Test#1 Q3: Unit 3, Part 2

Which of the following best describes the historical division of European colonialism?

• 16th-18th centuries: colonized Americas and South Asia; 19th-20th centuries: expanded colonization into most of Africa, Southwest Asia, and other coastal regions of East and Southeast Asia

• 14th-16th centuries: colonized Americas and South Asia; 17th-18th centuries: expanded colonization into most of Africa, Southwest Asia, and other coastal regions of East and Southeast Asia

• 16th-18th centuries: colonized Africa, Southwest Asia, and other coastal regions of East and Southeast Asia; 19th-20th centuries: expanded colonization into the Americas and South Asia

• 14th-16th centuries: colonized Africa, Southwest Asia, and other coastal regions of East and Southeast Asia; 17th-18th centuries: expanded colonization into the Americas and South Asia

Answer explanation

Historians often divide European colonialism into two separate waves. From the 16th through the 18th centuries, Europeans colonized the Americas and South Asia. Then, during the next two centuries, European powers expanded colonization into most of Africa, Southwest Asia, and other coastal regions of East and Southeast Asia. This is what the passage describes as the historical division of European colonialism.

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the spread of languages?

• Relocation diffusion

• Expansion diffusion

• Social Media

• Conquest and colonialism

Answer explanation

In the passage, the author states that languages commonly spread through both relocation diffusion and expansion diffusion. Relocation diffusion occurs when people migrate and colonize to new locations and bring their culture and language with them.

Which of the following best explains why Mandarin Chinese did not spread globally?

• China never established colonies outside of Asia

• Mandarin Chinese is not a commonly spoken language

• Chinese speakers were only concentrated in China and port cities in Asia

• China has not been a powerful and innovative country for most of the past 2,000 years

Which of the following best explains why English has a wide spatial distribution?

• English is the most widely used language in the world

• Native speakers of English are concentrated in lands colonized by Great Britain

• Chinese speakers were only concentrated in China and port cities in Asia

• China has not been a powerful and innovative country for most of the past 2,000 years

Answer explanation

Native speakers of English are concentrated in lands colonized by Great Britain. This is because during the period of British colonialism, the English language was spread to many parts of the world through the establishment of colonies. As a result, native speakers of English are concentrated in countries such as the United States, Canada, South Africa, India, and Australia, which were all previously colonized by Great Britain.

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences culture through the spread of language?

• Urbanization

• Globalization

• Politics

• Weather patterns

Answer explanation

Urbanization and globalization are both mentioned as large-scale processes that influence culture, and politics is mentioned as one of the factors that influences culture through media, technological change, and other means.

Which of the following best describes the impact of communication technologies on the globalization of popular culture?

• They have led to the widespread adoption of American English around the world.

• They have increased the influence of traditional publishing methods.

• They have led to the concentration of popular culture creators in major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo.

• They have led to a decrease in the influence of mass media and the internet on popular culture.

Answer explanation

The passage discusses the impact of communication technologies on the globalization of popular culture. It states that these technologies, such as mass media, the internet, and traditional and online publishing, have allowed for the spread of popular culture through multiple methods of spatial diffusion. The passage also notes that due to historical processes such as colonialism, conquest, and trade, the English language has diffused around the world, with more recent developments in technology further strengthening the use of American English.

Which of the following best describes the process of time-space convergence mentioned in the passage?

• The reduction of distance between places through advancements in transportation technology

• The increased cultural diversity between places due to improved communication technology

• The increased use of wind-powered ships for transatlantic travel

• The homogenization of culture due to the increased mobility of people and ideas.

Which of the following is a concern regarding cultural convergence?

• The increase of interactions among cultures

• The extinction of indigenous or traditional cultures and languages

• The preservation of local or threatened languages through technology and social media

• The daily wear of jeans and t-shirts by people around the world.

Answer explanation

Cultural convergence refers to the blending and mixing of different cultures, often as a result of increased global communication and travel. While this can lead to the exchange of ideas and an increase in cultural understanding, it can also lead to the erosion of traditional or indigenous cultures. This can happen as people adopt the values, customs, and practices of dominant cultures, or as people migrate to cities and other urban areas, leaving their traditional ways of life behind. The extinction of indigenous or traditional cultures and languages is often seen as a negative consequence of cultural convergence, as these cultures and languages are an important part of human heritage and biodiversity.

Which of the following is NOT a potential consequence of cultural convergence?

• Exchange of ideas and increased cultural understanding

• Erosion of traditional or indigenous cultures

• Adoption of values, customs, and practices of dominant cultures

• Increase in human heritage and biodiversity

Answer explanation

Cultural convergence refers to the blending and mixing of different cultures that occurs as a result of increased global communication and travel. This process can have both positive and negative effects. On one hand, it can lead to the exchange of ideas and an increase in cultural understanding. On the other hand, it can lead to the erosion of traditional or indigenous cultures. This can happen as people adopt the values, customs, and practices of dominant cultures, or as people migrate to cities and other urban areas, leaving their traditional ways of life behind.

Which of the following best describes the main problem faced by the Navajo and other indigenous groups around the world?

• The loss of their native language and culture in the context of globalization

• Isolation from larger society

• Loss of communication due to the extinction of their traditional language

• Loss of a central part of their history, ethnicity, and cultural identity.