Grade 8 - World Geography SOL Practice Test — Set 2 of 3
Set 2 of 3 — 50 more free Grade 8 - World Geography SOL practice questions from official VDOE released tests.
1. Which activity depends primarily on polar map projections?
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Answer: B — Airline navigation
2. Monsoons are most commonly found in —
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Answer: H — southern Asia
3. A map of the United States shows four numbered states with population percent change categories as follows: State 1: population increase between 13.2% and 24.9% State 2: population increase between 25.0% and 49.9% State 3: population increase between 0.0% and 13.1% State 4: population increase between 50.0% and 191.0% According to this information, which numbered state has the highest population growth rate?
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Answer: B — 2
4. Which city is located closest to the prime meridian (0° longitude)?
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Answer: G — London, England
5. Which map would be the most useful in determining the precipitation levels in Turkey?
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Answer: D — Climate map
6. What are the climate characteristics of low-latitude nations?
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Answer: G — Warm summers and warm winters
7. A region is described as having sparse vegetation, little rainfall, and plants adapted to conserve water. In which climate would this type of vegetation be found?
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Answer: D — Arid
8. The coordinate location 30° North latitude, 120° East longitude is located within which continent?
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Answer: F — Asia
9. Which source would provide the most accurate information about a group’s culture?
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Answer: B — Field work
10. Which South American country does NOT border the Pacific Ocean?
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Answer: J — Brazil
11. Distortion is a problem when mapping Earth because —
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Answer: A — Earth’s curved surface is transferred to a flat surface
12. The Korean Peninsula is divided along approximately the 38° North latitude line. This peninsula has been divided as the result of —
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Answer: G — a political dispute
13. Which term do geographers use to classify an area with unifying physical characteristics?
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Answer: C — Region
14. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Dome of the Rock, and the Western Wall are all located in the same city. Which city contains these three religious monuments?
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Answer: D — Jerusalem
15. During the time of Christopher Columbus, which continent would have been most accurately mapped?
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Answer: F — Europe
16. A table lists major centers of culture and trade as follows: Europe: London, Paris North America: New York, Los Angeles Which of these is a correct addition to the table?
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Answer: D — Toronto in North America
17. In the 1990s, ethnic diversity as a divisive force best described conditions in which country?
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Answer: J — Yugoslavia
18. Which religion is most widely practiced within the regions of North Africa and Southwest Asia?
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Answer: A — Islam
19. Pakistan was created to address the conflict between which two religious groups?
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Answer: J — Muslims and Hindus
20. A region is described by the following characteristics: River transportation impeded by waterfalls and rapids Many landlocked countries Large numbers of mineral and diamond mines Which region is described by this list?
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Answer: B — Sub-Saharan Africa
21. Kurdistan is an example of which type of cultural region?
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Answer: D — Ethnic
22. A region in the United States is characterized by frost-free winters, humid summers, agriculture, and fishing. Which landform is most closely identified with these characteristics?
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Answer: H — Gulf Coast
23. Which religious group is associated with worshiping in mosques?
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Answer: B — Muslims
24. Which factor explains why a number of animal species are unique to Australia?
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Answer: J — Geographic isolation
25. A map of South Asia shows a darker-shaded area labeled “Kashmir,” located between India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China. The darker-shaded region is a —
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Answer: C — disputed territory
26. Which list contains only examples of cultural regions?
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Answer: J — Chinatowns, Wheat Belt, Francophone world
27. In Southeast Asia, the main agricultural product is —
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Answer: C — rice
28. Which factor is most directly related to the level of economic development of a country?
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Answer: F — Urbanization
29. A process is shown in which particles are transported by water, then accumulate on a landmass, resulting in the growth of that landmass. Which process is described?
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Answer: B — Deposition
30. Which landforms are most likely affected by the creation of polders (land reclaimed from the sea)?
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Answer: J — Lowlands
31. A line graph titled “Vehicles in Service in the United States” shows a steady increase in the number of vehicles from 1970 through 2000, measured in millions. This graph supports the conclusion that the United States is reliant on the growth of —
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Answer: D — road construction
32. Industrialization and economic development affect human settlement patterns by —
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Answer: G — enabling people to live farther from natural resources
33. A table compares Botswana and Angola and shows that Angola has a much higher infant mortality rate and a much lower percentage of births attended by skilled professionals. Based on this data, what is one reason the infant mortality rate is higher in Angola than in Botswana?
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Answer: C — Fewer births are attended by skilled professionals in Angola.
34. A map of Southeast Asia shows that Malaysia includes areas where Islam, Buddhism, and tribal religions are practiced. According to this information, in which of these countries are three different religions practiced?
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Answer: J — Malaysia
35. A bar graph titled “Foreign Aid Donations by Country, 2004” shows that countries such as the United States, Japan, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom donate the most aid. These nations are able to make these donations because they are —
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Answer: B — the wealthiest in the world
36. A map of Africa highlights a darker-shaded region in northern Africa near the Sahara Desert. Which geographic factor has most contributed to the environmental strain on this area?
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Answer: G — Desertification
37. Which natural hazard is most likely to cause crop failures in the Great Plains region of the United States?
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Answer: A — Drought
38. The Commonwealth of Nations primarily consists of former —
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Answer: H — British colonies
39. A map shows a conservation district within Ferry County, Washington, in the Upper Columbia River Basin. What is the main function of this darker-shaded region?
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Answer: A — Resource protection
40. Mecca and Varanasi are cities that are important destinations for religious travelers. What do these cities have in common?
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Answer: H — Pilgrimage destinations
41. What was the primary reason for establishing the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?
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Answer: A — Regulating global market prices of oil
42. A list describes places that serve as hubs for transportation and communication, centers for news and entertainment, and locations of corporate headquarters. Which phrase best completes the title of this list?
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Answer: F — Urban Areas
43. Which statement refers to the geographic situation of Timbuktu, Mali?
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Answer: B — Commercial center along Trans-Sahara trade routes
44. Which economic behavior is best demonstrated by ghost towns?
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Answer: F — When resources are exhausted, people move elsewhere.
45. Chinatown in Los Angeles, California, is an example of a regional spatial division based primarily on —
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Answer: C — cultural similarities
46. Which factor is least important in selecting the location for a factory?
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Answer: F — Access to schools
47. A chart titled “Shares of Economic Activity by Major Industry for Country X” shows that manufacturing is the largest sector, followed by agriculture, with services the smallest. Which list correctly ranks this country’s levels of economic activity from largest to smallest?
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Answer: C — Secondary, Primary, Tertiary
48. Which change occurred as a result of industrialization?
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Answer: F — Factory systems replaced cottage industries.
49. An excerpt notes rising oil and gasoline prices, increasing demand in countries such as India and China, and research into hydrogen-based fuels. What conclusion can be drawn from this excerpt?
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Answer: B — There is competition for resources among countries.
50. Coal, iron ore, petroleum, and timber are natural resources. Which factor most discourages the use of these types of resources?
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Answer: H — Environmental issues
Grade 8 - World Geography SOL practice test — FAQ
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Across all sets, there are 108 Grade 8 - World Geography practice questions drawn from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. This set has 50.
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The questions are adapted from official VDOE released SOL tests for Grade 8 - World Geography. SOL Prep is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.
Practice items adapted from Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. Practice items are provided for study purposes and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.