Multiple-Choice Question Types
0: Conventional (typical multiple-choice, multiple models from life)
1: Map showing phenomena and analysis of key symbology
2: Chart showing a pattern, must recognize the underlying cause of pattern
and/or the likely effect
3: Types of sources historians use and what the strengths and limitations of the
sources are
4: How primary sources reflect the influence of cultural constructs
5: Recognition of how the author’s context may influence the content and/or
attitude of the source (POV)
6: Understanding how evidence supports or contradicts claims
7: Understanding global chronologies and periodization
8: Understanding global context sufficiently for recognition of significant
turning points
9: Ability to recognize key features of a historical theory and understanding
how evidence would support or contradict the theory
1: Map showing phenomena and analysis of key symbology
What conclusion can you make about the Vikings, based upon the map?
a. The cultural center of Viking life was Iceland.
b. The Vikings generally began their voyages in Scandinavia.
c. The Vikings were less interested in Europe than in Greenland and North America.
d. Vikings conquered Iceland, Greenland, and L’Anse aux Meadows.
The map above shows which of the following political developments? A. The expansion of the Byzantine Empire’s theme system B. The Crusader states
C. The Mongol khanates D. The Muslim caliphates
Which of the following accounts for the pattern seen in the medieval map above? A. percentage of people involved in farming
B. percentage of people living in an organized empire C. percentage of people who are Shia Muslim
2: Chart showing a pattern, must recognize the underlying cause of pattern
and/or the likely effect
The Vikings appeared to end their colonization efforts in Greenland around
a. 1000 AD
b. 1200 AD
c. 1350 AD
d. During the Little Ice Age
Which of the following might be the best inference based on the chart above?
a. The Vikings became stronger as the weather got colder.
b. During the Little Ice Age, Vikings were able to conquer Europe and had no
need to colonize elsewhere.
c. The Vikings did little exploring until 900 AD.
3: Types of sources historians use and what the strengths and limitations of the
sources are
A historian researching the social and economic effects of the increase in global trade networks from 1300-1500 probably would find which of the following sources to be the most useful?
A. A Venetian merchant diary
B. Persian and Chinese government data from the time period indicating the increases in need for peasant labor
C. a large collection of currencies from different regions in the time period D. the published travel journals of Marco Polo
Which of the following would be the most useful source of evidence for research about the profits of Portuguese and British slave traders in the period 1600-1800?
A. Portuguese and British tax records
B. Narratives of slaves transported to the Americas C. European slave traders’ account books
D. Journals of African slave traders
All of the following explain why diaries are useful to historians, compared to published works, EXCEPT A. They are more likely to be accurate because they are based on the immediate experiences of the
writer.
B. They are more likely to contain a writer’s actual opinions and thoughts, not having to fear audience reaction.
C. They provide better insights into the effects of events on the personal lives of people. D. They have more interesting and exciting information than the average book.
4: How primary sources reflect the influence of cultural constructs
One may read that which follows in Bukhari and Muslim [religious authorities of the ninth century]: 'Jews and Christians shall never begin a greeting; if you encounter one of them on the road, push him into the narrowest and tightest spot.' The absence of every mark of consideration toward them is obligatory for us; we ought never to give them the place of honor in an assembly when a Muslim is present. This is in order to humble them and to honor the true believers. They should under no circumstances acquire Muslim slaves, white or black. Therefore they should get rid of the slaves which they now have for the), have no right to own them. If one of their slaves who was formerly an infidel, becomes a Muslim, he shall be removed from them, and his master, willingly or unwillingly, shall be compelled to sell him and to accept the price for him.
Shaikh Hasan Al Kafrawi, Ulama professor of Muslim law, “The Status of Jews and Christians in Muslim Lands: A Response to a Question”, 1772
The author was describing how to fix the difficulties associated with A. Crusaders
B. Slavery of Africans
C. The Ottoman millet system D. Suleiman’s invasion of Europe
To obtain the inestimable benefits of meditation, you should first make a firm decision to practice every day…Wear loose clothing and remove your shoes…Breathe through your nostrils…Many thoughts will crowd into your mind. Don’t dwell on thoughts of good or bad. Don’t desire to attain enlightenment. Let your thoughts come and go without getting involved in them or trying to suppress them. Think the unthinkable. In other words, think no-thinking.
The quotation above from Dogen illustrates the influence of A. Zen Buddhism
B. Daoism C. Sufism D. Confucianism
5: Recognition of how the author’s context may influence the content and/or
attitude of the source (POV)
“Justinian created countless cities which did not exist before. And finding that the belief in God was...straying into errors...he brought it about that it stood on the firm foundation of a single faith...”
Buildings, Court Historian Procopius, published speech c. 550s CE Judging from the excerpt above, which of the following was the main purpose of Procopius’ book?
(A) To oppose a plan for the long-term development of religious toleration (B) To argue that Justinian was a strong and helpful leader
(C) To criticize the leaders of the Christian churches for misinterpretations of faith (D) To suggest that the ruinous costs of city-building were mitigated by religious unity
The Romans had inflicted many injuries upon the Pontiff Leo, tearing out his eyes and cutting out his tongue, so that he had been compelled to call upon the King for help [Nov 24, 800]. Charles
accordingly went to Rome, to set in order the affairs of the Church, which were in great confusion, and passed the whole winter there. It was then that he received the titles of Emperor and Augustus [Dec 25, 800], to which he at first had such an aversion that he declared that he would not have set foot in the Church the day that they were conferred, although it was a great feast-day, if he could have foreseen the design of the Pope. He bore very patiently with the jealousy which the Roman emperors showed upon his assuming these titles, for they took this step very ill; and by dint of frequent embassies and letters, in which he addressed them as brothers, he made their haughtiness yield to his magnanimity, a quality in which he was unquestionably much their superior.
Einhard, Frankish scholar and courtier to Charlemagne, A.D. 817
The point of view of the author can best be described as (A) sympathetic to Charlemagne
(B) hostile to Charlemagne
(C) indifferent to the reactions of the Roman government officials (D) sympathetic to the Pontiff Leo
Those who imitate the clothes of another country or order their women to bind their feet…have their bodies in our dynasty but their hearts in another country.
Manchu emperor Hong Taiji, Imperial Decree, 1638
The Manchu emperor’s command was likely influenced by which of the following considerations? A. As a nomadic conqueror, he wants to make sure his people do not view the Chinese as superior B. Hong Taiji is concerned that his people will dream of an earlier time and not focus on the
present needs
C. The Manchu empire has lost a lucrative trade in shoemaking due to the Chinese style of footbinding
6: Understanding how evidence supports or contradicts claims
In the Hellenistic world, education underwent a significant transformation. In the Classical period of Greek history, education had been left largely to private enterprise. Greek cities now began to supervise education in new ways. The Greek gymnasium, which had been primarily an athletic institution, evolved into a secondary school. The curriculum centered on music, physical exercise, and literature, especially the poetry of Homer. Wealthy individuals often provided the money for the schools and also specified how it should be spent…(Spielvogel, p. 103)
Which of the following most directly undermines the argument made in the passage?
a) The existence of sophist teachers in Athens
b) Alexander the Great sponsoring the construction of libraries such as the one in Egyptian Alexandria
c) Classical Athenian schools emphasizing the arts as well as physical education d) Spartan military schools for the Spartiates
“Caste [Indian] lessened the significance of political, territorial administration. Everyone identified himself first and foremost with his caste…No king or ruler could command the undivided loyalty of people who felt themselves to belong to a caste rather than to a state”
William McNeill, 1971
"Our bodies are known to end, but the embodied self is enduring, indestructible, and immeasurable; therefore, Arjuna, fight the battle!...If you think of its birth and death as ever-recurring, then too, Great Warrior, you have no cause to grieve!...If you fail to wage this war of sacred duty, you will abandon your own duty and fame only to gain evil.”
Bhagavad-Gita
The second passage does not contradict the first passage because the second passage a) Justifies warfare on the basis of religious responsibility rather than political loyalty.
b) Emphasizes the idea that reincarnation means that a bad reputation will not stay with you in rebirth.
7: Understanding global chronologies and periodization
Questions will describe events happening and ask for which is the appropriate
time frame…
8: Understanding global context sufficiently for recognition of significant
turning points
Some historians consider the period from 1350-1550 to be the beginning of a major shift in political and cultural hegemonies.
Which of the following best supports this argument? A. Ming China’s decision to stop oceanic exploration B. The rise of the Ottoman Empire
C. European oceanic exploration D. The rise of American imperial states
Which of the following changes best justifies the claim that the 1450s and 1460s CE mark a new period in world history?
A. The Hundred Years War ended between England and France.
B. Constantinople was seized by the Ottoman Turks, ending the Byzantine Empire. C. The Italian Renaissance entered the “High Renaissance” period.
9: Ability to recognize key features of a historical theory and understanding
how evidence would support or contradict the theory
The Theory of Axial Age, 1000-200 BCE
During the period 1000-200 BCE, changes in the social and political environments of many classical civilizations led to a period of revolutionary thought in religion and philosophy. Political chaos with the collapse of empires led to new systems of thinking in order to fix the difficulties of societies if possible, or if not, to at least find a personal belief that would offer a sustainable way of life and sense of hope in troubled times.
Which of the following best challenges the contentions made by this theory? a) Confucianism
b) Judaism c) Daoism d) Zoroastrianism
Some historians have argued that the gunpowder empires of Asia collapsed primarily due to internal problems rather than the influence of outside phenomena
Which of the following represents a complication in that theory? A. Janissary domination of Ottoman politics
B. High rates of inflation caused by an influx of silver C. the devastating impact of the dynastic harem policies
D. religious tensions in the later years of the Safavid and Mughal empires Medieval Cultures of Faith
During the medieval period of Eurasia, new religious and philosophic traditions emphasizing universal truths spread. These new belief systems tended to emphasize the need for disassociation from “normal” society, in favor of joining communities of others who wished to devote most of their time to achieve personal spirituality. Not only did this offer a way for lower classes and women to benefit themselves, but it also gained criticism from traditionalists who were concerned about the
movements’ negative effects on the strength of the family.
Which of the following could be used as a piece of evidence to counter the pattern suggested by the passage above?
a) Confucianism b) Buddhism c) Daoism d) Christianity
