1920s: Innovations in Communication and Technology Practice Test

Secondary source excerpt (1920s innovations, 87 words): Historians of the 1920s often highlight how radio and film created shared reference points. Nationally broadcast sports events and popular programs produced common conversations, while movies circulated the same stars and stories in cities and small towns. Advertisers leveraged these shared experiences to sell products, reinforcing the idea that modern Americans should own the latest goods. This helped bind distant regions into a single consumer marketplace, even as some critics feared cultural homogenization.

Which example best illustrates the “shared reference points” described?

Secondary source excerpt (1920s innovations, 90 words): Many historians describe the 1920s as a turning point in mass culture. Radio created a new kind of immediacy, allowing Americans to hear the same music, sports, and political speeches at the same time. Film studios promoted stars whose images appeared in magazines and advertisements. Automobiles increased access to dance halls, movie theaters, and vacation spots, tying leisure to mobility. These technologies also strengthened national markets by enabling companies to reach consumers with consistent messages.

Which development best illustrates the link between radio and consumer culture in the 1920s?