This area is an active volcano and earthquake zone.
river in the world, slightly shorter than the Nile, but the Amazon is the d. All of the above
largest river in the world in terms of the size of its drainage basin and 4. The equator runs through what part of South America?
the volume of water it carries. The Amazon River, which runs roughly a. North
west to east, is an important part of the rainforest ecosystem that b. South
dominates the northern areas of South America. c. East
The Andes Mountains extend for about 4,300 north and south d. West
across nearly the entire length of the eastern edge of South America, 5. Why is Cape Horn famous?
making the Andesthe longest mountain chain on any continent. The a. It is the tallest mountain in South America.
Andes are second only to the Himalaya Mountains of Asia in height. b. It is where the Amazon River meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Andes, with a height of c. It is where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.
22,841 feet. The Andes are a relatively wide chain of mountains, over d. It is a famous volcano.
400 miles across at their widest point. However, some the mountains of 6. What kind of ecosystem surrounds the Amazon River?
the Andes are active volcanoes. The areas where tectonic plates meet a. Grassland
under the Andes are subject to earthquakes, some of which can be b. Tundra
severe. c. Deciduous Forest
d. Rainforest