1. Main Ideas
As you read Chapter 1, think about the main idea of each section and answer
the questions below.
Section 1: American society is made up of people from diverse backgrounds.
Recent trends include changes in where Americans live, in the work force,
and in the average age of the population.
1. Why do most Americans live in urban areas?
2. How do Americans’ backgrounds differ?
Section 2: Americans are part of a mosaic in which each piece is an essential
part of American society.
3. How has diversity affected American society?
4. What five major groups of people make their homes in America?
Section 3: Americans value the ideal of equal respect, but work still needs to
be done to ensure that the rights to equality, freedom, and justice for all
Americans are protected.
5. What does it mean to say that all people deserve equal respect?
6. What three values support the belief that each person has the right to be
treated with respect?

2. Main Ideas
As you read Chapter 2, think about the main idea of each section and answer
the questions below.
Section 1: People form groups to satisfy many of their needs. Groups have
rules that their members must follow in order to get along with each other.
Needs that cannot be met by groups are fulfilled by social institutions.
1. What is involved in taking part in a group?
2. What are the five major social institutions in our society?
Section 2: Family, religion, and education are important social institutions
that help shape the behavior and values of our society.
3. What needs does the institution of the family meet?
4. How does the institution of education support American society?
Section 3: The American economy is an exchange of goods and services that
is supported by economic freedoms.
5. What wants does the economy satisfy?
6. What five freedoms are part of the American economic system?
Section 4: There are different forms of government. Each tries to establish
order. They differ in the amount of freedom each provides.
7. How does government bring order to society?
8. What are the three most common forms of government today?

3. Main Ideas
As you read Chapter 3, think about the main idea of each section and answer
the questions below.
Section 1: Americans become citizens in a variety of ways. Each citizen holds
an office—the office of citizen—that comes with important rights and duties.
1. What requirements do people have to meet to become naturalized citizens
of the United States?
2. Describe the special authority, or power, that citizens of the United States
have.
Section 2: Citizenship is not just a connection to your country of origin or
naturalization. All citizens must uphold the rights, duties, and
responsibilities of citizenship.
3. Name three rights of United States citizens.
4. How do citizens’ responsibilities differ from their duties?
Section 3: Social roles are part of our everyday lives. We play many different
social roles. Each one requires a certain kind of behavior. Each also requires a
certain level of participation over the course of our lives.
5. How do we get our social roles?
6. What are some ways to play, or fulfill, the role of a responsible citizen?