China /Japan Audio Benchmark World History

1.Why do historians view the Tang dynasty as the golden age of Chinese civilization? a. Tang dynasty leaders lived in palaces made of solid gold. b. It was located between the gold mines in the south and valuable salt resources in the north. c. Artisans during the Tang dynasty learned to work with gold in new and exciting ways. d. It was a period of great expansion as well as artistic, legal, and cultural achievements.

2.Why did so many people turn to Buddhism in the Period of Disunion? a. Buddhist temples offered food to anyone willing to convert to the religion. b. The kingdom’s leaders forced people to convert to Buddhism. c. Buddhism offered the people a strong education for their children. d.They took comfort in the Buddhist teaching that people can escape suffering through a cycle of rebirth.

3. The Grand Canal was built primarily a. to give the emperors a quick way to travel around the empire. b. as a route for traders to use to avoid paying taxes on illegal goods. c. to move people from the countryside to work in the cities. d. to transport rice and other foods from the south to the cities and armies in the north.

4.In what way do Confucianism and Buddhism differ? a. Buddhism stresses military honor and Confucianism stresses charitable deeds. b. Confucianism stresses respectful and proper behavior and Buddhism stresses a spiritual outlook that promises escape from suffering. c. Buddhism teaches people to value public service while Confucianism teaches that personal satisfaction is most important. d.Confucianism places high value on artistic talents and Buddhism teaches one to ignore art.

5. Which Mongol leader invaded China and established the Yuan Dynasty, the largest empire in world history? a.Genghis Khanc.Zheng He b.Kublai Khan d.Chu Yuan-chang

6. What effect did the policy of isolation have on China? a. China was strengthened because it did not have to fight wars. b.China became a center of technological advancements. c. China fell behind other countries in technological achievements and in military power. d.China was thrown into a civil war when angry citizens revolted.

7. Which of the following developments took place during the Tang and Song dynasties? a. Government was influenced by Confucianism c. Music, art, and fine writing was encouraged b.Use of a merit system for government jobs d.All of the above

8. A positive influence of Mongol rule in China was a. increased contact /trade with the West cincreased wealth b. improved canalsdimprovements in farming methods

9.Which of the following is not a contribution from China? a. woodblock printing c.porcelain b.paper moneyd.algebra

10. Why was the Great Wall built? a. to protect the country from the northern tribes b. to put unemployed citizens to work c. to unify the country with a common goal d. to help develop new construction techniques and materials

11.Buddhists believe a person can reach nirvana by following the… aSix Noble Roadsc.Five Dynasties bFour Noble TruthsdTen Kingdoms

12. Contact with China and Korea influenced Japan by a. leading to different farming and trade practices in Japan. b. sharing a written language, art and music, and a new religion. c. changing traditional art forms and musical performances in Japan. d. spreading Chinese and Korean weapons and fighting styles.

13. Zen Buddhists did not believe a.Reading the Quran leads to wisdom. b.In self-discipline. c.That wisdom can be found in quiet thinking. d.In regular meditation.

14. Which list is in the order of most power to least power? a. samurai, shogun, daimyo, peasant c. shogun, samurai, daimyo, peasant b.samurai, shogun, peasant, daimyo d.shogun, daimyo, samurai, peasant

15. Japanese leaders (feudal lords) put aside their differences and united in 1274 to a.fight a common enemy, the invading Mongols. b.rebuild after a hurricane. c.overthrow a corrupt emperor in Heian. d.fight the outbreak of disease.

16. Japan borrowed ideas on government, religion and culture from.. a.India b.Europe c.Islam d.China

17. What happened after the royal court in Heian became more focused on art and culture, instead of running the government of Japan? a.Villages were ruled by clans. b. Prince Shotoku ruled Japan and spread Chinese ideas. c. Shoguns took control of Japan, creating a feudal/military society. d.The Shinto religion began.

18. Which of the following was part of Japan’s strict policy of isolationism? a. Christianity was outlawed. c. European trade was banned. b.Travel was restricted. d.All of the above.

19. Japanese people lived on coastal plains because most of Japan a. has mountainous slopes that are difficult to live on and farm. b.is desert. c.has volcanoes. d.has rivers and lakes that often cause floods.

20. The main duty of a samurai warrior was to a.defend peasants from bandits or thieves. b. conquer distant lands for the Japanese emperor. c.defend his daimyo and his daimyo’s property. d.manage large tracts of land for the nobles in Heian.