(1) An eighth grade student at the nearing proficiency level demonstrates a partial mastery of prerequisite knowledge and skills fundamental for proficiency in social studies. He/she:

(a) applies an inquiry process to locate information for use in limited decision making scenarios, but has difficulty evaluating the information;

(b) describes, but with difficulty, compares the principles and structure of power, authority, and governance;

(c) practices, with assistance, citizenship rights and responsibilities across various communities;

(d) gathers, with assistance, information related to geographic problems, but has difficulty using geographic skills and tools to communicate findings;

(e) sometimes conducts appropriate research and, with assistance, draws parallels between historical and current events and issues;

(f) frequently recognizes fundamental economic issues and, with assistance, illustrates how they interrelate and affect families, communities, cultures, and nations; and

(g) explains and sometimes compares how culture influences and diversity contributes to human development, identity, and behavior.