Archive for April 2017

The high level of Chinese literacy was due to

The high level of Chinese literacy was due to




(A) free schooling for all classes of society.
(B) the introduction of an alphabet during the Song dynasty.
(C) the invention of movable-type printing and cheap paper.
(D) the simplicity of the Chinese system of writing.
(E) priests and Confucian theology, which insisted that Heaven wanted all people to be able to read and to write the Confucian classics.




Answer: C

The invention of explosive powder (gunpowder) in China

The invention of explosive powder (gunpowder) in China




(A) was borrowed by the Chinese from the nomads.
(B) allowed the Song to defeat the northern nomads.
(C) led to the Arab conquest of China.
(D) had little initial impact on warfare.
(E) had no uses in Song society except for fireworks.






Answer: D

In order to lesson the influence of aristocrats and bolster the positions of the peasants, the Tang and Song monarchs

In order to lesson the influence of aristocrats and bolster the positions of the peasants, the Tang and Song monarchs 




(A) broke up large landed estates and gave the land to the peasants.
(B) established courts and rural police to protect the peasants.
(C) set a percentage of governmental occupations and positions reserved for peasant applicants.
(D) set up free, government-sponsored schools for the peasants.
(E) recruited the military officers from the peasant class.





Answer: A

The technological advance that facilitated Chinese overseas trade was

The technological advance that facilitated Chinese overseas trade was





(A) the Grand Canal.
(B) sericulture or the production of silk.
(C) the manufacture of paper.
(D) the introduction of gunpowder.
(E) maritime tools such as the junk.





Answer: E

Tang military expansion into central Asia

Tang military expansion into central Asia



(A) led to constant warfare between the Chinese and the Muslims.
(B) promoted renewed commercial contacts between China and west Asia.
(C) eliminated nomadic invasions.
(D) obtained land to settle large Chinese population surpluses.
(E) was easily defeated by the Turks and other pastoral nomads.





Answer: B

The major demographic change in China between 500 and 1000 C.E. was the

The major demographic change in China between 500 and 1000 C.E. was the



(A) decline of cities as populations moved to the countryside.
(B) widespread migration of Chinese to foreign lands.
(C) population decrease in the north due to frequent nomadic raids.
(D) large population increase in the south around the Yangtze.
(E) internal migration of the populace from rural to urban areas.





Answer: D

Buddhist successes in China during the Tang era

Buddhist successes in China during the Tang era



(A) were opposed by the merchants and farmers.
(B) provided the state with tax revenues and conscripted labor.
(C) were counterbalanced by the introduction of Islam into China.
(D) encouraged the scholar-officials, who were largely Buddhist.
(E) led to persecutions and seizures of Buddhist monastic lands.




Answer: E

The Tang rulers were able to control potential nomadic threats to China by

The Tang rulers were able to control potential nomadic threats to China by




(A) bribery.
(B) playing one nomadic group against another.
(C) settling the nomads within the Chinese borders on land to farm.
(D) intermarriage between the nomadic and Chinese ruling families.
(E) diverting the nomads and sending them westward, away from China.




Answer: B

The era of Tang and Song rule in China was known as a(n)

The era of Tang and Song rule in China was known as a(n)





(A) golden age of Chinese culture and accomplishments.
(B) period of Buddhist dominance.
(C) time where Christianity and Islam spread widely in China.
(D) time of technological and commercial stagnation.
(E) era where nomadic dynasties ruled most of China.





Answer: A

What led to the downfall of the Sui dynasty?

What led to the downfall of the Sui dynasty?



a. Famines, which led to a depletion of economic resources
b. Widespread Buddhist rebellion
c. Unsuccessful military campaigns
d. The dissatisfaction of the Confucian scholar-gentry class
e. Nomadic invasions




Answer: C

Who was the founder of the Song dynasty?

Who was the founder of the Song dynasty?



a. Xi-Xia
b. Taizu
c. Xuanzong
d. Zhao Kuangyin
e. Li Bo, Duke of Song




Answer: D

Which of the following statements concerning the status of women in the Tang-Song era is most accurate?

Which of the following statements concerning the status of women in the Tang-Song era is most accurate?



a. Women had more rights than ever before due to the influence of the Legalists.
b. Tang-Song law recognized no women's rights.
c. The condition of women in general improved during the Tang-Song era.
d. The spread of Buddhism provided women with greater opportunities and career alternatives within the monastic movement.
e. The assertion of male dominance within the family was especially pronounced in the thinking of the neo-Confucian philosophers.




Answer: E

How did the Song empire compare to the Tang?

How did the Song empire compare to the Tang?



a. The Song empire was greater in territorial extent than the Tang empire.
b. The Song empire and the Tang empire were virtually identical in territorial extent.
c. The Song empire was smaller in territorial extent than the Tang empire.
d. Although approximately the same size, the Song empire extended farther north than the Tang.
e. The Song was larger than the Tang and Han.




Answer: C

What was the impact on Confucianism of the Tang repression of the Buddhists?

What was the impact on Confucianism of the Tang repression of the Buddhists?



a. Confucianism, like Buddhism, declined in popularity, and its place was taken by Daoism.
b. Confucianism and Daoism blended with Buddhism to form a new philosophy.
c. Confucianism emerged as the central ideology of Chinese civilization until the 20th century.
d. Confucianism emerged in a strengthened condition, but still remained behind Buddhism in the sense of providing a basis for the intellectual rationale of Chinese civilization.
e. Because Confucian scholar-gentry were associated with the persecution, Confucianism failed to generate much popular support outside the imperial government.




Answer: C

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the position of the scholar-gentry under the Song dynasty?

Which of the following statements most accurately describes the position of the scholar-gentry under the Song dynasty?



a. The Confucian scholar-gentry continued to exist, but the examination system weakened noticeably causing the imperial bureaucracy to depend more and more on the aristocracy.
b. The scholar-gentry attempted to revive warlordism, which led to the fall of the Song.
c. The Song continued to rely on the Confucian scholar-gentry, but more rigorous examination systems resulted in fewer men entering the civil service as a result of education.
d. The Song emperors came to rely increasingly on the military as defense of the borders placed less emphasis on the role of intellectual ideology and more on warfare.
e. The domination of the scholar-gentry over its aristocratic and Buddhist rivals was fully secured in the Song era.





Answer: E

Which of the following was NOT a result of the agricultural policies of the Sui and Tang emperors?

Which of the following was NOT a result of the agricultural policies of the Sui and Tang emperors?



a. The scholar-gentry were removed as landlords.
b. Lands were distributed more equitably to the free peasant households of the empire.
c. Numbers of free peasantry increased.
d. The yields of peasant farmers greatly increased.
e. Fortunes of the old aristocratic families declined.




Answer: A

Which of the following was NOT an economic development during the period of commercial expansion during the Tang and Song dynasties?

Which of the following was NOT an economic development during the period of commercial expansion during the Tang and Song dynasties?




a. Military domination of the seas
b. Growing sophistication in commercial organization and forms of credit
c. Overland silk routes between China and Persia were reopened
d. Trade increasingly carried by Chinese ships and sailors
e. Enlarged market quarters found in all cities and major towns






Answer: A

Which of the following was NOT one of the reforms introduced by Wang Anshi in the face of conservative opposition?

Which of the following was NOT one of the reforms introduced by Wang Anshi in the face of conservative opposition?




a. Taxation of the landlord and scholarly classes
b. The establishment of well-trained mercenary forces
c. The end of tribute payments to nomadic dynasties on the northern border
d. The introduction of government-assisted irrigation projects to encourage agricultural expansion
e. Reorganization of university education.





Answer: C

Which of the following statements about Chinese landscape painting is most accurate?

Which of the following statements about Chinese landscape painting is most accurate?



a. Song subsidies to foreign painters resulted in the production of magnificent landscapes.
b. Members of the ruling political elite in China produced many of the paintings in the Song era.
c. Paintings never conveyed moral messages or used symbolism.
d. Landscape painting was virtually unknown until after the Mongol invasions.
e. As in the West, landscape painting was the special skill of the military elite.






Answer: B

Which of the following was NOT a problem during the last years of the Tang dynasty?

Which of the following was NOT a problem during the last years of the Tang dynasty?




a. The revolt of An Lushan
b. The Huang-chao rebellion
c. Independent rulers collected their own taxes
d. The entry of nomads into large areas of the northern China plain
e. A Buddhist rebellion in southern China





Answer: E

In what way did foot-binding serve to diminish the independence of Chinese women by the end of the Song era?

In what way did foot-binding serve to diminish the independence of Chinese women by the end of the Song era?



a. Because foot-binding could only be afforded by the elite, poorer women were assigned to a lower social status.
b. Foot-binding, although considered socially attractive, was condemned by neo-Confucians.
c. Foot-binding sufficiently crippled women to effectively confine their mobility to their household.
d. As foot-binding was required in order to practice certain professions, Chinese women found that occupational alternatives were diminished.
e. Upper-class women considered it high status and hoarded money to pay for it.





Answer: C

Why was the construction of the Grand Canal necessary?

Why was the construction of the Grand Canal necessary?




a. The canal connected the Tang capitals Chang'an and Loyang with the newly acquired regions in the North.
b. Chinese population was increasingly concentrated along the northern plains of the Yangtze River.
c. Peasants were moving from the countryside of southern China to the urban areas of the North.
d. Major river systems in China ran from north to south, and the canal was necessary to connect the coastal regions with the western frontier.
e. The Yangtze River valley was becoming the major food-producing region of China by the late Tang era.




Answer: E

What proved to be the most damaging attack on Buddhism's popularity with the people during the early Tang dynasty?

What proved to be the most damaging attack on Buddhism's popularity with the people during the early Tang dynasty?




a. The aristocracy's concern that the growing Buddhist monastic establishment was monopolizing land that otherwise would belong to them
b. The Confucians' successful campaign to convince the emperor that the Buddhist monastic establishment represented an economic threat
c. The challenge from Daoism and other polytheistic religions, which were appealing to Chinese merchants
d. The Buddhists' insistence on rebellion against the emperor
e. The entry of nomadic invaders who were Islamic during the ninth century




Answer: B

What made possible the rapid revival of empire under the Tang?

What made possible the rapid revival of empire under the Tang?



a. The rebuilding of the imperial bureaucracy using Confucian ideology
b. The abandonment of Confucianism in favor of the more widely practiced Buddhism
c. The brevity of the period of political dislocation
d. The willingness of the Tang to abandon traditional approaches to government
e. Massive grain imports from southern China led to a population increase.





Answer: A

Which of the following statements concerning urbanization in China during the Tang-Song era is most accurate?

Which of the following statements concerning urbanization in China during the Tang-Song era is most accurate?



a. Chinese urbanization mushroomed during the Tang-Song era with a higher proportion of the population living in cities.
b. The degree of urbanization reached during the Han dynasty was never achieved during the Tang-Song era, although some recovery of cities accompanied the commercial revival.
c. Cities were depopulated as people moved back into the countryside due to the collapse of the Chinese economy.
d. The imperial capitals were enormous, but there were few other Chinese cities of size.
e. Chinese urbanization was more pronounced in northern China, but lagged in southern China.





Answer: A

Which of the following statements concerning entry into the Chinese bureaucracy is most accurate?

Which of the following statements concerning entry into the Chinese bureaucracy is most accurate?



a. The examination system was eliminated during the Tang dynasty, and only members of the imperial family served in the bureaucracy.
b. Birth and family connections continued to be important in securing high office.
c. The higher levels of the Chinese bureaucracy were dominated by many bright commoners.
d. Although the examination system continued to be monitored, almost all official received positions as a result of family connections.
e. Under the Tang family connections ceased to be of significance, as all candidates received office based on their score in the examination system.





Answer: B

The title of jinshi was reserved for those who

The title of jinshi was reserved for those who



a. traced their ancestry back to the Han.
b. served in the Chinese military.
c. were members of the Chinese aristocracy.
d. passed the most difficult exams on Chinese literature.
e. were members of the imperial family.



Answer: D

Which of the following was NOT an eventual impact of the development of neo-Confucian schools of thought?

Which of the following was NOT an eventual impact of the development of neo-Confucian schools of thought?



a. Reinforcement of class, age, and gender distinctions
b. Hostility to foreign philosophical systems like Buddhism
c. Historical experiences were held to be the most practical guide to life.
d. The stifling of innovation and critical thinking in favor of traditionalism
e. Destruction of the mandarins




Answer: E

What made the reunification of China under the first Sui emperor possible?

What made the reunification of China under the first Sui emperor possible?



a. The support of the nomadic warrior elite
b. The support of the Buddhist monasteries
c. The support of the ethnic Chinese aristocracy
d. The threat of barbarian invasion
e. The support of the Confucian scholar-gentry



Answer: A

What was the result of the imperial attempt by the Tang to suppress Buddhism within the Chinese empire?

What was the result of the imperial attempt by the Tang to suppress Buddhism within the Chinese empire?



a. Buddhism was eradicated in China by the end of the Tang era and replaced by the traditional Daoist and Confucian beliefs.
b. Buddhism survived the repression, but in a reduced state without the political influence of the early Tang years.
c. Buddhism survived the brief imperial persecution and was restored as the primary religion of the state during the Song dynasty.
d. Buddhism became a sect of minor importance but with many followers among the scholar-gentry.
e. Despite official attempts to suppress Buddhism, monastic orders continued to exert political influence and control landed wealth as they did in the first decades of Tang rule.





Answer: B

Which of the following statements concerning the extent of the Tang empire is most accurate?

Which of the following statements concerning the extent of the Tang empire is most accurate?



a. The Tang built an empire that was far larger than the Han, an empire whose boundaries in many directions extended beyond the borders of modern China.
b. The Tang extended the empire in all directions except westward, where the Turks remained entirely independent of the Chinese emperor.
c. The Tang empire incorporated India and southeast Asia as well as the areas north of the Yellow River plain.
d. The Tang empire was unable to recover the territorial extent of the Han, but did recover northern areas from the nomads.
e. The Tang empire stopped expanding and was divided into three parts when a civil war broke out.





Answer: A

Which of the following descriptions of Pure Land Buddhism is NOT accurate?

Which of the following descriptions of Pure Land Buddhism is NOT accurate?



a. It offered a refuge from war and turmoil.
b. It appealed to upper class Chinese.
c. It appealed to the Chinese commoners.
d. It was founded by Chinese monks.
e. It was a salvationist variant of Buddhism.





Answer: B

What was the primary reform enacted during the reign of the first Sui emperor?

What was the primary reform enacted during the reign of the first Sui emperor?



a. The creation of granaries to relieve the threat of famine
b. The reconstruction of the Confucian scholar-gentry
c. Persecution of the Buddhists
d. The destruction of the Great Wall
e. The construction of the Grand Canal





Answer: A

Unlike his father, the second Sui emperor favored

Unlike his father, the second Sui emperor favored



a. the Confucian scholar-gentry class.
b. the Buddhists.
c. nomadic elements in northern China.
d. the Chinese peasants.
e. the great Chinese aristocratic families.




Answer: A

What was a primary difference between marriages, families, and households of the upper and lower classes in Tang-Song China?

What was a primary difference between marriages, families, and households of the upper and lower classes in Tang-Song China?



a. Upper-class men rarely married foot-bound women.
b. Members of the elite often married before the age of puberty.
c. Extended family households were more common in upper-class households than in lower-class ones.
d. In the upper classes, males frequently married females of a younger generation.
e. Households of the lower classes tended not to be patriarchal.




Answer: C

What caused the flight of the Song dynasty from its capital in northern China?

What caused the flight of the Song dynasty from its capital in northern China?



a. Extensive flooding in the Yellow River basin
b. The invasions of the Jurchens who had formed the Qin kingdom
c. Attempted takeover by the Khitans
d. A rebellion led by a nomadic general, An Lushan
e. The Huang-chao rebellion




Answer: B

What was the attitude of the Tang emperors toward the Confucian scholar-gentry?

What was the attitude of the Tang emperors toward the Confucian scholar-gentry?





a. The Tang feared the development of the scholar-gentry and continued to support the nomadic aristocracy of China.
b. The scholar-gentry class began to evolve into a new merchant and trade class due to the intervention of the emperors.
c. The Tang supported the rebirth of the Confucian scholar-gentry, often at the expense of the aristocracy.
d. Confucianism continued to wane during the Tang dynasty and was only resuscitated under the Song.
e. The Tang continued to support and patronize the growth of Buddhism in China at the expense of the Confucian scholar-gentry.



Answer: C
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