MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

Which sentence illustrates correct capitalization of historical periods?

1. She studied the Middle ages for history class

2. He discussed the world war 1 in detail

3. They researched the World War 1 thoroughly

4. They studied the Roaring twenties in school

The correct answer is: They studied the Roaring twenties in school

The sentence "They studied the Roaring twenties in school" correctly illustrates the rules of capitalization for historical periods. In this context, "Roaring Twenties" refers to a specific and widely recognized era in the early 20th century, characterized by significant cultural and social change, particularly in the United States. The phrase is commonly capitalized to denote its importance as a distinct historical period, similar to how one would reference the "Victorian Era" or the "Great Depression." Capitalization is used here to signal that "Roaring Twenties" is not just a general phrase but a proper noun referring to a significant historical timeframe. Additionally, the term "twenties" is capitalized as part of the formal name of this era. In contrast, the other examples do not adhere to capitalization conventions for historical periods. "Middle ages" is generally written as "Middle Ages," referencing a well-defined historical period. "World War 1" should be capitalized as "World War I," as it is a formal title of a significant event in history.