8th Grade World History Chapter 1 Test

"[We] can only know ourselves by knowing how we resemble and how we differ from others. Acquaintance [familiarity] with the human past is the only way to such self knowledge. . . .

In [studying history], eternal and unchanging truth does not emerge. Only inspired, informed guesses about what mattered and how things changed through time. . . . Not very good, perhaps; simply the best we have in the unending effort to understand ourselves and others . . ."

—Excerpt from "Why Study History?" by William H. McNeil

According to McNeill, what do people gain from the study of history?

• 1. They discover absolute truth.

• 1. They discover that the past was not very good.

• 1. They learn more about themselves.

• 1. They learn to give their best effort in what they do.

"[We] can only know ourselves by knowing how we resemble and how we differ from others. Acquaintance [familiarity] with the human past is the only way to such self knowledge. . . .

In [studying history], eternal and unchanging truth does not emerge. Only inspired, informed guesses about what mattered and how things changed through time. . . . Not very good, perhaps; simply the best we have in the unending effort to understand ourselves and others . . ."

—Excerpt from "Why Study History?" by William H. McNeill

With which statement would McNeill agree?

• 6. Studying history is a waste of time.

• 6. We have much to learn from history.

• 6. History has no influence on the present time.

• 6. We should look to history for the answers to all of our questions.

"Historians do not perform heart transplants, improve highway design, or arrest criminals. . . . History is in fact very useful, actually indispensable [necessary], but the products of historical study are less tangible [physical], sometimes less immediate, than those that stem from some other disciplines."

—Excerpt from "Why Study History?" by Peter N. Stearns

Which part of this passage is fact?

• "Historians do not perform heart transplants"

• "History is in fact very useful"

"Historians do not perform heart transplants, improve highway design, or arrest criminals. . . . History is in fact very useful, actually indispensable [necessary], but the products of historical study are less tangible [physical], sometimes less immediate, than those that stem from some other disciplines."

—Excerpt from "Why Study History?" by Peter N. Stearns

Which part of this passage is opinion?

• "Historians do not perform heart transplants"

• "History is in fact very useful"

A work of scholarly history can be identified by what?

• 6. its lively writing style.

• 6. its biased point of view.

• 6. its accuracy and lack of bias.

• 6. its relevance to current events.

If you were researching data on the population of India, which online source would most likely contain reliable information?

• 1. www.tourism-india.com

• 1. www.cia.gov/india

• 1. www.beautiful-people-of-india.org

• 1. www.population.com

What is one way to avoid plagiarism?

• 6. Always give credit to someone else for their ideas.

• 6. Never use the Internet for research.

• 6. Read a source three times.

• 6. Always use the library for research.

How does the Gregorian calendar label events that happened after the birth of Jesus?

• 1. b.c.e

• 1. c.e.

  
  

• 1. a.d.

• 1. b.c.

An anthropologist is a historian who studies

• 6. fossils found in sea beds.

• 6. ancient plant life.

• 6. animal behavior.

• 6. the history of human culture.

A historian looks for firsthand evidence about an event in which type of resource?

• 1. a secondary source

• 1. a primary source

• 1. the Internet

• 1. an online scholarly journal