NAEP Geography Press Release Presentation: Slide 20
Grades 8 and 12 Sample Question: Complete Response

Students were asked to give two reasons why early civilizations flourished in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Major Finding

• Thirty-seven percent of eighth-graders and 47 percent of twelfth-graders gave responses that were rated "Complete." The following is an example of a Complete response:
  "The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers made these early civilizations flourish because of farming, trading, and a way of transportation. These rivers were their main source of everything like watering animals and rich, fertile farmland."

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2001 Geography Assessment.