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6th Grade Mega-Ultra Review Day 1

Total questions: 124

Worksheet time: 1hrs 2mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What unique challenge does the study of prehistoric history present?

a)

written records that cannot be read

b)

conflicting views in ancient diaries

c)

lack of evidence from the period

d)

huge amounts of artifacts to analyze

2.

How did the Leakeys discover the Homo habilis (Handy Man) hominin group?

a)

They found remains in Africa.

b)

They found ancient documents

c)

They found a complete male skeleton

d)

They found cave paintings

3.

How did people in the Paleolithic Age get their food?

a)

by hunting and gathering

b)

by planting and harvesting

c)

by herding goats and cattle

d)

by trading over land and sea

4.

Social scientists are scholars who study

a)

animal behavior

b)

dinosaur skeletons

c)

human society

d)

astronomy

5.

Where were Homo habilis (Handy Man) bones first found?

a)

continent 2

b)

continent 4

c)

continent 5

d)

continent 6

6.

Communities and civilizations began to emerge after humans discovered

a)

Agriculture

b)

the wheel

c)

writing

d)

stone tools

7.

Which of these helped Homo habilis survive against animal attacks?

a)

building shelters

b)

burying their dead

c)

using bows and arrows

d)

living together in groups

8.

One animal that was domesticated mainly for meat and milk was the

a)

goat

b)

mule

c)

camel

d)

chicken

9.

Modern humans belong to which hominin group?

a)

Homo sapiens

b)

Homo Erectus

c)

Homo Neanderthalensis

d)

Denisovans

10.

Which group is believed to be the first to live on continent 3?

a)

Homo habilis (Handy Man)

b)

Homo erectus (Upright Man)

c)

Homo neanderthalensis

d)

Homo sapiens (Wise Man)

11.

What was the greatest benefit to people when early farmers began to raise plants and animals?

a)

They kept pets for company.

b)

They could travel more easily.

c)

They shared most of the work.

d)

They had a stable food supply.

12.

The Neolithic Age ended about 3000 B.C.E., with the discovery of how to

a)

make metal tools

b)

weave linen cloth

c)

tame wild animals

d)

build brick houses

13.

People who study the past are most like

a)

artists

b)

builders

c)

detectives

d)

teachers

14.

If ancient paintings were found in a cave, which of these questions would be the hardest to answer?

a)

Why did people paint in caves?

b)

What type of paint did people use?

c)

What did people paint pictures of?

d)

What did people use for paintbrushes?

15.

Archaeologists have found houses in which the doorways were built high up on the walls. What was the most likely reason for this?

a)

People grew taller because they had more to eat.

b)

The land around the houses has sunk over the years.

c)

People wanted to be safe from wild animals or enemies.

d)

The lower parts of the walls were covered with paintings.

16.

As cities continued to grow, a new form of state developed, called

a)

tribes

b)

empires

c)

villages

d)

kingdoms

17.

Why do historians read diaries and letters from the past?

a)

to agree on plans for the future

b)

to compare their ideas of history

c)

to learn to speak an ancient language

d)

to find out what happened and why

18.

Why was the Fertile Crescent the site of many early settlements?

a)

The hills were rich in gold.

b)

The soil was good for crops.

c)

The forest was full of animals.

d)

The caves were deep and warm.

19.

Which new capability enabled hominins to survive in the colder climate of continent 3?

a)

building fire and shelters

b)

drawing art on cave walls

c)

gathering food from plants

d)

making tools out of bones

20.

A paleoanthropologist specializes in the study of the

a)

kings and queens of the earliest modern humans.

b)

development and culture of the earliest hominins.

c)

communication and social systems of early apes.

d)

trade and barter systems among modern humans.

21.

Between 4000 and 1000 B.C.E., many smaller tribes were combined into

a)

larger city-states.

b)

small empires.

c)

two governments.

d)

fallen civilizations.

22.

Why did people in the Neolithic Age live together in larger groups, compared with earlier times?

a)

They were nomads who moved faster in larger groups.

b)

They made special goods like baskets and pottery.

c)

They needed more people for hunting and gathering.

d)

They could grow enough food to support more people.

23.

Throughout ancient history, human settlement has depended on

a)

climate

b)

geography

c)

physical features

d)

all of the above

24.

The creation of _____ helped interactions among ancient peoples.

a)

writing

b)

the calendar

c)

the wheel

d)

metal money

25.

How did prehistoric artists deal with the uneven surfaces of the caves?

a)

They only painted animals on the uneven surfaces.

b)

They did not paint in caves with uneven surfaces.

c)

They included uneven surfaces as part of their composition.

d)

They were forced to paint around any cracks in the caves.

26.

The Akkadians used steles to

a)

attack enemy forces

b)

get water for farming

c)

record important events

d)

make objects from metal

27.

What enabled the Olmec population to grow and, thus, their civilization to expand?

a)

social stratification

b)

large-scale agriculture

c)

expansive trade networks

d)

government by consensus

28.

What was a problem caused by Sumerian city-states’ independence from one another?

a)

They were unable to trade crops with one another

b)

They did not cooperate to build irrigation systems

c)

They had very few different natural resources available

d)

They could not defend themselves against stronger groups

29.

What did ancient Persians do with light and mirrors?

a)

light fires for slash-and-burn farming

b)

show devo on to Ahura Mazda

c)

communicate critical messages

d)

redirect invading armies

30.

One factor that made farming difficult in the area of Sumer was

a)

rocky soil

b)

steep hillsides

c)

lack of rainfall

d)

growth of weeds

31.

If you were in ancient Sumer, you might see a levee beside a river. Why was the levee built?

a)

to load barges

b)

to irrigate crops

c)

to prevent floods

d)

to control workers

32.

Which statement about the royal road system of ancient Persia is correct?

a)

It connected the empire’s cities and countries and extended to other countries

b)

It was built initially during the Achaemenid Empire to carry chariots

c)

It aimed to avoid interfering with wildlife that could interfere with safe passage

d)

It was moved and rebuilt during multiple empires

33.

How did the Akkadians get the resources to build up their capital city?

a)

mined precious stones in the mountains

b)

collected tribute from conquered peoples

c)

expanded irrigation to grow bigger crops

d)

printed paper money to buy what it needed

34.

A society has a stable food supply if

a)

it gives food to the king

b)

it has enough food for its people

c)

it buys food from other groups

d)

it gets food by hunting and fishing

35.

In the ancient Persian empires, women were banned from

a)

being a witness to a contract

b)

owning property

c)

asking for a divorce

d)

earning more money than men

36.

The name of Mesopotamia comes from its location, which was

a)

between two rivers

b)

in mountain foothills

c)

near a region of many conflicts

d)

at the site of the earliest cities

37.

The Sumerian civilization had a social structure with different social levels and jobs. A social structure is

a)

the way a civilization is organized

b)

how much in taxes a king collects from each class

c)

the way scribes record social events

d)

how the government treats the lower classes

38.

Which one of these inventions most affected the food supply in Sumer?

a)

the arch

b)

the plow

c)

the wheel

d)

the chariot

39.

What was one of the effects of ancient Persia being tolerant of different people and their ideas?

a)

This ensured religious diversity across each empire

b)

This limited Persia’s need to engage in military conflicts

c)

This led leaders to embrace and preserve learning

d)

This made Persian the language of trade across Central Asia

40.

How was the legal system of Babylon more advanced than that of other societies at that me?

a)

It put an end to slavery

b)

It used mild punishments

c)

It gave women some rights

d)

It treated all classes the same

41.

What do the ancient Persian empires founded by Alexander the Great and by Seleukid Nicator I have in common?

a)

They are considered extensions of the Achaemenid Empire

b)

They lasted for over several hundred years

c)

They conquered most of the Arabian Peninsula

d)

They are considered Greco-Macedonian empires

42.

Much of our knowledge of ancient Persia has come from the works of outsiders, mostly Greeks. Why might these works not be entirely reliable?

a)

The writers had little first-hand knowledge of ancient Persia

b)

The writers aimed to entertain rather than educate

c)

The writers recounted history only through poetry

d)

The writers were biased against Persians

43.

A problem that all four Mesopotamian empires had was difficulty in

a)

choosing strong leaders

b)

trading with other empires

c)

controlling such a large area

d)

keeping track of their history

44.

How did the Sasanian Empire differ from earlier Persian-led empires?

a)

It lacked tolerance toward people who did not practice Zoroastrianism

b)

It enforced Middle Persian as the only language of government

c)

It limited Greek cultural influences by banning the use of the Greek language

d)

It replaced the satrap system by making the king’s relatives governors

45.

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

a)

He was supported by the gods

b)

He cared most about poor people

c)

He consulted with wise advisers

d)

He wanted everyone to be happy

46.

Why did the rivers of Mesopotamia flood in the spring?

a)

Heavy rain fell throughout the area

b)

Strong winds blew from the Persian Gulf

c)

Ice that had formed on the rivers broke into bits

d)

Snow melted in the mountains where the rivers began

47.

What is one reason there is limited access to written records about ancient Persia?

a)

Ancient Persia relied largely on oral history

b)

Scholars have been unable to translate ancient Persian texts

c)

Later conquerors of Persia worked to destroy most records

d)

Written records have been lost mainly to natural disasters

48.

How did people in climates that prevented the development of agricultural settlements survive?

a)

They depended on the sea for food

b)

They migrated to find food

c)

They migrated to different climates over me

d)

They traded with groups to obtain goods

49.

In which present-day country or region did the Olmec civilization flourish?

a)

Mexico

b)

Central America

c)

Peru

d)

the United States

50.

Why do historians believe that the Caral civilization was built in the desert?

a)

to be far from the stormy coastal region

b)

to limit attacks from outsiders

c)

to serve as a trading center

d)

to farm foods that grew in dry regions

51.

Why was Jerusalem considered a holy city?

a)

David built his first palace there.

b)

Religious ceremonies were held there.

c)

The Ark of the Covenant was kept there.

d)

The Israelites believed God told them to live there.

52.

What technology enabled Assyria to defeat Kush?

a)

fire

b)

charcoal

c)

iron weapons

d)

wooden wheels

53.

Useful vegetation along the Nile River included

a)

ducks and geese.

b)

barges and boats.

c)

reeds and papyrus.

d)

canals and ditches.

54.

How did the desert help the people of Egypt and Kush?

a)

It had fertile land for crops.

b)

It made trade and travel easy.

c)

It was grassy for grazing sheep.

d)

It gave protection from invaders.

55.

Hatshepsut was one of the first pharaohs who was

a)

a god

b)

a child

c)

a priest

d)

a woman

56.

It was built from more than 2 million stone blocks. It had tunnels inside. What was it?

a)

the Sphinx

b)

the White Chapel

c)

the temple at Abu Simbel

d)

the Great Pyramid at Giza

57.

Which sentence best describes the role of Ancient Egyptian women in religion?

a)

They were worshiped as gods.

b)

They could become priestesses.

c)

They ran all religious ceremonies.

d)

They were not allowed in temples.

58.

What is one characteristic for which Egypt's Middle Kingdom is especially famous?

a)

reunification

b)

great pharaohs

c)

widespread wars

d)

military conquests

59.

Which of these activities was permitted only to Ancient Egyptian men?

a)

owning land

b)

running a business

c)

working as a scribe

d)

asking for a divorce

60.

What was one of the few ways that a boy from a peasant family could rise to a higher social class in Ancient Egypt?

a)

store a lot of grain

b)

attend scribe school

c)

help build a pyramid

d)

take care of a temple

61.

An important way historians learn about ancient Kush is through

a)

Syrian trade agreements.

b)

Sumerian cuneiform tablets.

c)

Egyptian tomb wall paintings.

d)

Nubian books printed on paper.

62.

Why did the ancient Egyptians make mummies?

a)

to decorate palaces of the pharaohs

b)

to preserve dead bodies of the pharaohs

c)

to transport goods up and down the Nile

d)

to educate and protect the royal children

63.

The festival of Passover celebrates the

a)

Jewish Diaspora.

b)

Exodus from Egypt.

c)

rededication of the Temple.

d)

end of the Babylonian Exile.

64.

The word exodus means "departure." In the history of the Israelites, the Exodus was the departure from

a)

Ur.

b)

Egypt.

c)

Canaan.

d)

Babylon.

65.

Which of these is the best example of a question of ethics?

a)

What shall I eat for dinner?

b)

When should I brush my teeth?

c)

Should I help a child who is lost?

d)

Which color shall I paint my room?

66.

Which of these was part of the topography of ancient Egypt?

a)

a river valley

b)

a mountain range

c)

a hot, dry climate

d)

a long growing season

67.

In the life of an Ancient Egyptian peasant, which season came next after the flooding season?

a)

the festival season

b)

the harvest season

c)

the planting season

d)

the building season

68.

What place did the Jewish people believe was the promised land?

a)

Ur

b)

Egypt

c)

Canaan

d)

Babylon

69.

For what achievement is King Piye of Kush remembered?

a)

conquering Egypt

b)

introducing iron tools

c)

building dams on the Nile

d)

trading with India and China

70.

Which common feature of most ancient religions did the Jews reject?

a)

ritual

b)

morality

c)

tradition

d)

polytheism

71.

Why do Jews consider the Western Wall in Jerusalem a sacred place?

a)

It was built by King Solomon.

b)

It was part of the Second Temple.

c)

It was where many Jews died in rebellion against Rome.

d)

It was constructed with the stones that held the Ten Commandments.

72.

When people read from the Torah, they are reading from

a)

the Prophets and the Writings.

b)

the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

c)

an ancient Egyptian book about the Hebrew people.

d)

a collection of prayers and poems used by the early Jews.

73.

Who built the giant temples of the pharaohs?

a)

scribes who kept poor records

b)

government officials out of favor

c)

peasant farmers during the flood season

d)

priests hoping to get jobs at the temples

74.

Which of these events led to Kushites adopting Egyptian ways of life?

a)

Kush allied with the Assyrians.

b)

Scribes traveled to Kush to teach.

c)

Both armies burned a Roman fort.

d)

Egyptian pharaohs conquered Kush.

75.

The festival of Diwali, which begins the Hindu New Year, celebrates

a)

the changing of the seasons.

b)

the victory of good over evil.

c)

the food from a good harvest.

d)

the long life of the wise elders.

76.

Which of these sentences is true of most Hindu temples?

a)

They contain elaborate sculptures.

b)

They face west toward the setting sun.

c)

They are placed as far from cities as possible.

d)

They are small so as not to distract worshipers.

77.

Which feature of Mohenjodaro was quite different from other settlements of that time?

a)

high wall

b)

dirt roads

c)

brick homes

d)

sewer system

78.

Harappan civilization, which included ancient Mohenjodaro, developed in the

a)

Western Ghats.

b)

Deccan Plateau.

c)

Indus River valley.

d)

Ganges River valley.

79.

How did modern scholars learn that Mohenjodaro had ever existed?

a)

Astronauts saw it from space.

b)

Historians read ancient scrolls.

c)

Archaeologists found its ruins.

d)

Geographers studied old maps.

80.

The discovery of a scale, stone weights, and a marked rod suggests that the people of Mohenjodaro

a)

had uniform ways to measure.

b)

knew how to make tools of iron.

c)

traded with people from far away.

d)

started a new kind of mathematics.

81.

Which of Ashoka's actions best expressed his Buddhist values?

a)

allowing slavery

b)

keeping a strong army

c)

putting criminals to death

d)

treating all of his servants well

82.

How are the Indus and Ganges rivers similar to the Nile River in Egypt?

a)

They begin in the same general area.

b)

They carry silt that enriches the soil.

c)

They flow in the same general direction.

d)

They have big floods that prevented early settlement.

83.

Farmers in the Deccan Plateau use the iron-rich black soil principally to raise

a)

tea.

b)

sheep.

c)

cotton.

d)

oranges.

84.

Which of the following groups of people made it possible to construct complex buildings like this one?

a)

historians

b)

monks

c)

astrologers

d)

mathematicians

85.

Which goal did Buddhism teach people to move toward?

a)

converting everybody

b)

reaching enlightenment

c)

making elaborate sacrifices

d)

completing a big pilgrimage

86.

Why were Untouchables excluded from other Indians?

a)

They wanted to stay pure.

b)

They shared all their goods.

c)

They had to eat a special diet.

d)

They did work others considered lowly.

87.

How has the location of the Himalaya Mountains benefited India?

a)

roads for trade routes

b)

consistent water supply

c)

protection from enemies

d)

prevention of earthquakes

88.

How did Chandragupta Maurya begin building his empire?

a)

He sent ships to far-off islands.

b)

He conquered neighboring kingdoms.

c)

He sponsored settlements by colonists.

d)

He persuaded other rulers to unite with him.

89.

Why did the Buddha decide to follow a "middle way"?

a)

Neither riches nor being an ascetic led to nirvana.

b)

Neither struggle nor acceptance summed up all of life.

c)

Neither life on Earth nor life after death seemed most important.

d)

Neither the Four Truths nor the Eightfold Path worked without the other.

90.

Because of its large size and its position in relation to large masses of land and water, India is called

a)

a plateau.

b)

an isthmus.

c)

an ecosystem.

d)

a subcontinent.

91.

What happened on the Indian subcontinent in the time period between the Mauryan and Gupta empires?

a)

It went through a golden age.

b)

It experienced a great famine.

c)

It was filled with small kingdoms.

d)

It was conquered by the Sumerians.

92.

Which of these is the best reason for someone in India to study Sanskrit?

a)

to read the ancient texts

b)

to understand road signs

c)

to run for political office

d)

to talk to ordinary people

93.

Why was Chandragupta Maurya poor in his later years?

a)

He put a stop to foreign trade.

b)

He was overthrown by his son.

c)

He decided to live as an ascetic.

d)

He lost the conquered territories.

94.

Which of these finds by an archaeologist would be evidence of a golden age?

a)

walled cities

b)

fine sculptures

c)

metal weapons

d)

animal skeletons

95.

Ashoka expanded the Mauryan Empire until he

a)

moved to China.

b)

gave up violence.

c)

reached the mountains.

d)

surrendered to his cousin.

96.

What troubled the Buddha on his first few trips out into the world?

a)

inequality of wealth

b)

aging, sickness, and death

c)

prejudice against lower castes

d)

cruelty, evil, and lack of caring

97.

Why did the Buddha decide not to escape into enlightenment right away?

a)

He preferred to follow a middle way.

b)

He forgot his dream when he woke up.

c)

He wanted to teach people the path he had found.

d)

He did not want to leave his wife and child behind.

98.

The name "Buddha" meant one who was

a)

sorrowful.

b)

awakened.

c)

everlasting.

d)

all-powerful.

99.

Why were wells constructed along trade routes?

a)

so deities would be pleased

b)

so roads would not get muddy

c)

so travelers could cook and drink

d)

so merchants could pay for water

100.

Ancient Chinese healers used the technique of acupuncture to

a)

satisfy the gods

b)

achieve immortality

c)

teach people to live with pain

d)

rebalance the forces of yin and yang

101.

What happened during the Warring States period?

a)

Dozens of clan leaders set up military states.

b)

The Zhou army won control of the state by force.

c)

Six or seven large Chinese states fought for power.

d)

China fought to protect the state from invaders from the north.

102.

What protected Inner China from invasion from the northwest?

a)

wide rivers

b)

grassy plains

c)

barren deserts

d)

high mountains

103.

For what purpose would a Shang leader most likely use an oracle bone made from a turtle shell?

a)

to serve a ceremonial meal

b)

to make music for his family

c)

to send messages to the nobles

d)

to ask advice from his ancestors

104.

To a large extent, the Great Wall was built by

a)

forced labor.

b)

foreign workers.

c)

skilled stonemasons.

d)

close friends of the emperor.

105.

Why is Zhang Qian often called the Father of the Silk Road?

a)

This teacher encouraged the exchange of ideas.

b)

This explorer opened the way for trade with western cultures.

c)

This emperor forced peasants to work on construction.

d)

This military leader made the highway safe for traders.

106.

Shang weapons were especially strong because skilled artisans made these objects from

a)

iron.

b)

stone.

c)

bones.

d)

bronze.

107.

If you were a laborer, what would Confucius say that you should do?

a)

plan to rise to a higher status

b)

behave properly for your role

c)

try to outwit those around you

d)

relax and stop working so hard

108.

What change made silk production more efficient?

a)

a kind of tree that was better for silkworms

b)

an invention that wound fibers onto a large reel

c)

a road on which trade goods could be carried safely

d)

a law that all farmers must weave for one month a year

109.

In the Shang civilization, Anyang was an important city because

a)

it was home to many skilled artisans.

b)

it was where the king lived.

c)

many royal tombs are located there.

d)

all of the above

110.

Which of these Shang people had the lowest social status?

a)

merchants

b)

jade carvers

c)

stonemasons

d)

grain farmers

111.

Under Qin rule, what would happen if a rich person and a poor person committed the same crime?

a)

The rich person would pay a larger fine.

b)

The two would have to exchange places.

c)

The two would suffer the same punishment.

d)

Only the poor person would be punished.

112.

The Silk Road split into a northern route and a southern route. What was one advantage of taking the northern route?

a)

Oases were closer together.

b)

Road surfaces were smoother.

c)

Scenery was more attractive.

d)

Travelers were safer from bandits.

113.

Why did ancient people on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau herd yaks rather than grow crops?

a)

Yaks found food in thick forests.

b)

The region was too wet for crops.

c)

The region was too cold for crops.

d)

Yaks could be sold in the markets.

114.

Why did fewer people settle in Outer China than in Inner China?

a)

The land was in smaller estates in Outer China.

b)

The climate was more extreme in Outer China.

c)

The roads were more dangerous in Inner China.

d)

The invasions drove farmers away in Inner China.

115.

Which of these men would most likely be hired for the Han bureaucracy?

a)

one who did well on an exam

b)

one who was born in the capital

c)

one who had an important family

d)

one who inherited a lot of money

116.

If the white portion of the yin and yang symbol shown here represents pleasure, what would the black portion represent?

a)

pain.

b)

reward.

c)

afterlife.

d)

enjoyment.

117.

What is the likely reason why the Roman emperor told Romans not to wear silk?

a)

He worried that buying silk was taking too much of the empire's gold.

b)

He believed that cotton was softer and more comfortable than silk.

c)

He was afraid the silkworms would eat too many leaves off the trees.

d)

He wanted to save as much silk as possible to make army banners.

118.

How did the natural vegetation of the Northeastern Plain affect the lives of ancient settlers there?

a)

Fruit trees attracted settlement around oases.

b)

Varieties of plant life encouraged raising crops.

c)

Dense woods supported hunting and gathering.

d)

Prairie grass provided food for horses and sheep.

119.

According to belief in the Mandate of Heaven, earthquakes and floods might be signs that

a)

the king did not govern well.

b)

the end of the world was near.

c)

the people did not obey the laws.

d)

the natural world ignored humans.

120.

Where did archaeologists find a life-sized army made of terra-cotta, a kind of clay?

a)

in the Great Wall

b)

next to the royal palace

c)

along the southern border

d)

inside the emperor's tomb

121.

What made silk valuable in the West?

a)

The Syrians thought wool was too itchy.

b)

The Indians found cotton to be too expensive.

c)

The Romans wanted to use it to praise their Christian God.

d)

The Chinese were the only ones who knew how to make it.

122.

What new technology most helped the Han in warfare?

a)

invention of the wheel

b)

advances in working iron

c)

steam-powered riverboats

d)

improvements in gunpowder

123.

What was one difference between feudalism and the Emperor of Qin's system of government?

a)

Under feudalism, power was held locally; the Emperor of Qin held all the power.

b)

Under feudalism, lords met with the king; the Emperor of Qin did not have meetings.

c)

Under feudalism, leadership came from a few men; the Emperor of Qin had many leaders.

d)

Under feudalism, peasants chose their lords; the Emperor of Qin chose their lords for them.

124.

Why did people in China want horses from Central Asia?

a)

The horses were scarce in China.

b)

The horses gave the Chinese a way to sell their silk.

c)

The horses were larger and more powerful than Chinese horses.

d)

The horses were considered prettier than the ones in China.