Foundations Era

Sample Questions

1. Which technologies are generally thought to have been acquired by Paleolithic societies?

I. fire II. stone tools III. iron IV. bronze(A) I(B) I and II(C) I, II and III(D) I, II, and IV(E) none of the above

B

2. The emergence of agriculture, or the Neolithic Revolution, caused all of the following EXCEPT

A) the ability of humans to settle more permanently in one spot.

B) a population explosion.C) an increase in the specialization of political,

economic, and religious functions.D) the introduction of artistic expression.E) the disappearance of hunter-gatherer

communities.

E

3. Women were important contributors to the Agricultural Revolution because they were likely the ones who

(A) traded grains for meat(B) made tools and containers(C) gathered edible plants and knew where grains

grew(D) performed essential agricultural tasks such as

plowing and irrigation(E) found that farming required less work and less time

C

4. All early agricultural societies:

(A) were traders.(B) settled in river valleys.(C) used pictographs as their form of writing.(D) were polytheistic.(E) were nomadic.

D

5. Metal tools were preferred over wood and stone tools for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

(A) metal hoes & other tools allowed farmers to work the ground more efficiently.

(B) they made superior weapons.(C) they were easier for ordinary people to produce in

mass at home.(D) they allowed some artisans to become specialists

in metal-working who could then trade with the farmers.

(E) they were sharper and more precise.

C

6. All of the following are contributions of the river valley civilizations EXCEPT:

(A) the formal divisions of time into a calendar(B) the wheel(C) written language(D) the development of important mathematical

concepts such as square roots(E) monotheistic religions

E

7. The Gupta Dynasty was much like the Zhou Dynasty in that

(A) they both used religion to support their political power.

(B) they were both made up of feudal regions with weak central governments

(C) both of them fell to Hun invaders.(D) both used bureaucrats who specialized in their

areas of service to the state(E) they tended not to trade with other civilizations

B

8. To regulate the social life of their empire, the Romans depended on

(A) its world religion(B) its strictly enforced caste system(C) its code of laws(D) its highly efficient bureaucracy(E) its disciplined army

C

9. Compared with a Chinese nobleman, a peasant in classical China differed in all of the following EXCEPT

A) likelihood of literacy.B) level of wealth.C) likelihood of belief in a number of gods or

spirits of nature.D) dependence on land as the basic economic

resource.E) daily economic activity.

D

10. Roman emperors tried to content the masses by

(A) dividing the great landed estates.(B) avoiding war.(C) granting the vote.(D) abolishing slavery.(E) organizing food supplies and distribution.

E

11. Which of the following societies’ social hierarchies was overall the most constrictive and gave the least room for social mobility?

(A) India.(B) China.(C) Persia.(D) Greece.(E) Rome.

A

12. Which of the following BEST encapsulates Confucian thought?

(A) Political power is given to rulers by the gods; therefore, rulers may treat their people as they please.

(B) Husbands and wives should share the responsibility for family leadership equally.

(C) Social harmony is attained when superiors treat those below them with kindness, while inferiors respect those above them.

(D) Only members of the aristocracy are capable of cultivating the qualities of etiquette and grace.

(E) Society functions best when people are free to realize their individuality.

C

13. What is a major similarity between Hinduism and Buddhism?

(A) Both religions support a caste system.(B) Both religions accept that souls reach

spiritual perfection.(C) Both embrace the Four Noble Truths.(D) Both follow the Eightfold Path.(E) These two religions are diametrically

opposed

B

14. The statuary above was produced in:

(A) ancient Persia.(B) medieval Europe.(C) Mughal India.(D) ancient Greece.(E) prehistoric France.

D

15. The photograph above is an example of:

(A) Incan highland commerce.(B) Japanese Shinto animism.(C) Plains tribes shamanism.(D) Post Columbian colonial influence.(E) Mayan temple architecture.

E

16. "Shape clay into a vessel; It is the space within that makes it useful. . . Therefore benefit comes from what is there; usefulness from what is not there."

Which religion or belief system is most closely associated with this quote?

A. ConfucianismB. DaoismC. LegalismD. BuddhismE. Hinduism

B

17. Which of the following statements would LEAST likely fit in with the ORIGINAL teachings of the Buddha?

(A) All human suffering is caused by desire.(B) Enlightenment can most effectively be attained by

coming to realize the Four Noble Truths and practicing the Eightfold Path.

(C) Enlightenment leads to a moment of awakening and transcendent consciousness known as nirvana.

(D) Enlightenment can most effectively be attained by venerating many gods and bodhisattvas.

(E) none of the above

D

18. How did the collapse of Han China most resemble the Roman Empire's loss of its European lands?

(A) Both were later devoured by the Byzantine Empire. (B) Their leaders began to rely on Buddhism to guide

their decision making.(C) Both fell as a result of depletion of natural

resources. (D) Outside invaders contributed to the collapse of

both empires.(E) Both collapsed due to lack of technological

innovation.

D

19. In regard to level of toleration and respect for conquered parts of the empire, the Romans were most similar to the

(A) Assyrians.(B) Greeks.(C) Persians. (D) Chinese under Qin Shi huang di.(E) Aryans.

C

20. The map above shows

(A) Indian Ocean Trading System (B) The Silk Road(C) The Han Empire system of roads(D) The Amber road(E) Trans-Saharan trade routes.

B

21. A major difference between the teachings of Buddhism and Hinduism is

(A) belief in nirvana.(B) the cycle of rebirth.(C) the principle of nonviolence.(D) belief in karma.(E) belief in castes.

E

22. In the classical period, both China and India

A) showed considerable tolerance for different religions.

B) attempted to conquer the most territory possible.

C) developed a lasting tradition of strong, centralized government.

D) welcomed influences from other cultures.E) focused on expanding trade.

A

23. In which river valleys did the first civilizations on the Eurasian and African continents develop?

(A) Niger, Tigris / Euphrates, Nile, Indus(B) Tigris / Euphrates, Nile, Ganges, Huang He(C) Nile, Tigris / Euphrates, Huang He, Indus(D) Amazon, Huang He, Indus, Yellow(E) Nile, Amazon, Huang He, Ganges

C

24. A major impact of ancient Greece and Rome on western civilization was that

(A) the Greeks and Romans achieved a classless society,

which was later copied in Western Europe. (B) Greek sculpture and Roman architecture were much

admired and copied in Western Europe in later centuries. (C) Greece and Rome transmitted Islamic philosophy to the

areas they conquered. (D) they established empires which lasted longer than their

neighbors.(E) Greek and Latin are still widely spoken in universities

throughout the West.

B

25. Which statement refers the best to Alexander the Great?

(A) he forced conquered peoples to worship Greek gods and goddesses

(B) he typically ruled through local hierarchies(C) he saw his empire slowly disintegrate during

the last years of his life(D) he never managed to conquer Egypt(E) he was amazed by the riches and goods he

found in China

B

26. The Aryan conquerors brought to India

(A) its first civilization.(B) distinctive religious ideas.(C) long-lasting peace and stability.(D) admiration for India's earlier inhabitants.(E) new agricultural techniques.

B

27. The Hindu concept of samsara is BEST described by which of the following statements?

(A) a belief that the wicked are punished by everlasting torment after death

(B) a belief that one's soul lives, dies, and is reborn many times, until it is pure enough to escape the cycle of rebirth

(C) a doctrine that justifies the caste system of India (D) a declaration of non-belief in the old Vedic gods and

goddesses(E) a belief that all actions, good and evil, have

consequences in future lives to come

B

28. Confucianism is characterized by all of the following beliefs except:

(A) nobility is acquired through virtue, not birth(B) people should treat others as they themselves

would be treated(C) everyone should carry out his social duties with

devotion(D) government must have the confidence of the

people(E) devotion to one’s family is not as important as

devotion to oneself

E

29. Which of the following is an accurate description of a cultural characteristic that the Slavs and Germans of northern Europe had in common around 200 C.E.?

(A) These peoples were primarily hunters and gatherers.

(B) The overall political organization of the Slavs and Germans evolved into regional kingdoms.

(C) These cultures lacked all knowledge of metallurgy.(D) The Celts, Slavs, and Germans were matriarchal.(E) Their social organization was highly stratified.

B

30. Which civilization had to import most of its food and grain from colonies?

(A) Gupta India(B) Han China(C) Zhou China(D) The Greeks(E) The Indus River civilization

D