West Virginia's industries and resources, then and now

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The economy today and the state's money

   Map 1, "Land and jobs" (2024 to 2026): 12.5 million acres of timberland cover 79 percent of the state. There were 22,787 farms in 2024, growing hay, apples, corn and soybeans. Steel is made in the Northern Panhandle and Huntington, and chemical plants remain in the Ohio and Kanawha valleys. Tourism draws visitors to 36 state parks, eight state forests, ski areas and whitewater rafting. In September 2026 there were 717,400 non-farm jobs: 618,900 in services and 98,500 in goods-producing work, including 19,600 in mining and logging. (In 1950 there were 127,000 coal miners.) Map 2, "Where the state's general revenue comes from" (fiscal year 2025): Personal income tax: 38.53 percent. Sales and use tax: 33.00 percent. Severance tax, paid by companies that take coal, gas and other resources from the ground: 7.95 percent. Corporation net income tax: 6.82 percent. Other taxes and sources make up the rest. Key: a tree is timberland; a tent is a state park; a dollar sign is a tax. Below the maps: The numbers are dated: jobs from September 2026 (e-WV), revenue from fiscal year 2025 (Tax Commissioner, October 2025).

2. 1.

   Which tax brings in the largest share of general revenue, Ari asks?

   • Sales and use tax
   • Severance tax
   • Corporation net income tax
   • Personal income tax
3. 2.

   What share do the two largest taxes bring in together, Bo asks?

   • 71.53 percent
   • 5.53 percent
   • 46.48 percent
   • 38.53 percent
4. 3.

   What is a severance tax, by map 2, Esme asks?

   • A tax on taking resources from the ground
   • A tax on the wages and salaries people earn
   • A tax on company profits
   • A tax on things people buy
5. 4.

   About what share of non-farm jobs are in services, Jun asks?

   • About 14 percent
   • About 8.6 percent
   • About 86 percent
   • About 62 percent
6. 5.

   How many more service jobs than goods-producing jobs were there, Kira asks?

   • 52,040
   • 520,400
   • 717,400
   • 618,900
7. 6.

   What share of the state is timberland, by map 1, Luz asks?

   • 38 percent
   • 12.5 percent
   • 79 percent
   • 21 percent
8. 7.

   In 2026, 19,600 people worked in mining and logging. How does that compare with 1950, Milo asks?

   • About the same as in 1950
   • A much smaller number
   • A larger number than in 1950
   • It counts farm jobs too
9. 8.

   Where is steel made today, by map 1, Noah asks?

   • Harpers Ferry
   • Kanawha Salines, Wellsburg and the coalfields
   • The Northern Panhandle and Huntington
   • The 36 state parks
10. 9.

    Which claim is careful, by the maps, Pia asks?

    • Services hold most non-farm jobs
    • Severance tax is the largest source
    • Mining holds most jobs today
    • The state has no farms
11. 10.

    A note says, 'Sales tax brings in 38.53 percent.' What fix does Ren make?

    • Keep it; the note is right
    • Change 38.53 to 3.853
    • That is income tax; sales is 33.00
    • Change sales tax to the severance tax