College Countdown APWH Practice Exam

For what period would archaeologists first begin to find permanent human settlements? A. The Paleolithic B. The Classical Era C. The Bronze Age D. The Neolithic

Identify the statement that best begins an explanation of the Neolithic Revolution. A. In Northern Europe, nomadic hunters began to produce more complex stone tools. B. In East Asia, early settlers began using markings on turtle shells and bones as an early form of record keeping. C. In the Middle East, people began to settle in small communi- ties and practice agriculture. D. In Mesoamerica, agricultural settlements saw an expansion of their populations and the beginning of more complex governments.

-More reliable and abundant food supply -Job specialization based on a surplus of food -Development of a more formal social hierarchy -Increased population creating some social pressures as traditional family/clan loyalties broke down ~All of the above resulted from what cultural change?~ A. The development of complex government B. The adoption of agriculture C. The development of metal tools D. The growth of complex, organized religion

Which of the following civilizations shares the most in common with the Harappan civilization found in the Indus River Valley? A. The Mogul Empire in India B. The Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan C. The Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica D. The Athenian city-state in ancient Greece

Identify the important original contribution of the Hebrew culture to the civilizations in the Middle East and Mediterranean during the Classical Period. A. Monotheism B. Written legal code C. Phonetic alphabet D. Priest caste

Identify the sacred text that originated in the area shaded above after the migration of the Aryan people from Central Asia, shown by the arrow on the map. A. Torah B. The Analects C. Vedas D. The Book of the Dead

Confucianism established political and social systems in China while what other philosophy contributed significantly to China's medical practices and art and architecture? A. Legalism B. Shintoism C. Hinduism D. Daoism

In addition to Judaism, identify the two cultures that most influ- enced the development of early Christianity. A. Sumerian and Egyptian B. Greek and Roman C. Egyptian and Greek D. Sumerian and Roman

What statement best explains the presence of Greek architectural styles throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean? A. Greek trading empires and the conquests of Alexander the Great spread Hellenic culture across these areas. B. The Romans adopted Hellenic culture and then spread it to all parts of the empire. C. The Persian conquest of the Greek city-states allowed for Greek culture to spread into its empire. D. The decline of pre-Classical civilizations made Greek culture the most attractive to people living in these regions.

What civilization was initially responsible for the unification of the Middle East, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), and the Iranian plateau? A. Rome B. Egypt C. Ottoman D. Persian

What statement accurately compares the government of the Han dynasty with that of the Roman Republic? A. Power in the Han dynasty was concentrated in a centralized bureaucracy dominated by Confucian scholars while power in the Roman Republic was shared among the major landowning families of Rome. B. Power in the Han dynasty rested solely with the emperor while in Rome all citizens were able to express their opinions and influence government. C. Power in the Han dynasty was concentrated in a centralized bureaucracy dominated by Confucian scholars while in the Roman Republic all citizens shared power in governmental decisions. D. Power in the Han dynasty rested in the hands of the military generals and their successors, who had helped defeat the previ- ous Qin dynasty, while power in the Roman Republic rested in the hands of legion commanders and provincial governors.

What statement defines the dynastic cycle? A. Chinese governments ruled based on the power of a single family. B. While at first militarily powerful, as a dynasty came to depend more on Confucian scholars than generals, it became weaker militarily and would eventually fall to foreign invasion. C. Chinese government depended upon economic growth to sus- tain power, and as the economy declined, based on cycles, so too did the dynasties. D. Initially a Chinese government enjoyed prosperity and eco- nomic growth, but over time corruption, internal disasters, and external invasions all eroded a dynasty's power.

What statement best explains the changes in the Roman legions after about 200 CE? A. The legions stopped using the traditional phalanx formation that was developed by Greek warriors and instead began to fight with more open lines and swords instead of spears. B. The legions no longer protected the Roman frontier as they turned to looting the wealthy provinces of Italy and Greece. C. The legions became more dependent on foreign recruits, espe- cially Germans, as fewer Romans volunteered for military service. D. The legions became more devoted to individual commanders and not to the Senate and people of Rome.

What statement offers the most complete analysis of the decline of the Han dynasty? A. Migrations of Germanic people from the north; lack of citizen participation in government; unemployment due to excessive numbers of slaves. B. Attacks by militarily superior horse-mounted steppe tribesmen equipped with strong bows; regional political rivalries taking advantage of a weak central government; diseases/plagues dev- astating the populations of major cities. C. Attacks by militarily superior horse-mounted steppe tribesmen equipped with strong bows; internal revolts due to increased taxes and weakening central authority; weak emperors and cor- rupt bureaucracy. D. Disruption of trade networks by well-equipped tribesmen from the steppes; exhaustion of local agricultural lands due to overfarming; decline in the available number of slaves due to military defeats and slave revolts.

Identify the major trade network between Asia and Europe. A. Trans-Saharan caravans B. The Silk Road C. Indian Ocean sea-lanes D. Mediterranean sea-lanes

In the eighth century CE, identify the city that became the center of trade along the Silk Road. A. Venice B. Timbuktu C. Calicut D. Baghdad

\"Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'\" —Moses's words to Pharaoh as recounted in the Bible, Exodus 5:1 ~Identify which of the following religions that would NOT accept the statement above as part of their religious heritage.~ A. Roman Catholicism B. Islam C. Eastern Orthodox D. Zoroastrianism

Though often not officially interested in foreign trade, what exam- ple below indicates the involvement of the Chinese government in internal trade? A. The Great Wall of China B. The opening of the civil service exam to all backgrounds C. The construction of the Grand Canal D. The use of tax money for flood control

Which of the following is a correct analysis of the impact of the early Mongol Empire on trade? A. The Mongols looted caravans to the point that the Silk Road no longer facilitated trade across Asia. B. The Mongols patrolled trade routes and protected caravans in their empire, leading to a boom in trade along the Silk Road. C. Merchants sought other routes, especially through Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, to avoid the Mongol tribesmen. D. Merchants were forced to turn to other professions as the Mongols refused to allow other peoples to move through their empire.

The image above is an indication of the growing influence of what culture in India? A. Persian B. Buddhist C. Chinese D. Islamic

What statement best explains the adoption of the Arabic language across North Africa? A. The retreat of the Roman Empire allowed people to return to their native language. B. The Islamic conquest destroyed the native population living in this region. C. The Islamic conquest of the region resulted in many conver- sions to Islam and the adoption of Islamic customs. D. The defeat of the Byzantine Empire convinced many inhabit- ants of the superiority of Arabic culture.

What statement explains the origins of Swahili culture? A. Bantu peoples moving into southern Africa pushed many groups toward the India seacoast, where they were forced to adopt local customs. B. Bantu peoples moving into southern Africa traded with Arabs along the east coast, creating a blended culture. C. Arab merchants dominated trade along the African coast, forc- ing their culture on the small and weak local city-states. D. Arab merchants inhabited the coastal regions of East Africa but were forced to change their agrarian and trade customs to fit the local climate.

In many Southeast Asian trade cities, diasporic communities from this culture played a very important role in the local econ-omy and politics. A. Indian B. Greek/Hellenic C. Japanese D. Chinese

Story: He [Kublai Khan] makes them take of the bark of a certain tree. What they take is a certain fine white skin which lies between the wood of the tree and the thick outer bark, and this they make into something resembling sheets of paper, but black. When these sheets have been prepared they are cut up into pieces of different sizes. The smallest of these sizes is worth a half tornesel; the next, a little larger, one tornesel; one, a little larger still, is worth half a silver groat of Venice; another a whole groat; others yet two groats, five groats, and ten groats...and on every piece a variety of officials, whose duty it is, have to write their names, and to put their seals. And when all is prepared duly, the chief officer deputed by the Khan smears the seal entrusted to him with vermilion, and impresses it on the paper, so that the form of the seal remains printed upon it in red; the money is then authentic. Anyone forging it would be punished with death. And the Khan causes every year to be made such a vast quantity of this money, which costs him nothing, that it must equal in amount all the treasure in the world. —From The Travels of Marco Polo ~What statement best evaluates Marco Polo's discussion of paper money from the perspective of a modern economist?~ A. Absolute authority allowed for the printing of unlimited amounts of currency without inflation. B. Marco Polo failed to understand how the khan collects wealth in order to print the currency without rampant inflation. C. Due to lack of foreign trade, the printing of currency by the khan does not increase inflation because no foreign wealth enters the Chinese economy. D. As long as a national government—the khan in this case—is trusted by its people, the government can print currency with- out fear of inflation.

The influence of Islam in Southeast Asia is an example of: A. imperialism. B. migration. C. cultural diffusion. D. ethnocentrism.

What statement best explains how Greek and Roman learning was preserved during the Middle Ages in Europe? A. Monasteries saw it as their mission to copy all of the older texts of the Greek and Roman philosophers. B. The works of Greek and Roman philosophers were preserved by both the Byzantine and the Islamic civilizations. C. The Roman Catholic Church maintained extensive libraries of Greek and Roman works throughout Europe. D. The collapse in Western Europe was not so great as to cause a shutdown of universities at the major population centers.

Identify the major source of instability across Asia and Europe dur- ing the fourteenth century: A. Steppe tribesmen B. The Black Death C. The Islamic caliph D. Famine

What statement explains the bureaucratic view of Buddhism during the Tang dynasty? A. Buddhism provided the society with a means of appeasing the poorer peasant classes because, unlike Confucianism, it was egalitarian. B. Buddhism was a threat to the power of the Confucian bureau- cracy because it offered an alternative social organization. C. Buddhism was not recognized as an issue for the bureaucracy because it was a religion that did not address political issues. D. Buddhism was seen as a challenge to the Confucian religious beliefs held by many in the bureaucracy.

How did the caravel alter European society in the fifteenth century? A. It allowed for more accurate navigation. B. It gave the European powers a strong military advantage over their chief rivals, the Ottoman Empire. C. It allowed for long-distance ocean travel. D. It provided Europeans with a means of challenging Islamic power in the Mediterranean.

Identify the nation that led European exploration through govern- ment efforts to provide their sailors with the most advanced naviga- tion instruments and techniques available. A. Spain B. France C. Portugal D. Great Britain

What allowed Britain and France to benefit from Spain's silver min- ing in Latin America? A. Both nations manufactured goods for sale to Spain, which did not develop a strong manufacturing sector. B. Britain used military resources to take Spanish colonies while France's royal family inherited the Spanish throne through marriage. C. Britain used military resources to take Spanish colonies while France provided Spain with manufactured goods. D. Both of these nations used military force to seize colonies in the silver-producingare as.

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, what fueled the increase in global trade? A. The export of cheap labor in the form of slaves from Africa B. The active participation of the Chinese government in expand- ing trade C. The massive amounts of silver made available from New World mines D. The influx of New World cash crops like sugar and tobacco

What statement best compares the results of the Columbian Exchange in Europe and China? A. Both areas saw population increases and economic growth fueled by New World silver. B. While Europe saw great economic growth, the Chinese econ- omy failed to benefit from new wealth and suffered due to population growth caused by the New World crops. C. Europe benefited economically from New World silver while there was almost no impact in China. D. Europe's economy failed to grow because most New World silver went to China to purchase luxury trade goods like porce- lain and silk.

What statement best compares agricultural changes in the New and the Old Worlds due to the Columbian Exchange? A. In the New World, the importation of new grain crops pro- vided a boost to world food production while exotic crops like tomatoes had little impact on Old World agriculture. B. In the New World, cash crops like sugar became the key agricul- tural product while potatoes and corn contributed to increased food production in the Old World. C. In the New World, little agricultural change occurred because the native population was devastated by disease; however, potatoes and corn contributed to population growth in Europe and China. D. In the New World, both food production and cash crop pro- duction grew rapidly while the Old World experienced little agricultural changes.

What identifies one result of cash crop production in the New World? A. Deforestation B. Urbanization C. Desertification D. Famine

The spread of Islam into India and Southeast Asia was facilitated by: A. the military conquest of the caliphate. B. the introduction of Sufi mysticism. C. the lack of native belief systems. D. the Mongol conquest.

The creation of the Atlantic trade network greatly facilitated the spread of what religion? A. Islam B. Sikhism C. Animism D. Christianity

The Renaissance resulted from economic growth in Europe, but it was most recognized for A. the creation of political systems dominated by the middle class. B. innovations in visual and performing arts. C. the establishment of global empires by the European powers. D. the elimination of the aristocracy as the elite class of the European social system.

What was the purpose of the encomienda system in the Spanish colonies of the New World? A. Provide an incentive for Spanish settlers to immigrate to the New World B. Allow for the creation of independent states allied with the Spanish Crown C. Provide labor for the creation of Spanish plantations, ranches, and mining D. Facilitate the conversion of the native population to Roman Catholicism

What social class developed in the Spanish colonies of the New World that had the ability to amass economic wealth but could not achieve political power? A. Mestizos B. Creoles C. Mulattos D. Peninsulares

What was the purpose of the European monarchs in claiming rule through the divine right of kings? A. To reinforce the power of the church over secular rulers B. To establish a stronger connection between church and state C. To strengthen a king's claim to absolute power over his subjects D. To allow the nobility to use the king as a symbol of central political authority without actually giving the king this great power

What European nation established the largest land-based empire by the mid-eighteenth century? A. Great Britain B. France C. Austria-Hungary D. Russia

All of the following factors contributed to the Industrial Revolution in Europe EXCEPT: A. the accumulation of capital. B. improved agricultural productivity. C. improvements in navigational tools. D. legal protection of private property.

The steam engine and the internal combustion engine both made possible the exploitation of A. fossil fuels for energy. B. the forests of Europe for energy. C. the newly discovered riches of the Americas. D. agriculture workers due to improved transportation.

In the nineteenth century, all of the following areas industrialized EXCEPT: A. the United States. B. Russia. C. Japan. D. China.

What statement best describes the economies of the newly indepen- dent nations of South America during the nineteenth century? A. These nations began industrializing through the process of import substitution. B. These nations developed subsistence farming economies to replace the imports of European grains. C. Latin America became dependent on the production of a small number of natural resources or cash crops for export to global markets. D. Latin America attracted large numbers of immigrants, which provided cheap labor for its growing industrial economy.

In the nineteenth century, India's economy was forced to: A. industrialize to meet the growing demands of a wealthy British middle class. B. abandon much of its food production in favor of expanding the production of textiles and cash crops. C. provide cheap labor for the factories of Britain. D. abandon its participation in the larger global economy in order to improve British trade.

What market held the greatest attraction for the European powers during the nineteenth century? A. The United States B. Africa C. China D. Latin America

As the world's economy expanded in the nineteenth century, the need for greater supplies of money led to a rush to develop new gold and diamond mines in A. South Africa. B. Brazil. C. Alaska. D. Arabia.

By the late nineteenth century, leading industrial powers like Great Britain and the United States depended upon an economic system originally described by A. John Locke. B. Adam Smith. C. Karl Marx. D. Alexander Hamilton.

Prior to the railroad, what allowed for the rapid and regular trans- portation of goods in Great Britain? A. An extensive paved road system B. A fleet of coastal barges C. A small number of highly urbanized population centers D. A system of rivers and water canals

Why was Communism viewed as a threat in industrial nations like Great Britain and Germany? A. Communism required greater participation of the working poor in government. B. Communism called for the violent overthrow of those in power and did not protect private property. C. Communism demanded an end to the colonial system so that workers in the home nations could demand better pay and benefits. D. Communism would create a political system that did not pro- tect the special privileges of the nobility or middle class.

What was the goal of the Chinese Self-Strengthening Movement started by Prince Gong in the late nineteenth century? A. To fight corruption in the bureaucracy by enforcing a strict version of Neoconfucian ethics B. The expulsion of foreigners from China by military force, which was rebuilt with increased taxes on the landowning class C. The adoption of Western technology and governmental sys- tems to prevent further outside domination of China D. To unite the nations of East Asia, Japan especially, with China in order to better oppose European and American exploitation of Asia

During the nineteenth century, why did conservative governments in Europe expand voting rights, establish public health-care systems, pay for social security pensions, and institute free public education systems? A. To avoid social and political unrest by appeasing the middle and urban poor classes B. To provide a better educated and happier industrial work force C. To prevent further emigration from Europe to the Americas D. To strengthen the loyalty of the people to the monarchies without real government reform

All the Powers exercising sovereign rights or influence in the aforesaid territories [Congo Basin] bind themselves to watch over the preservation of the native tribes, and to care for the improvement of the conditions of their moral and material well-being, and to help in suppressing slavery, and especially the Slave Trade. —Berlin Conference General Act (1885) We set off marching very quickly. My sister Katinga had her baby in her arms, and was not compelled to carry a basket; but my husband was made to carry a goat.... We had nothing to eat, for the [Belgian] soldiers would give us nothing.... [On] the fifth day...the soldiers took my sister's baby and threw it in the grass, leaving it to die, and made her carry some cooking pots.... On the sixth day we became very weak from lack of food and from constant marching and sleeping in the damp grass, and my husband, who marched behind us with the goat, could not stand up longer, and so he sat down and refused to walk more. The soldiers beat him, but still he refused to move. Then one of them struck him on the head with the end of his gun, and he fell upon the ground. One of the soldiers caught the goat, while two or three others stuck the long knives they put on the ends of their guns into my husband. —\"To the white men's town at Nyangwe, Belgian Congo,\" as told to American Edgar Canisius, 1903 ~The events of the second passage were allowed to happen because the agreement reached in Berlin:~ A. did not apply to Belgium. B. failed to include the use of coerced labor in its protections. C. did not include any formal requirement that nations enforce the obligations it established. D. failed to include any means of monitoring the actions of nations in the Congo to make sure they fulfilled their obligations.

In what colony did slavery result in a successful slave rebellion that established an independent state? A. Brazil B. Haiti C. Colombia D. Jamaica

In 1900, European, American, and Japanese troops landed in China to put down a rebellion initiated by the Society of the Righteous Harmonious Fist, called Boxers by Westerners, because: A. even though the Westerners did not favor the Qing dynasty, they did not want it replaced by a stronger Chinese government. B. of treaty obligations the Western governments and Japan had negotiated with the weak Qing dynasty. C. the Boxers' goal was the expulsion of foreigners and their influ- ence from China. D. the rebellion provided an excuse to permanently station Western troops in China based on a series of previous treaty agreements.

The population boom in many areas of Eastern and Southern Europe during the latter part of the nineteenth century did not create exces- sive economic hardships because A. many in these areas were able to emigrate to the United States or South America. B. these areas were also in the midst of rapid industrialization and needed a supply of factory workers. C. the decline of the Ottoman Empire allowed nations in Eastern Europe to expand into new territory. D. Russia encouraged many in the region to migrate to Siberia to establish new agrarian and mining communities.

In the early twentieth century, what scientist developed a set of new theories that challenged Sir Isaac Newton's position as the leading theoretical physicist? A. Sigmund Freud B. Marie Curie C. Max Planck D. Niels Bohr

Which of the following sources of economic and social upheavals is NOT directly related to the historical trend indicated on the graph on the previous page? A. Rising food prices B. Dwindling access to adequate freshwater supplies C. Increasing price of natural resources used in industry D. Increasing amounts of national budgets dedicated to military purchases

During World War I, what new military technique led to unprec- edented numbers of combat deaths? A. Submarine warfare B. Atomic weapons C. Trench warfare D. Aerial combat

Which of the following statements is an accurate comparison of the Ottoman, Russian, and Qing Empires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries? A. Prior to their collapse, each of the empires attempted a series of Western-style reforms, but the ruling elites eventually failed to support the needed changes. B. Overexpansion of empires caused each to face economic tur- moil as taxes were increased to pay for military expenditures. C. The Ottoman and Russian Empires survived because of the adoption of some Western-style reforms while the Qing failed because it refused to alter centuries of Chinese tradition. D. The Ottoman Empire and Qing dynasty both lost territory to aggressive European powers while Russia, acting as an aggres- sor, expanded its empire during this time.

Which of the following best describes the Indian National Congress? A. A group of Indian nationalists who, disappointed in the fail- ure of the 1857 rebellion/mutiny, banded together to organize opposition to British rule B. A group of educated Indians who joined together to press for greater autonomy within British India C. A radicalized group of Indians who banded together to pro- mote attacks upon British authorities in India D. A pacifist movement organized by Indian Hindus to oppose outside influences in India

Which of the following was NOT an aspect of the colonial struggle for independence between Algeria and France? A. The presence of large numbers of French citizens in the Algerian colony B. Divided public opinion in France over military action in Algeria C. Direct intervention by the Soviet Union in assistance to the Algerian rebels D. The use of terror attacks against French citizens in Algeria

Which of the following was a common result after independence was achieved in an African nation? A. Movement toward a representative government to integrate the various ethnic groups into a common society B. The deliberate isolation of the nation from international politics so as to avoid a new form of imperialism based on economic domination C. The establishment of strong regional alliances to promote eco- nomic growth without dependence on developed nations D. The breakdown of society into ethnic rivalries, leading to inter- nal conflict

After seizing control of Egypt, what larger policy was promoted by Gamal Nasser in order to strengthen his position internationally? A. Pan-Africanism B. Communism C. Nonalignment D. Pan- Arabism

Article 2: ...any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: • Killing members of the group; • Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; • Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calcu- lated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; • Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; • Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. ~The above article, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, defines what as a crime under international law?~ A. Torture B. War C. Genocide D. Terrorism

What statement best assesses how the Great Depression contrib- uted to the beginning of World War II. A. New democratic governments failed to deal with the economic crisis caused by the Depression, allowing more radical political ideologies like fascism to take hold in their countries. B. The economic turmoil created the need to expand colonial possessions in order to secure scarce resources. C. The economic decline actually encouraged all nations to reduce military spending and attempt to maintain the peace much lon- ger than in previous decades. D. Governments attempted to use military action to promote nationalism and to distract people from the failure of economic policies to alleviate the crisis.

During the 1960s and 1970s, which of the following contributed to the establishment and continuation of authoritarian governments in the developing world? A. The nonaligned movement B. Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States C. An abundance of cheap commodities and manufactured goods in the global market D. A decision by the United Nations to respect the sovereignty of each nation regardless of its political organization

The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China each used Five-Year plans to: A. map out a strategy for the expansion of Communist parties in other nations. B. develop stronger military cooperation between the two countries. C. manage economic policies for agricultural and manufacturing production. D. act as term limits to allow for changeover in political leadership.