Question
2
Before 1845, “states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in December.” What was one effect of this election system?
Voters in states with late elections knew the results of early elections.
Farmers were often unable to get to their polling place in time to vote.
The people who voted first could decide the outcome of most elections.
People spent less time in church because they would often travel to vote on Sundays.
3
Read these sentences from the text.
“Before then [1845], states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in December, but this system had a few crucial flaws. Knowing the early voting results could affect turnout and sway opinion in states that held late elections, and those same last-minute voters could potentially decide the outcome of the entire election.”
Based on this evidence, what was probably one of the “crucial flaws” in the voting system before 1845?
Voters had trouble keeping track of when elections were scheduled in their state.
People who voted early often changed their mind and tried to vote again in another state.
Voters in states with late elections had more power over the outcome of elections than voters in states with earlier elections.
Voters in states with late elections had less power over the outcome of elections than voters in states with earlier elections.
4
Read these sentences from the text.
“In the 1800s, most citizens worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place. Since people often traveled at least a day to vote, lawmakers needed to allow a two-day window for Election Day. Weekends were impractical, since most people spent Sundays in church, and Wednesday was market day for farmers. With this in mind, Tuesday was selected as the first and most convenient day of the week to hold elections.”
Based on this evidence, what can you infer about the location of polling places?
Polling places were probably near the markets to which farmers traveled.
Polling places were probably far from the markets to which farmers traveled.
Polling places were probably near the churches that most people attended.
Polling places were probably far from the churches that most people attended.
5
What is the main idea of this text?
In the 1800s, most citizens of the United States worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place.
Election Day is on a Tuesday in November because of the day’s convenience for farmers in 19th-century America.
Before 1845, states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in December.
Before 1845, early voting results could affect turnout and sway opinion in states that held late elections.
6
The title of this text is "Why Do We Vote on a Tuesday in November?" Why might the author have written the title as a question?
to encourage readers to answer the question on their own before reading the article
to prepare readers for a discussion of the answer to this question in the article
to express confusion over a tradition for which there seems to be no explanation
to challenge a practice that has lost much of its value over time
7
Read these sentences from the text.
“In the 1800s, most citizens worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place. Since people often traveled at least a day to vote, lawmakers needed to allow a two-day window for Election Day. Weekends were impractical, since most people spent Sundays in church, and Wednesday was market day for farmers. With this in mind, Tuesday was selected as the first and most convenient day of the week to hold elections.”
Which word would best replace “With this in mind” in the last sentence?
Previously
Primarily
Otherwise
Consequently
8
What did Congress create Election Day “in the hope of”?
Answer
9
Explain why Election Day always falls in November. Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Answer
10
Explain whether the creation of Election Day improved the election process for Americans.
Answer
Submit
▲
▲
Before 1845, “states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in December.” What was one effect of this election system?
Voters in states with late elections knew the results of early elections.
Farmers were often unable to get to their polling place in time to vote.
The people who voted first could decide the outcome of most elections.
People spent less time in church because they would often travel to vote on Sundays.
3
Read these sentences from the text.
“Before then [1845], states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in December, but this system had a few crucial flaws. Knowing the early voting results could affect turnout and sway opinion in states that held late elections, and those same last-minute voters could potentially decide the outcome of the entire election.”
Based on this evidence, what was probably one of the “crucial flaws” in the voting system before 1845?
Voters had trouble keeping track of when elections were scheduled in their state.
People who voted early often changed their mind and tried to vote again in another state.
Voters in states with late elections had more power over the outcome of elections than voters in states with earlier elections.
Voters in states with late elections had less power over the outcome of elections than voters in states with earlier elections.
4
Read these sentences from the text.
“In the 1800s, most citizens worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place. Since people often traveled at least a day to vote, lawmakers needed to allow a two-day window for Election Day. Weekends were impractical, since most people spent Sundays in church, and Wednesday was market day for farmers. With this in mind, Tuesday was selected as the first and most convenient day of the week to hold elections.”
Based on this evidence, what can you infer about the location of polling places?
Polling places were probably near the markets to which farmers traveled.
Polling places were probably far from the markets to which farmers traveled.
Polling places were probably near the churches that most people attended.
Polling places were probably far from the churches that most people attended.
5
What is the main idea of this text?
In the 1800s, most citizens of the United States worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place.
Election Day is on a Tuesday in November because of the day’s convenience for farmers in 19th-century America.
Before 1845, states were allowed to hold elections any time they pleased within a 34-day period before the first Wednesday in December.
Before 1845, early voting results could affect turnout and sway opinion in states that held late elections.
6
The title of this text is "Why Do We Vote on a Tuesday in November?" Why might the author have written the title as a question?
to encourage readers to answer the question on their own before reading the article
to prepare readers for a discussion of the answer to this question in the article
to express confusion over a tradition for which there seems to be no explanation
to challenge a practice that has lost much of its value over time
7
Read these sentences from the text.
“In the 1800s, most citizens worked as farmers and lived far from their polling place. Since people often traveled at least a day to vote, lawmakers needed to allow a two-day window for Election Day. Weekends were impractical, since most people spent Sundays in church, and Wednesday was market day for farmers. With this in mind, Tuesday was selected as the first and most convenient day of the week to hold elections.”
Which word would best replace “With this in mind” in the last sentence?
Previously
Primarily
Otherwise
Consequently
8
What did Congress create Election Day “in the hope of”?
Answer
9
Explain why Election Day always falls in November. Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Answer
10
Explain whether the creation of Election Day improved the election process for Americans.
Answer
Submit
▲
▲
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Sure! Here are the answers to the questions based on the provided text:
**2. One effect of this election system:**
The people who voted first could decide the outcome of most elections.
**3. Based on this evidence, what was probably one of the “crucial flaws” in the voting system before 1845?**
Voters in states with late elections had more power over the outcome of elections than voters in states with earlier elections.
**4. Based on this evidence, what can you infer about the location of polling places?**
Polling places were probably near the markets to which farmers traveled.
**5. What is the main idea of this text?**
Election Day is on a Tuesday in November because of the day’s convenience for farmers in 19th-century America.
**6. Why might the author have written the title as a question?**
To prepare readers for a discussion of the answer to this question in the article.
**7. Which word would best replace “With this in mind” in the last sentence?**
Consequently
**8. What did Congress create Election Day “in the hope of”?**
Congress created Election Day in the hope of standardizing the timing of elections across states, thus improving voter turnout and making the process more orderly and predictable.
**9. Explain why Election Day always falls in November. Support your answer with evidence from the text.**
Election Day always falls in November to accommodate the farming schedule of the 1800s. November was chosen as it followed the harvest season, allowing farmers to travel to polling places after they finished their crop duties. The text states that most citizens were farmers who lived far from polling places, and it notes that a two-day window was necessary for voting, making November the most practical month for elections.
**10. Explain whether the creation of Election Day improved the election process for Americans.**
Yes, the creation of Election Day improved the election process for Americans by standardizing the election date, making it easier for citizens to plan to vote. With a fixed date, voters had the opportunity to be informed and could travel to polling places more systematically rather than facing disparate election dates across states, which could lead to confusion and unequal impacts on voter turnout.
**2. One effect of this election system:**
The people who voted first could decide the outcome of most elections.
**3. Based on this evidence, what was probably one of the “crucial flaws” in the voting system before 1845?**
Voters in states with late elections had more power over the outcome of elections than voters in states with earlier elections.
**4. Based on this evidence, what can you infer about the location of polling places?**
Polling places were probably near the markets to which farmers traveled.
**5. What is the main idea of this text?**
Election Day is on a Tuesday in November because of the day’s convenience for farmers in 19th-century America.
**6. Why might the author have written the title as a question?**
To prepare readers for a discussion of the answer to this question in the article.
**7. Which word would best replace “With this in mind” in the last sentence?**
Consequently
**8. What did Congress create Election Day “in the hope of”?**
Congress created Election Day in the hope of standardizing the timing of elections across states, thus improving voter turnout and making the process more orderly and predictable.
**9. Explain why Election Day always falls in November. Support your answer with evidence from the text.**
Election Day always falls in November to accommodate the farming schedule of the 1800s. November was chosen as it followed the harvest season, allowing farmers to travel to polling places after they finished their crop duties. The text states that most citizens were farmers who lived far from polling places, and it notes that a two-day window was necessary for voting, making November the most practical month for elections.
**10. Explain whether the creation of Election Day improved the election process for Americans.**
Yes, the creation of Election Day improved the election process for Americans by standardizing the election date, making it easier for citizens to plan to vote. With a fixed date, voters had the opportunity to be informed and could travel to polling places more systematically rather than facing disparate election dates across states, which could lead to confusion and unequal impacts on voter turnout.