SOL Quiz 7

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SOL Quiz 7

• China

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1. The study of the surface of the earth and the
relationship of people to their natural and
physical environment is known as a. history b.
economics c. geography d. Politics
Geography is the study of the surface of the
earth, its landforms, topography, and climate,
together with the relationship of various peoples
to their physical and natural environment in
different parts of the world.
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2. Which of the following mountain ranges
separate China from India? a. Altai b.
Himalayas c. Pamir d. Qin Ling
There are a number of mountain ranges in, and
bordering, China. China shares a land frontier
more than 200,000 kilometers long with its
neighbors. However, China is involved in border
disputes with many of its neighbors. To the
southwest are the Himalayas ("Abode of Snow")
which separate China from the Indian subcontinent.
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3. Why has the Huang He (Yellow River) been
called China's Sorrow? a. It was the site of
massive burials. b. Volcanic activity caused
massive destruction. c. It was the source of
water for irrigation. d. Periodic flooding of the
river caused a great deal of death and
destruction.
The 5,400 kilometer-long Huang He has been called
China's Sorrow because in previous centuries the
river used to flood its banks every year, causing
massive death, destruction, and havoc in the
countryside. The river flows through the North
China Plain, the historic center of Chinese
expansion and influence. In more recent years,
thanks to the construction of a system of dams,
flood management and conservation measures have
brought the river under control
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4. Seasonal winds, which blow alternately from
the Asian mainland and from the Pacific Ocean,
are accompanied by fierce storms. These seasonal
winds are known as a. monsoons b. typhoons c.
hurricanes d. Tsunamis
Monsoons are seasonal winds that blow alternately
from the Asian mainland and from the Pacific
Ocean. They are caused by differences in the
heat-absorbing capacity of the Asian continent
and the Pacific Ocean. Since they blow in from
the ocean, they carry a great deal of moisture.
They are frequently accompanied by fierce storms
and heavy rains in the summer months the winter
months have a dry monsoon.
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5. The Chinese referred to their country during
traditional times as the a. Middle Kingdom b.
Soviet Union c. Republic of China d. People's
Republic of China
The Chinese referred to their country in
traditional times as the Middle Kingdom because
they believed that it was at the center of the
universe. Europeans referred to it as Cathay or
China. Today, the Chinese characters for "China"
still translate to read "Middle Country."
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6. Which of the following is part of traditional
Chinese medical practice? a. acupuncture b.
herbal medicines c. deep-breathing exercises d.
all of the above
Traditional Chinese medicine used many practices
to cure disease and ease suffering, including
acupuncture, herbal medicines, and breathing
exercises. Acupuncture seeks to normalize the
flow of energy (qi or ch'i) within the body
through the insertion of thin needles along the
energy paths of the body. Acupuncture was
effectively used as an anesthetic during surgery.
Today, many Western doctors believe that
acupuncture helps the body to heal itself.
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7. Which of the following inventions originated
in ancient China? a. compass b. block printing c.
gunpowder d. all of the above
There were four major technological advances in
ancient China. These "Four Great Inventions"
were paper, block printing, gunpowder, and the
compass. Each invention gradually spread
throughout the entire world (by the process of
cultural diffusion) and deeply influenced world
civilization.
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8. The ancient long-distance, overland trade
route connecting China to Western Asia, and on to
Europe and the Mediterranean region was known as
the a. Great Wall b. Grand Canal c. Manchu
dynasty d. Silk Road
The ancient long-distance, overland trade route
connecting China to Western Asia, and from there
on to Europe and the Mediterranean region was
known as the Silk Road. Silks and other exotic,
rare, and expensive merchandise from China were
traded to the West by camel caravans in exchange
for linen, glass, minerals, and other items.
This ancient trade route had been in existence
since as early as the 1st century. Marco Polo
and his family traveled along part of it on their
journey to China in the 13th century.
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9. During traditional times, China was ruled by
an emperor who inherited his position usually
from a male relative. A family of such
hereditary rulers was known as a a. clan b.
tribe c. congress d. dynasty
A dynasty is a series of rulers who follow each
other successively in an unbroken line (they
inherit the throne) and who belong to the same
family or clan. The Xia was the first historic
dynasty. The rule of the Zhou dynasty has been
called the "Age of Philosophers" since many great
thinkers, such as Confucius, Lao-Zi, and Mencius,
lived during this time. During both the Yuan
(Mongol) and Qing (Manchu) dynasties China was
ruled by foreign emperors. The dynastic system
of China ended in 1912, following the revolution
of 1911.
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10. Which of the following titles was given to
the emperor of dynastic China during dynastic
times? a. chairman b. czar c. Son of Heaven d.
Shogun
Since the emperor was considered to rule by the
Mandate (right) of Heaven, he was given the
title, the Son of Heaven. It was believed that
if the emperor was a good and just ruler he would
keep the Mandate from Heaven. If he was not a
good ruler, the mandate would be taken away from
him by Heaven. If the people were dissatisfied
and unhappy with the emperor's rule, they had the
right to rebel and replace him with another
ruler.