REVIEW QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
N. E. Steele, Ex. Sec’y, SDEA

7th Grade Arithmetic

Within the month the writer encountered some
high school seniors and some college freshmen
who were unable to solve a type of fraction fre-
quently encountered. Example: Numerator is 21;
denominator is 1 minus 4% plus %6. The solu-
tion of this complex fraction involves the steps
needed for a review of the processes involved
in solving common fraction problems. Reduction
of 1, 4, and %6 to equivalent fractions having
a common denominator, namely 1%6, “6, and
%e; the addition and subtraction of numerators
of fractions having a common denominator, name-
ly 16 minus 4 plus 9. The resulting fraction is
2%46. We now have the original fraction in the
form, numerator 21, denominator 16. The next
step is the division of the numerator by the de-
nominator; the denominator being inverted we
now have a problem in multiplication of frac-
tions, namely 74 X 1%1. The multiplication is
accomplished by cancellation and the result® is
the whole number 16, which is the value of the
original complex fraction, expressed as an integer.
This type of problem should be presented, not as
a new difficulty, but as an opportunity to review
skills in solving fractions that the pupil already
has acquired.

Science

One other fact in addition to the earth’s revolu-
tion around the sun causes changes of seasons on
earth. What is this fact? Show that without this
fact, even though the earth does revolve around
the sun, it would experience no changes of seasons.

The course of study lists Saturn as the planet
of our solar system having the largest diameter.
Use the school dictionary to make a list of the
planets with the diameter of each to test the ac-
curacy of this statement.

Mercury always shows the same hemisphere to
the sun, and the moon always shows the same
hemisphere to the earth. What has to be true
of the speed of rotation and of revolution of each
of these bodies if this is true?

Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter is the
orbit of the asteroids. There are hundreds of
these asteriods, the largest, Ceres, is about 500
miles in diameter, and only three others are more
than 100 miles in diameter. From where did these
asteroids come?

What is the galactic system? The nearest star
of this system is 4.23 light years from us. How
far is that? If a star is 8 light years from us,

116

how long ago did the particles of light from this
star that strike us this instant leave it?

History

Slavery, tariff, and states’ rights may be re-
garded as three remote causes of the Civil War;
what is a remote cause of war? An immediate
cause of war?

Explain how inventions widened the schism
between the North and the South. List some of
these inventions. Show how each of these inven-
tions influenced the tariff issue.

‘Name several federal laws that divided the
North and the South, and give the provisions of
each law in one or two general statements.

Who were Garrison, Brown, Stowe? What is
meant by nullification? Compare the Kentucky
and Virginia Resolutions and the Nullification
Act of South Carolina as to similarities and dif-
ferences.

Who were Douglas, Phillips, Lovejoy, Lundy,
Lincoln?

What states formed the Confederate States of
America? Why did not Missouri join this confed-
eracy? Kentucky?

Civics

Just how did each of the 13 original states
ratify the constitution of the U. S.? How did
this method of ratification make the constitution
binding upon the people as the supreme law of the
nation? Explain how the constitution of the
United States became binding upon each of the
states that entered the Union later.

South Dakota accepted the federal constitu-
tion as the supreme law of the Nation when she
became a state in 1889. How is the constitution
of the state and of the U. S. binding upon
citizens of South Dakota who have become voters
since 1889?

By what provisions do the citizens of a com-
munity establish a city, township, county, or school
district? Why, within limits defined in our state
constitution, can our state legislature change the
laws respecting these units of local government?

Geography

Locate and bound the kingdom of Ethiopia.
Locate each Italian, each French, and each British
possession in Africa. From a map of Europe,
Asia, and Africa discuss the reasons why Great
Britain fears the attempt of Italy to secure con-
trol of Ethiopia. From the same maps discuss
the reasons why France is hesitant to break with
Italy. Present an account of the natural re-
sources of Italy, Italian colonial possessions, and

November, 1935 e@ SDEA JOURNAL