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AP African American Studies Practice Quiz: Black Contributions to Science, Medicine, and Technology

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 16 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 16

According to the text, what was a primary focus of George Washington Carver's work as a botanist?

All Questions (16)

According to the text, what was a primary focus of George Washington Carver's work as a botanist?

A) Developing methods to prevent soil depletion.

B) Calculating orbital trajectories for space missions.

C) Founding the first Black-owned hospital in the U.S.

D) Pioneering the technique of variolation for smallpox.

Correct Answer: A

The text explicitly states that George Washington Carver, a botanist, "developed methods for preventing soil depletion."

Which of the following accurately distinguishes the roles of Katherine Johnson and Mae Jemison in the U.S. space program?

A) Johnson was a physician who traveled to space, while Jemison was a mathematician who calculated flight paths.

B) Johnson performed the first successful heart surgery, while Jemison developed a COVID-19 vaccine.

C) Johnson's mathematical calculations were crucial for space travel, while Jemison was the first African American woman to travel in space.

D) Johnson founded a medical school at an HBCU, while Jemison served as an agricultural counselor to a U.S. President.

Correct Answer: C

The text identifies Katherine Johnson as a mathematician whose "successful calculations for space travel helped launch astronauts to the moon and back," and Mae Jemison as the "first African American woman to travel in space in 1992."

What was the primary reason for the establishment of the National Medical Association?

A) To provide free community-based care for early diagnosis of illness.

B) To collaborate with local governments to establish nonsegregated hospitals.

C) To support the training of Black medical professionals who were barred from the American Medical Association.

D) To promote the eugenics movement within the medical community.

Correct Answer: C

The text states that the National Medical Association was established "to support training for Black medical professionals, as they were initially barred from entry into the American Medical Association."

Daniel Hale Williams is recognized for which two major contributions mentioned in the text?

A) Developing the Moderna vaccine and founding Howard University's medical school.

B) Founding the first Black-owned hospital and performing the world's first successful heart surgery.

C) Bringing awareness of variolation to the colonies and serving as an advisor to President Roosevelt.

D) Establishing nonsegregated hospitals and becoming the first African American woman in space.

Correct Answer: B

The text credits Daniel Hale Williams with founding "Provident Hospital in Chicago (1891), the first Black-owned hospital in the United States," and performing "the world's first successful heart surgery, in 1893."

During the early twentieth century, the rise of eugenics led to what specific consequence for Black people with disabilities?

A) The establishment of the first nonsegregated hospitals.

B) The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

C) Increased opportunities in aeronautics and space programs.

D) Systemic oppression, including forced sterilization.

Correct Answer: D

The text states that as a result of stigmatizations from eugenics, "Black people with disabilities encountered multiple forms of systemic oppression, harassment, institutionalization, and infringement of their rights, such as forced sterilization."

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 is described as building upon which previous legislative achievement?

A) The founding of the National Medical Association.

B) The establishment of the Black hospital movement.

C) The civil rights legislation that outlawed Jim Crow.

D) The presidential counseling of George Washington Carver.

Correct Answer: C

The text states, "In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) built upon the civil rights legislative achievements that outlawed Jim Crow."

What medical contribution is attributed to Onesimus, an enslaved man?

A) He performed the first successful open-heart surgery.

B) He was central to the development of the mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

C) He founded the first Black-owned hospital in the United States.

D) He introduced the concept of variolation to help curtail smallpox.

Correct Answer: D

The text credits "Onesimus, an enslaved man who brought awareness of variolation to the British American colonies, which helped curtail smallpox."

In the late nineteenth century, African American physicians collaborated with local governments to achieve what significant milestone in the American healthcare system?

A) The creation of the National Medical Association.

B) The establishment of America's first nonsegregated hospitals.

C) The development of the first mRNA vaccines.

D) The launch of the first African American woman into space.

Correct Answer: B

The content states that "African American physicians collaborated with local governments to establish America's first nonsegregated hospitals in the late nineteenth century."

What was Katherine Johnson's specific role at NASA as described in the text?

A) She was an engineer and astronaut.

B) She was a physician who monitored astronaut health.

C) She was a mathematician whose calculations were essential for space travel.

D) She was a botanist who advised on agricultural matters for space missions.

Correct Answer: C

The text identifies Katherine Johnson as "a mathematician" whose "successful calculations for space travel helped launch astronauts to the moon and back."

Kizzmekia Corbett's contribution to modern medicine is best described as:

A) Performing the first successful heart surgery in 1893.

B) Playing a central role in the development of the Moderna Covid-19 mRNA vaccine.

C) Founding medical schools at HBCUs like Meharry and Howard.

D) Bringing awareness of variolation to the American colonies.

Correct Answer: B

The text explicitly mentions "Kizzmekia Corbett, who was central to the development of the Moderna Covid-19 mRNA vaccine."

The text describes the experience of Black people with disabilities as facing "multiple, compounding forms of discrimination." This is best exemplified by which historical phenomenon mentioned?

A) The barring of Black physicians from the American Medical Association.

B) The need for separate calculations for space missions.

C) The rise of eugenics, which stigmatized individuals based on both race and ability.

D) The establishment of community-based care for early diagnosis.

Correct Answer: C

The rise of eugenics, which targeted people based on their "race and ability," directly illustrates the concept of multiple, compounding forms of discrimination mentioned in the text.

Which of the following fields is NOT explicitly mentioned in the text as an area of significant contribution by African Americans?

A) Agriculture

B) Medicine

C) Computer Programming

D) Aeronautics

Correct Answer: C

The text lists "agriculture, technology, medicine, science, and engineering" as fields of contribution, and specifically mentions aeronautics and space programs. Computer programming is not explicitly mentioned.

According to the provided text, institutions like Meharry College and Howard University played a crucial role in what area?

A) Developing methods for preventing soil depletion.

B) Calculating trajectories for the first moon landing.

C) Establishing the first nonsegregated hospitals.

D) Providing medical training for Black professionals.

Correct Answer: D

The text states that African Americans "established medical schools (e.g., at Meharry College, Howard University...)" to "support training for Black medical professionals."

Which of the following events occurred in the 19th century, according to the text?

A) Mae Jemison traveled to space.

B) The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed.

C) Daniel Hale Williams performed the first successful heart surgery.

D) Kizzmekia Corbett helped develop the Moderna vaccine.

Correct Answer: C

The text states that Daniel Hale Williams performed the world's first successful heart surgery in 1893, which is in the 19th century. Mae Jemison's space travel was in 1992, the ADA was passed in 1990, and the Moderna vaccine was developed in the 21st century.

One key way African Americans contributed to the broader American healthcare system, as mentioned in the text, was by:

A) Focusing exclusively on establishing segregated hospitals.

B) Promoting eugenics to improve public health.

C) Providing free community-based care that encouraged early diagnosis.

D) Barring non-Black physicians from the National Medical Association.

Correct Answer: C

The text highlights that African Americans "contributed in key ways to the American healthcare system, including providing free community-based care that encouraged early diagnosis of illness."

Which African American scientist served as a counselor on agriculture to a U.S. President?

A) Daniel Hale Williams

B) George Washington Carver

C) Katherine Johnson

D) Kizzmekia Corbett

Correct Answer: B

The text states that George Washington Carver "served as a counselor on agriculture to President Theodore Roosevelt."