Ancient China: The Middle Kingdom Pre-Test

Ancient China grew up between two major rivers. One was the Yangtze; what was the other?

• The Nile River
• The Yellow River (Huang He)
• The Indus River
• The Tigris River

Why was the Yellow River given its name?

• People dyed the water to make it look pretty.
• It carries yellow-brown soil called loess.
• The fish in the river are all yellow.
• It is filled with gold coins.

Which major mountain range is located to the south and west of China, acting as a natural barrier?

• The Rockies
• The Alps
• The Himalayas
• The Andes

What is the name of the vast, cold desert located to the north of China?

• The Sahara
• The Gobi Desert
• The Mojave
• The Arabian Desert

How did China’s geography (mountains, deserts, and oceans) affect its early civilization?

• It made it easy for China to trade with everyone.
• It isolated China, allowing it to develop a unique culture with little outside influence.
• It made the weather exactly the same everywhere.
• It forced everyone to live on boats.

What is a "dynasty"?

• A type of Chinese fast food
• A line of rulers from the same family
• A specific kind of religion
• A large stone building

The Chinese believed their rulers got their power from the gods. What was this called?

• The Power of the Sun
• The Rule of the People
• The Mandate of Heaven
• The Law of the Jungle

Which dynasty is famous for being the first to leave behind written records on "oracle bones"?

• The Han Dynasty
• The Shang Dynasty
• The Qin Dynasty
• The Ming Dynasty

Who was the first emperor of a united China (the one who started the Great Wall)?

• Confucius
• Han Wudi
• Qin Shi Huangdi
• Mulan

The "Mandate of Heaven" meant a king could be overthrown if:

• He didn't like tea.
• He became a bad or unfair ruler and disasters happened.
• He grew too old.
• He didn't have any children.