15 Chinese Inventions

What three ingredients were combined to accidentally create gunpowder?

• Iron, salt, and coal

• Charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter

• Copper, ash, and sand

• Oil, fire, and wood

Why is gunpowder considered one of China’s Four Great Inventions?

• It improved farming

• It changed warfare forever

• It created trade routes

• It replaced bronze tools

What was one of the earliest uses of gunpowder in China?

• Cannons

• Mining

• Fireworks

• Rifles

How did gunpowder spread from China to Europe?

• Through wars with Japan

• Through the Silk Road

• Through ocean trade only

• Through printed books

Who is traditionally credited with inventing paper during the Han Dynasty?

• Zhang Heng

• Cai Lun

• Shen Kuo

• Confucius

What major improvement did Bi Sheng make to printing?

• Woodblock carving

• Metal engraving

• Movable type

• Color Ink

Why did movable type spread more slowly in China than in Europe?

• China banned books

• Chinese characters were very complex

• Ink was too expensive

• Paper was rare

What material allowed the compass to point in a consistent direction?

• Bronze

• Copper

• Loadstone

• Iron

Why was the compass important to world history?

• It helped farmers plant crops

• It improved weapon accuracy

• It predicted earthquakes

• It allowed long-distance sea travel

According to legend, how did Empress Leizu discover silk?

• A cocoon fell into her tea

• She found it in a cave

• Traders brought it from Rome

• It was woven from bamboo