Globalization, Technology & Unequal Connection — Practice · Grade 8 Social Studies

Chapter: Recent History, Global Connections & Citizenship

What this practice covers

By the end of Globalization, Technology & Unequal Connection you should be able to:

6 questions, written answer, each with a worked explanation.

Vocabulary used: context, corroboration, interpretation, supply chain, digital divide.

Problem 1

Why does a product label not reveal the whole supply chain?
Answer and explanation

Materials, components, design, transport, and services may come from many places. The label describes a particular classification, not every contribution.

Problem 2

Why is a device count an incomplete access measure?
Answer and explanation

It omits reliable service, affordability, skills, language, and accessibility. Effective use depends on more than owning hardware.

Problem 3

Does a widely shared post become reliable because many people repeat it?
Answer and explanation

No. Repetition can follow the same origin. Independent evidence and context establish reliability, not the share count.

Problem 4

How can two reasonable evaluations differ?
Answer and explanation

They may prioritize different outcomes or time horizons. Each should accurately describe evidence, explain trade-offs, and acknowledge relevant counterevidence.

Problem 5

Illustrative teaching chain: design occurs in country A, components in B, assembly in C, and sales in D. A price reduction helps buyers, while an older assembly site loses work. Labor standards are unspecified. Explain two different effects and identify evidence needed before judging the chain’s overall impact.
Answer and explanation

Cheaper goods and lost jobs can both be documented without contradiction. A broader judgment requires distribution and conditions across the chain, not an assumption that one price establishes everyone’s welfare.

Map distinct stages and participants.

Separate consumer prices from employment outcomes.

Ask about wages, working conditions, environmental effects, and adjustment support.

Response criteria

  • Describe the historical context and institutions accurately.
  • Use relevant evidence and explain how it supports the claim.
  • Represent perspectives without stereotypes or invented testimony.
  • Identify a limitation, counterevidence, or information still needed.

Problem 6

Two websites use the same uncited graph. What should a learner do before treating them as corroboration?
Answer and explanation

Find the original data and definitions, check the date and method, and seek independent evidence. Duplicate graphics may have only one source.

Response criteria

  • Describe the historical context and institutions accurately.
  • Use relevant evidence and explain how it supports the claim.
  • Represent perspectives without stereotypes or invented testimony.
  • Identify a limitation, counterevidence, or information still needed.

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