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Ancient Sumerian Civilizations review

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A system of government is one characteristic of………..

a)

civilization

b)

society

c)

groups of people

d)

the United States

2.

Who in Sumer was responsible for collecting taxes, enforcing laws, and leading the army?

a)

the king

b)

governors

c)

scribes

d)

generals

3.

The main reason ziggurats were important in Sumerian civilization was because...

a)

they were expressions of religious belief

b)

they showed advances in architecture

c)

they were important marketplaces

d)

they looked cool

4.

Sumerian scribes etched their writing onto…….

a)

clay tablets

b)

papyrus paper

c)

pieces of stone

d)

chalkboards

5.

What was the main use of drums, pipes, and lyres?

a)

Entertainment

b)

Religious festivals

c)

Important ceremonies

d)

Creative expression

6.

An artisan is someone who….

a)

practices crafts such as metalworking

b)

does artwork with colorful sand

c)

writes important papers

d)

creates weapons and armor

7.

Why is a stable food supply necessary to make a society into a civilization?

a)

It ensures that the society has food to survive.

b)

It gives the society food to trade for other goods.

c)

People use food to make art and writing.

8.

Which Sumerian belief about the king helped to strengthen the social order?

a)

That he was supported by the gods.

b)

That he was elected fairly by the people

c)

That he was chosen by the military leaders

9.

Which of the ancient Sumerians most likely made swords for the army?

a)

a metalworker

b)

scribe

c)

artisan

d)

governor

10.

When people in a civilization have different social levels and jobs, it is called…

a)

social structure

b)

capitalism

c)

government

d)

snobby

11.

Why might evidence of music in an ancient civilization lead an archaeologist to conclude that the civilization had a stable food supply?

a)

It suggests that people had time and energy for expressions of art.

b)

They could use extra food to trade for instruments.

c)

They could pay musicians with food.

12.

The top class of Sumerians included government officials and……..

a)

priests

b)

scribes

c)

artisans

d)

peasants

13.

Why were scribes important to Sumerian government?

a)

To write down the laws

b)

To make up the laws

c)

To enforce the laws

d)

To go to court about the laws

14.

What would be an example of Sumerian technology?

a)

an axle

b)

fire

c)

printing press

d)

horses

15.

The remains of different types and sizes of houses in Sumerian cities showed that…….

a)

Sumerians had a social structure.

b)

Sumerians had lots of different types of houses everyone lived in.

c)

Sumerians had many travelers staying with them.

16.

A ziggurat is most closely related to…

a)

religion

b)

war

c)

government

d)

stable food sources

17.

Which characteristic of civilization was most related to the job of patrolling irrigation canals in Sumer?

a)

a stable food supply

b)

arts

c)

religion

d)

writing

18.

Which ancient Sumerian most likely lived in a two-story house near the center of the city?

a)

a government official

b)

artisand

c)

scribe

d)

army soldier

19.

One of the Sumerians strongest beliefs was obeying the will of……

a)

the gods

b)

the people

c)

the army

d)

the governors

20.

One thing the Sumerians invented to help them establish a stable food supply was……….

a)

the plow

b)

the ziggurat

c)

cuneiform writing

d)

weapons

21.

What is the name for the system of writing developed by the Sumerians?

a)

cuneiform

b)

irrigation

c)

ziggurat

d)

scribe

22.

What did Sumerians use to produce cuneiform?

a)

a wedge-shaped stylus

b)

a pointed stick

c)

a sharp rock

d)

their fingers