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Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution — 7th Grade Social Studies practice questions

20 multiple-choice questions on Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution, about 13% of the 7th Grade Social Studies bank. Every one carries a written rationale.

Written and maintained by Nick Burton · last updated 2026-08-22 · how we write and review questions

What this chapter covers

Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution is one of 6 chapters in CoStudy's 7th Grade Social Studies (World History) bank, and it holds 20 of the bank's 150 multiple-choice questions — roughly 13% of the total. That proportion is not arbitrary: chapters follow the certifying body's published exam outline, and the number of questions in each is set by that domain's published weight, so the share of your practice time this chapter takes matches the share of the real exam it accounts for.

Studying by chapter is worth doing once you have a diagnostic score. A single overall percentage tells you whether you are close; it does not tell you which domain is dragging. Working a weak chapter in isolation, and re-testing it in isolation, is the fastest way to move a score that has stalled — and it is why the mock exams in CoStudy report by domain rather than as one number.

Free Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution practice questions

6 questions drawn from this chapter, with the full rationale shown — the controlling principle behind the right answer, and why each wrong option tempts and fails.

Latitude lines on a map run:

  1. Vertically (north-south)
  2. Diagonally
  3. Horizontally (east-west), measuring distance from the equator
  4. Around the poles

Answer: C — Horizontally (east-west), measuring distance from the equator

Latitude lines (parallels) run east-west, measuring angular distance north or south of the equator (0°). (A) that describes longitude lines; (B) neither run diagonally; (D) latitude lines don't run 'around poles.'

The Renaissance began in:

  1. England
  2. France
  3. Italy
  4. Germany

Answer: C — Italy

The Renaissance (rebirth) began in Italian city-states (Florence, Venice, Milan) in the 14th–15th centuries, fueled by wealthy patrons like the Medici and the legacy of ancient Rome. (A/B/D) came later.

The Reformation split Western Christianity because:

  1. The Pope wanted to expand the Church's territory
  2. Kings across Europe banned Catholicism
  3. Eastern Orthodox Christianity absorbed Western Christianity
  4. Reformers like Luther and Calvin challenged Catholic doctrine and papal authority, leading to Protestant denominations

Answer: D — Reformers like Luther and Calvin challenged Catholic doctrine and papal authority, leading to Protestant denominations

The Protestant Reformation (1517 onward) created Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, and other Protestant churches. (A) expansion wasn't the cause; (C) the Eastern Schism was in 1054; (B) kings had varied responses, many initially supported Catholicism.

What were the MAIN causes of World War I? (Mnemonic: MAIN)

  1. Mercantilism, Agriculture, Industry, Navies
  2. Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism
  3. Monarchy, Anarchy, Independence, Networks
  4. Markets, Armies, Investments, Nations

Answer: B — Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism

MAIN = Militarism (arms buildup), Alliances (entangling agreements), Imperialism (colonial rivalry), Nationalism (ethnic pride and unrest). The spark was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. (A/C/D) are not the accepted framework.

Which correctly identifies the SOCIAL CONTRACT as described by Rousseau?

  1. A formal written agreement between kings and their nobles
  2. The idea that governments derive legitimate authority from the consent of the governed
  3. A law requiring citizens to serve in the military
  4. An economic agreement between trading nations

Answer: B — The idea that governments derive legitimate authority from the consent of the governed

Rousseau's Social Contract (1762): legitimate government rests on popular sovereignty — the people's collective will. This influenced the American and French Revolutions. (A/C/D) are unrelated to Rousseau's philosophy.

The Renaissance was characterized by:

  1. A renewed interest in classical (Greek and Roman) learning, art, and humanism
  2. A rejection of all earlier learning
  3. Bans on art and literature
  4. Movement away from city life

Answer: A — A renewed interest in classical (Greek and Roman) learning, art, and humanism

A) Rebirth of classical influence drove Renaissance thinking. B/C/D) Contradict the cultural movement.

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These are a sample. The full Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution chapter runs 20 items with per-chapter progress tracking, on the web and in the iOS app.

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