Stimulus Based Multiple Choice Questions - …images.pcmac.org/.../Stimulus_Based_Multiple_Choice_Question_Exa… · Don’t overthink the multiple choice questions! ... industrial

Stimulus Based Multiple Choice Questions

Stimulus Based Multiple Choice Questions: A Quick Rundown

1. The APUSH exam will feature 55 SBMC questions. You will have 55 minutes to complete 55 questions. • That means you have to read smart and fast! You do not have much

time to nit-pick certain quotes.2. SBMC question can be quotes, pictures, graphs, charts, or cartoons.3. Always begin by searching for the year that the document was created.

• Think about what was happening around that particular year!4. Look for clues about the time period and the author’s background.5. Be aware of what the question is asking you!

• (i.e. most closely resembles, most closely resulted, which of the following supports the author’s argument, most directly reflect, most directly support, directly led to, etc.)

6. Eliminate the answers that are obviously wrong!

Don’t overthink the multiple choice questions! These questions are usually connected with the stimulus and with each other in some sort of way!

• For example, three questions could be tied to one stimulus… An example you’ll see later will be voting rights for African-Americans.

When was this written? Who wrote it? What was going on during the time

period it was written?

Read the first prompting question. Underline the verb phrase (action task) and any qualifiers (limiters).

• The verb phrase tells you what to look for.

• The qualifiers narrow what you are looking for.

Example1: What is the main idea in the first paragraph.

Example 2: Which of the following statements best describes the explorer’s needs?

Example 3: Which of the following is NOT a reason for the industrial revolution as stated in this passage?

• In the 3rd example, what tricky answer might they include knowing one of the qualifiers is “as stated in THIS passage?”

Some key Verbs and Qualifiers• Example Verbs (action task)

• Reflects• Explain • Negate• Evaluate • Affect• Cause • Identify • Summarize

• Qualifiers (limiters)• Most clearly• Best• Only (x) idea• Not• Except• In line #1• when

Don’t know a word?• 1. Context:

oPretend the word was replaced with a blank spot. What word makes sense there after reading the prior and later sentences?

o“We asked why they did not sow maize; they replied that that they were not doing so in order not to lose the crop”

• 2. Roots:

oDo you know any similar words that have the same roots? Maybe they share similar meaning too.

o“until there had been copious rain.” (ous= full of)

Harvest? Pick? Grow?

Did any passage in the quote say anything about taking land?

Did any passage in the quote say anything

about removing people?

Did any passage in the quote say anything about

promoting limiting immigration?

A is correct—women tried to limit alcohol abuse—the

Progressives Era also tried to reform society for the better!

Consolidate—to bring large corporations

together.

The people referenced in the passage were not suggesting that the

government be changed extensively.

The Progressives in the passage wanted to help

others and not limit immigration.

B is correct—the Progressive movement inspired local

campaigns to fight corruption and poverty.

Is this related to the original quote?

Was there anything related to regulating

businesses in his argument?

Was the passage about government reform?

A is correct—we are talking about moral reform in America.

B is correct—the Radical Republicans would be in

favor of African-Americans voting.