1. The United States has long considered itself “city on a hill” because
a) it won the Cold War.
b) it is an aristocratic but not monarchical state.
2. According to the text, the United States emerged as the world’s greatest power after
a) the American Revolution
b) the US Civil War
3. In economic and social rankings, the United States
a) places low on the Social Progress Index, but ranks in the top three in the Global
Competitiveness report.
b) places right behind countries like Sweden and ahead of European countries like France
and Germany on most indicators.
4. The Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia” was/has been
a) successful in reining in China’s military spending.
d) responsible for increasing tensions between Japan and the United States.
5. The United States has the largest economy based on all of the following EXCEPT
a) abundant natural resources
b) well-developed infrastructure
6. Which of these is an example of the United States’ highly market-orientated approach
to economics and government?
a) the US Postal Service
b) the Veteran’s Health Administration
7. Which is NOT a reason why the U.S. economy is “too big to fail?”
a) The dollar is the most important reserve currency
d) The U.S. is one of the world’s most important trading partners.
8. Important components of the American dream include
a) the importance of the collective
b) all people do not have equal opportunities
9. American concepts of meritocracy are
a) evident in political, legal, and social debates about immigration.
b) enshrined in the US Constitution.
10. What do the terms “mosaic”, “salad”, and “kaleidoscope” refer to about American
society?
a) that the United States is a cultural “melting pot” which leads to assimilation into a
single national character
b) that there are important economic inequalities in the United States that the American
dream overlook
11. Compared to the US, Canada has
c) a stricter death penalty
d) a higher rate of gun ownership
12. What percentage of Canadian exports go to the United States?
a) Almost 100%
d) Only about 35%
13. The top export partners of the US include
a) Canada, Brazil, China, and Japan
b) Canada, Mexico, China, and France
14. The water consumption in the United States is
c) three times the global average for individual consumers
d) All of these.
15. The impact of global climate change on North America could mean
a) the southwestern U.S. becomes drier
b) sea level rise inundates Florida
16. According to figures from 2010 and 2014, the United States has a population that
a) is over 80% white.
b) is over 80% rural.