Social Studies Assessments
Fourth Grade
H3.0.1 Use historical inquiry questions to investigate the development of Michigan’s major economic activities (agriculture, mining, manufacturing, lumbering, tourism, technology, and research) from statehood to present.
• What happened?
• When did it happen?
• Who was involved?
• How and why did it happen?
• How does it relate to other events or issues in the past, in the present, or in the future?
• What is its significance?
1. Michigan became a leading producer of automobiles due to which of the following factors?
A. Commercial logging harvested white pine in the 1860s.
B. Oil and natural gas fields were discovered in the late 1960s.
C. Commercial mining of copper and iron started in the 1840s.
D. The first European settlers mostly trapped and traded fur.
Answer: C
2. Michigan became a leading grower of fruit due to which of the following natural resources?
A. Forests and streams
B. Oil and natural gas
C. Iron and copper
D. Climate and soil
Answer: D
3. Michigan is a leading state in the ownership of boats and in the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. People in Michigan hunt different kinds of wildlife like white-tailed deer and ducks. The Great Lakes are an excellent place for fishing. People also fish on the inland lakes and stocked trout streams.
The passage describes the natural resources used in
A. manufacturing wood products.
B. harvesting different fruit crops.
C. developing computer technology.
D. attracting tourists to Michigan.
Answer: D
4. Which Michigan company makes over 100 different products for consumers all over the world and began in 1906 by producing Toasted Corn Flakes?
A. Better Made Snack Foods
B. Cole’s Quality Foods
C. Kellogg Company
D. Michigan Sugar Company
Answer: C
H3.0.2 Use primary and secondary sources to explain how migration and immigration affected and continue to affect the growth of Michigan.
1. “There is not a rentable house to be had anywhere in this whole city of more than 10,000 homes.” —Flint Journal, September 3, 1915
What was the leading factor for Flint’s population rise between 1900 and 1920?
A. Jobs in the cherry orchards
B. Jobs in the tourist industry
C. Jobs in the auto industry
D. Jobs in the copper mines
Answer: C
2. In 1907, Michigan businesses placed newspaper ads about the jobs available in Michigan. Thousands of immigrants came to the state. They worked side by side with migrants from rural Michigan and the Southern states.
What impact did these workers have on Michigan’s growth?
A. They helped find new land for agriculture.
B. They caused Michigan’s economy to drop.
C. They helped Michigan’s businesses succeed.
D. They took jobs away from American citizens.
Answer: C
3. Thousands of European immigrated to the Upper Peninsula in the mid 1800s. Which of the following resources brought the immigrants to the Upper Peninsula?
A. Apples
B. White pine
C. Copper
D. Lakes
Answer: C
4. Between 1910 and 1970, about seven million African Americans migrated away from the South. They went to the North, Midwest, and Western United States. This was called the “Great Migration.” They came to Michigan mostly to
A. settle new territories.
B. vacation on the Great Lakes.
C. work in the industrial cities.
D. join the furniture industry.
Answer: C
H3.0.3 Describe how the relationship between the location of natural resources and the location of industries (after 1837) affected and continues to affect the location and growth of Michigan cities.
1. Michigan’s businesses were impacted by the building of the Soo Locks in the mid 1800s by which of the following?
A. It helped them get more workers.
B. It made them create more goods.
C. It made them stop using boats.
D. It helped them ship more goods.
Answer: D
2. The cities of Marquette and Escanaba first developed
A. as mine industry ports.
B. to support agriculture.
C. to support the auto industry.
D. as furniture-making centers.
Answer: A
3. What was the main reason that Michigan’s furniture industry developed in the Grand Rapids area?
A. Most immigrants settled in the Grand Rapids area.
B. It was close to coal and copper mining operations.
C. Most of Michigan’s carpenters lived in Grand Rapids.
D. It was close to the Grand River and Michigan’s forests.
Answer: D
4. Which of the following natural resources caused the growth of Michigan’s auto industry?
A. Timber
B. Rivers
C. Salt
D. Iron
Answer: D
H3.0.4 Draw upon stories, photos, artifacts, and other primary sources to compare the life of people in towns and cities in Michigan and in the Great Lakes region during a variety of time periods from 1837 to the present (e.g., 1837-1900, 1900-1950, 1950-2000).
1. In 1943, a riot in Detroit resulted in violence between whites and African Americans. In which other decade did a similar event occur?
A. 1980s
B. 1950s
C. 1960s
D. 1970s
Answer: C
2. In the early 1920s and 1930s, Michigan’s cities and towns suffered due to the nationwide economic problem called the Great Depression. In what way did the Great Depression affect the people in the towns and the cities?
A. Many people’s stocks made a lot more money.
B. People had extra money to spend on treats.
C. Many had little money, and some lost their jobs.
D. Some lost money, but most got better paying jobs.
Answer: C
3. From the chart, what best describes Michigan cities from 1900-1950?
Towns 1900-1950 / Cities 1900-1950· Most people are farmers
· School attendance affected by harvest schedule
· Community is small and rural
· New inventions are in agricultural area / · Automobile products are developed
· Most people work in factories or mills
· Community is made of different cultures
· People come for jobs
A. The towns stopped farming in the 1940s.
B. Towns continued to work in agriculture.
C. Only cities were trying modern ideas.
D. The cities were greatly affected by factories.
Answer: D
4. In the 1830s-1900s, Michigan towns were small farming communities. During this time period, Michigan’s cities were becoming
A. centers for hunting.
B. huge shipping areas.
C. large industrial areas.
D. trade posts for furs.
Answer: C
H3.0.5 Use visual data and informational text or primary accounts to compare a major Michigan economic activity today with that same or a related activity in the past.
1. The chart shows Michigan’s forest area over the past 10,000 years. What happened near the beginning of the 1900s?
A. The height of the conservation movement
B. The end of the great logging era
C. The end of the conservation movement
D. The height of the great logging era
Answer: B
2. The photo was taken of a manufacturing plant in Detroit, Michigan in 2004. The photo is trying to show how the
A. automobile factories are very full and active.
B. workers don’t take care of their buildings.
C. manufacturing industry has lost strength.
D. company is growing and competing.
Answer: C
3. Between 1845 and 1916 the area known as Copper Country was the nation’s leading producer of copper. Most mines closed during the Great Depression but re-opened during World War II. Most closed again after the war. The last major copper mine, the White Pine mine, closed in 1995.
Why did the copper mines open during World War II?
A. The price of copper went up.
B. Miners found other minerals.
C. The price of mining went up
D. Miners found more copper.
Answer: A
4. In 1936, workers from several General Motors automobile factories staged the Flint sit down strike. Today many workers still go on strike. Why do workers go on strike?
A. To produce more automobiles for the company.
B. To make workers meet the company’s demands.
C. To give the workers a much needed break.
D. To make the company meet worker demands.
Answer: D
H3.0.6 Use a variety of primary and secondary sources to construct a historical narrative about the beginnings of the automobile industry and the labor movement in Michigan.
1. Many people came to Michigan to take advantage of Michigan’s Automation Alley. What groups would most likely be involved in Michigan’s Automation Alley?
A. Fruit and vegetable farmers
B. Businesses and entrepreneurs
C. Michigan’s universities
D. Mineral and oil miners
Answer: B
H3.0.7 Use case studies or stories to describe the ideas and actions of individuals involved in the Underground Railroad in Michigan and in the Great Lakes region.
1. George De Baptiste lived in Canada and was important in the history of the Underground Railroad. Which is the most likely way he helped escaped slaves?
A. He owned a hotel that hid runaway slaves.
B. He helped by hiding many slaves in his barn.
C. He took slaves to northern states on a train.
D. He bought a ship to take slaves to Canada.
Answer: D
2. Many slaves traveled through Michigan on their way to Canada. Why did slaves want to travel to Canada?
A. Because the weather was better there.
B. Because Canada did not allow slavery.
C. So they could work on a different farm.
D. So they could learn to speak French.
Answer: B
3. Why did African Americans come to Michigan after the Civil War?
A. Education and land
B. The Underground Railroad
C. Freedom from slavery
D. Farm or industrial work
Answer: D
H3.0.8 Describe past and current threats to Michigan’s natural resources; describe how Michigan worked in the past and continues to work today to protect its natural resources.
1. The Michigan government gives incentives (rewards) to industries that protect the environment. The graph shows the amount of money given to certain places and problems. Which area gets the most money?
A. Waterfronts
B. State parks
C. Local park
D. Brownfields
Answer: D
2. In 1976, Michigan voters approved the Bottle Bill. This bill banned throwaway containers for beer and pop. Why was this bill created?
A. To help industry
B. To use resources
C. To fight pollution
D. To attract tourists
Answer: C
3. In 2008, Michigan’s government started a plan to preserve the Great Lakes. Why was this important?
A. The politicians wanted to get re-elected.
B. The lakes were threatened by pollution.
C. The government threatened the lakes.
D. The lakes were not being used enough.
Answer: B
H3.0.9 Create timelines (using decades after 1930) to sequence and describe important events in Michigan history; annotate with connections to the past and impact on the future.
1. Between 1910 and 1970, about seven million African Americans migrated away from the South. This was called the “Great Migration.” Most came to Michigan to
A. settle new territories.
B. join the furniture industry.
C. work in the industrial cities.
D. vacation on the Great Lakes.
Answer: C
2. In the early 1920s and 1930s, Michigan’s cities and towns suffered due to the nationwide economic problem called the Great Depression. How did the Great Depression affect the people of Michigan?
A. People had extra money to spend on treats.
B. Many people’s stocks made a lot more money.
C. Many had little money, and some lost their jobs.
D. Some lost money, but most got better paying jobs.
Answer: C
3. During the Civil Rights Movement, in the 1960s, how were the actions of the people and communities different in Michigan’s towns than in its cities?
A. Only big cities accepted government help.
B. Towns had to deal with union factory riots.
C. Protests could be held only in the towns.
D. Most race marches were in cities.
Answer: D
4. The manufacturing industry slowed down in Michigan’s cities and towns in the late 1980s and 1990s. Which of the following statements below most likely occurred?
A. Community centers began outreach programs.
B. Schools began to teach the same material.
C. People began to travel and support the arts.
D. Employment went down and crime rose.
Answer: D
G1.0.1 Identify questions geographers ask in examining the United States (e.g., Where it is? What is it like there? How is it connected to other places?).
1. This is a map of North America. Which country on the map is represented by the number 12?
A. Europe
B. Mexico
C. Africa
D. United States
Answer: D
2. This is a photo of the Grand Canyon, carved out by the Colorado River. The canyon is located in which region of the United States?
A. Midwest
B. Southeast
C. Southwest
D. Northeast
Answer: C
3. What do the dots on this map represent?
A. They show major cities in Georgia.
B. They show major roadways in Georgia.
C. They show population numbers in Georgia.
D. They show the rivers in Georgia.
Answer: A
G1.0.2 Use cardinal and intermediate directions to describe the relative location of significant places in the United States.
1. What direction would you travel if you wanted to go from Houston to Austin?
A. South
B. East
C. West
D. North
Answer: C
2. On the map, Nevada is marked by number 7. California is marked by number 5. Nevada is _____ of California.
A. west
B. east
C. south
D. north
Answer: B
3. In what direction would you travel to get to Kentucky from Michigan?
A. West
B. North
C. East
D. South
Answer: D
4. Which of the following is a state located in the Midwestern United States?
A. Massachusetts
B. Louisiana
C. Michigan
D. Arizona
Answer: C
G1.0.3 Identify and describe the characteristics and purposes (e.g., measure distance, determine relative location, classify a region) of a variety of geographic tools and technologies (e.g., globe, map, satellite image).
1. Which of the following cities is farthest from El Paso?
A. Dallas
B. El Paso
C. Houston
D. Austin
Answer: C
2. Amanda is going snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains with her family. Which region will she be visiting?
A. Northeast
B. West
C. Central
D. Southeast
Answer: B
3. Tom plans to drive down 15th street to get to the highway. He will drive from point “A” to point “B”. How many blocks will he drive?