WorksheetsCFE Review
Total questions: 163
Worksheet time: 1hrs 22mins
What river was Egypt on?
Social scientists are scholars who study
A. animal behavior.
B. dinosaur skeletons.
C. human society.
D. astronomy.
People who study the past are most like
A. artists.
B. builders.
C. detectives.
D. teachers.
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
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
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?
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.
Modern humans belong to which hominin group?
A. Homo sapiens
B. Homo Erectus
C. Homo Neanderthalensis
D. Denisovans
Between 4000 and 1000 B.C.E., many smaller tribes were combined into:
larger city-states
small empires
two governments
fallen civilizations
Throughout ancient history, human settlement has depended on:
climate
geography
physical features
all of the above
As cities continued to grow, a new form of state developed, called:
tribes
empires
villages
kingdoms
Communities and civilizations began to emerge after humans discovered:
agriculture
the wheel
writing
stone tools
The creation of _____ helped interactions among ancient peoples.
writing
the calendar
the wheel
metal money
A paleoanthropologist specializes in the study of the:
kings and queens of the earliest modern humans
development and culture of the earliest hominins
communication and social systems of early apes
trade and barter systems among modern humans
Which of these helped Homo habilis survive against animal attacks?
building shelters
burying their dead
using bows and arrows
living together in groups
Which new capability enabled hominins to survive in the colder climate of continent 3?
building fire and shelters
drawing art on cave walls
gathering food from plants
making tools out of bones
How did people in the Paleolithic Age get their food?
by hunting and gathering
by planting and harvesting
by herding goats and cattle
by trading over land and sea
The Neolithic Age ended about 3000 B.C.E., with the discovery of how to:
make metal tools
weave linen cloth
tame wild animals
build brick houses
Why was the Fertile Crescent the site of many early settlements?
The hills were rich in gold
The soil was good for crops
The forest was full of animals
The caves were deep and warm
What was the greatest benefit to people when early farmers began to raise plants and animals?
They kept pets for company.
They could travel more easily.
They shared most of the work.
They had a stable food supply.
One animal that was domesticated mainly for meat and milk was the
goat.
mule.
camel.
chicken.
Archaeologists have found houses in which the doorways were built high up on the walls. What was the most likely reason for this?
People grew taller because they had more to eat.
The land around the houses has sunk over the years.
People wanted to be safe from wild animals or enemies.
The lower parts of the walls were covered with paintings.
Why did people in the Neolithic Age live together in larger groups, compared with earlier times?
They were nomads who moved faster in larger groups.
They made special goods like baskets and pottery.
They needed more people for hunting and gathering.
They could grow enough food to support more people.
The name of Mesopotamia comes from its location, which was
between two rivers
in mountain foothills
near a region of many conflicts
at the site of the earliest cities
One factor that made farming difficult in the area of Sumer was
rocky soil
steep hillsides
lack of rainfall
growth of weeds
Why did the rivers flood in the spring?
Heavy rain fell throughout the area
Strong winds blew from the Persian Gulf
Ice that had formed on the rivers broke into bits
Snow melted in the mountains where the rivers began
If you were in ancient Sumer, you might see a levee beside a river. Why was the levee built?
to prevent floods
to load barges
to irrigate crops
to control workers
A society has a stable food supply if
it gives food to the king
it has enough food for its people
it buys food from other groups
it gets food by hunting and fishing
The Sumerian civilization had a social structure with different social levels and jobs. A social structure is the way a civilization is organized.
the way in which taxes a king collects from each class
how much scribes record social events
the way a civilization is organized.
how the government treats the lower classes
Which one of these inventions most affected the food supply in Sumer?
the arch
the plow
the wheel
the chariot
Which Sumerian belief about the king helped strengthen the social order?
He was supported by the gods
He cared most about poor people
He consulted with wise advisers
He wanted everyone to be happy
What was a problem caused by Sumerian city-states' independence from one another?
They were unable to trade crops with one another.
They did not cooperate to build irrigation systems.
They had very few different natural resources available.
They could not defend themselves against stronger groups.
How did the Akkadians get the resources to build up their capital city?
mined precious stones in the mountains
collected tribute from conquered peoples
expanded irrigation to grow bigger crops
printed paper money to buy what it needed
The Akkadians used steles to
attack enemy forces.
get water for farming.
record important events.
make objects from metal.
How was the legal system of Babylon more advanced than that of other societies at that time?
It put an end to slavery.
It used mild punishments.
It gave women some rights.
It treated all classes the same.
A problem that all four Mesopotamian empires had was difficulty in
choosing strong leaders.
trading with other empires.
controlling such a large area.
keeping track of their history.
What is one reason there is limited access to written records about ancient Persia?
Ancient Persia relied largely on oral history.
Scholars have been unable to translate ancient Persian texts.
Later conquerors of Persia worked to destroy most records.
Written records have been lost mainly to natural disasters.
Much of our knowledge of ancient Persia has come from the works of outsiders, mostly Greeks. Why might these works not be entirely reliable?
The writers had little first-hand knowledge of ancient Persia.
The writers aimed to entertain rather than educate.
The writers recounted history only through poetry.
The writers were biased against Persians.
Which statement about the royal road system of ancient Persia is correct?
It connected the empire’s cities and countries and extended to other countries.
It was built initially during the Achaemenid Empire to carry chariots.
It aimed to avoid interfering with wildlife that could interfere with safe passage.
It was avoided and rebuilt during multiple empires.
What was one of the effects of ancient Persia being tolerant of different people and their ideas?
This ensured religious diversity across each empire.
This limited Persia’s need to engage in military conflicts.
This led leaders to embrace and preserve learning.
This made Persian the language of trade across Central Asia.
How did people in climates that prevented the development of agricultural settlements survive?
They depended on the sea for food.
They migrated to find food.
They migrated to different climates over time.
They traded with groups to obtain goods.
In which present-day country or region did the Olmec civilization flourish?
Mexico
Central America
Peru
the United States
What enabled the Olmec population to grow and, thus, their civilization to expand?
social stratification
large-scale agriculture
expansive trade networks
government by consensus
Which of these was part of the topography of ancient Egypt?
a river valley
a mountain range
a hot, dry climate
a long growing season
How did the desert help the people of Egypt and Kush?
It had fertile land for crops.
It made trade and travel easy.
It was grassy for grazing sheep.
It gave protection from invaders.
Useful vegetation along the Nile River included
ducks and geese.
barges and boats.
reeds and papyrus.
canals and ditches.
Why did the ancient Egyptians make mummies?
to decorate palaces of the pharaohs
to preserve dead bodies of the pharaohs
to transport goods up and down the Nile
to educate and protect the royal children
What is one characteristic for which Egypt’s Middle Kingdom is especially famous?
reunification
great pharaohs
widespread wars
military conquests
It was built from more than 2 million stone blocks. It had tunnels inside and was used as a tomb. What was it?
the Sphinx
the White Chapel
the temple at Abu Simbel
the Great Pyramid at Giza
Hatshepsut was one of the first pharaohs who was
a god
a child
a priest
a woman
Who built the giant temples of the pharaohs?
scribes who kept poor records
government officials out of favor
peasant farmers during the flood season
priests hoping to get jobs at the temples
Which of these activities was permitted only to men? (Hint: It required an education)
owning land
running a business
working as a scribe
asking for a divorce
Which sentence best describes the role of women in religion?
They were worshiped as gods
They could become priestesses
They ran all religious ceremonies
They were not allowed in temples
What was one of the few ways that a boy from a peasant family could rise to a higher social class?
store a lot of grain
attend scribe school
help build a pyramid
take care of a temple
In the life of a peasant, which season came next after the flooding season?
the festival season
the harvest season
the planting season
the building season
An important way historians learn about ancient Kush is through
Syrian trade agreements
Sumerian cuneiform tablets
Egyptian tomb wall paintings
Nubian books printed on paper
Which of these events led to Kushites adopting Egyptian ways of life?
Kush allied with the Assyrians
Scribes traveled to Kush to teach
Both armies burned a Roman fort
Egyptian pharaohs conquered Kush
What technology enabled Assyria to defeat Kush?
fire
charcoal
iron weapons
wooden wheels
When people read from the Torah, they are reading from
the Prophets and the Writings
the first five books of the Hebrew Bible
an ancient Egyptian book about the Hebrew people
a collection of prayers and poems used by the early Jews
What place did the Jewish people believe was the promised land?
Ur
Egypt
Canaan
Babylon
The word exodus means "departure." In the history of the Israelites, the Exodus was the departure from
Ur
Egypt
Canaan
Babylon
Why was Jerusalem considered a holy city?
David built his first palace there
Religious ceremonies were held there
The Ark of the Covenant was kept there
The Israelites believed God told them to live there.
Which common feature of most ancient religions did the Jews reject?
ritual
morality
tradition
polytheism
The festival of Passover celebrates the
Jewish Diaspora
Exodus from Egypt
rededication of the Temple
end of the Babylonian Exile.
Which of these is the best example of a question of ethics?
What shall I eat for dinner?
When should I brush my teeth?
Should I help a child who is lost?
Which color shall I paint my room?
Why do Jews consider the Western Wall in Jerusalem a sacred place?
It was built by King Solomon.
It was part of the Second Temple.
It was where many Jews died in rebellion against Rome.
It was constructed with the stones that held the Ten Commandments.
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
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
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
Harappan civilization, which included ancient Mohenjodaro, developed in the
A. Western Ghats
B. Deccan Plateau
C. Indus River valley
D. Ganges River valley
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
The discovery of a scale, stone weights, and a marked rod suggests that the people of Mohenjodaro:
had uniform ways to measure.
knew how to make tools of iron.
traded with people from far away.
started a new kind of mathematics.
Which feature of Mohenjodaro was quite different from other settlements of that time?
high wall
dirt roads
brick homes
sewer system
Which of these is the best reason for someone in India to study Sanskrit?
to read the ancient texts
to understand road signs
to run for political office
to talk to ordinary people
Why were Untouchables excluded from other Indians?
They did work others considered lowly and dirty.
They had to eat a special diet.
They shared all their goods
They wanted to stay pure.
Which of these sentences is true of most Hindu temples?
They contain elaborate sculptures.
They face west toward the setting sun.
They are placed as far from cities as possible.
They are small so as not to distract worshipers.
The festival of Diwali, which begins the Hindu New Year, celebrates:
the changing of the seasons.
the victory of good over evil.
the food from a good harvest.
the long life of the wise elders.
The name "Buddha" meant one who was:
sorrowful.
awakened.
everlasting.
all-powerful.
Which goal did Buddhism teach people to move toward?
converting everybody
reaching enlightenment
making elaborate sacrifices
completing a big pilgrimage
What troubled the Buddha on his first few trips out into the world?
inequality of wealth
aging, sickness, and death
prejudice against lower castes
cruelty, evil, and lack of caring
Why did the Buddha decide to follow a "middle way"?
Neither riches nor being an ascetic led to nirvana
Neither struggle nor acceptance summed up all of life
Neither life on Earth nor life after death seemed most important
Neither the Four Truths nor the Eightfold Path worked without the other
Why did the Buddha decide not to escape into enlightenment right away?
He preferred to follow a middle way
He forgot his dream when he woke up
He wanted to teach people the path he had found
He did not want to leave his wife and child behind
How did Chandragupta Maurya begin building his empire?
He sent ships to far-off islands
He conquered neighboring kingdoms
He sponsored settlements by colonists
He persuaded other rulers to unite with him
Why was Chandragupta Maurya poor in his later years?
He put a stop to foreign trade
He was overthrown by his son
He decided to live as an ascetic
He lost the conquered territories
Ashoka expanded the Mauryan Empire until he
moved to China
gave up violence
reached the mountains
surrendered to his cousin
Which of Ashoka's actions best expressed his Buddhist values?
allowing slavery
keeping a strong army
putting criminals to death
treating all of his servants well
What happened on the Indian subcontinent in the time period between the Mauryan and Gupta empires?
It went through a golden age.
It experienced a great famine.
It was filled with small kingdoms.
It was conquered by the Sumerians.
Which of these finds by an archaeologist would be evidence of a golden age?
walled cities
fine sculptures
metal weapons
animal skeletons
Which of the following groups of people made it possible to construct complex buildings?
historians
monks
astrologers
mathematicians
Why were wells constructed along trade routes?
so deities would be pleased
so roads would not get muddy
so travelers could cook and drink
so merchants could pay for water
Why did fewer people settle in Outer China than in Inner China?
The land was in smaller estates in Outer China.
The climate was more extreme in Outer China.
The roads were more dangerous in Inner China
The invasions drove farmers away in Inner China.
Why did ancient people on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau herd yaks rather than grow crops?
Yaks found food in thick forests.
The region was too wet for crops.
The region was too cold for crops.
Yaks could be sold in the markets.
How did the natural vegetation of the Northeastern Plain affect the lives of ancient settlers there?
Fruit trees attracted settlement around oases.
Varieties of plant life encouraged raising crops.
Prairie grass provided food for horses and sheep.
Dense woods supported hun1ng and gathering
What protected Inner China from invasion from the northwest?
wide rivers
grassy plains
barren deserts
high mountains
In the Shang civilization, Anyang was an important city because
it was home to many skilled artisans.
it was where the king lived.
many royal tombs are located there
All choices are correct
Shang weapons were especially strong because skilled artisans made these objects from
iron.
stone.
bronze
bones
Which of these Shang people had the lowest social status?
merchants
jade carvers
stonemasons
grain farmers
For what purpose would a Shang leader most likely use an oracle bone made from a turtle shell?
to serve a ceremonial meal
to make music for his family
to send messages to the nobles
to ask advice from his ancestors
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
To a large extent, the Great Wall was built by
forced labor.
foreign workers.
skilled stonemasons.
close friends of the emperor.
Where did archaeologists find a life-sized army made of terra-cotta, a kind of clay?
in the Great Wall
next to the royal palace
along the southern border
inside the emperor's tomb
What new technology most helped the Han in warfare?
invention of the wheel
advances in working iron
steam-powered riverboats
improvements in gunpowder
Which of these men would most likely be hired for the Han bureaucracy?
one who did well on an exam
one who was born in the capital
one who had an important family
one who inherited a lot of money
What change made silk production more efficient?
a kind of tree that was better for silkworms
an invention that wound fibers onto a large reel
a road on which trade goods could be carried safely
a law that all farmers must weave for one month a year
Ancient Chinese healers used the technique of acupuncture to
satisfy the gods
achieve immortality
teach people to live with pain
rebalance the forces of yin and yang
Why is Zhang Qian often called the Father of the Silk Road?
This teacher encouraged the exchange of ideas
This explorer opened the way for trade with western cultures
This emperor forced peasants to work on construction
This military leader made the highway safe for traders
Why did people in China want horses from Central Asia?
The horses were scarce in China
The horses gave the Chinese a way to sell their silk
The horses were larger and more powerful than Chinese horses
The horses were considered prettier than the ones in China
What made silk valuable in the West?
The Syrians thought cotton was too itchy.
The Indians found wool to be too expensive.
The Romans wanted to use it to praise their Christian God.
The Chinese were the only ones who knew how to make it.
The Silk Road split into a northern route and a southern route. What was one advantage of taking the northern route?
Oases were closer together.
Road surfaces were smoother.
Scenery was more attractive.
Travelers were safer from bandits.
What is the likely reason why the Roman emperor told Romans not to wear silk?
He worried that buying silk was taking too much of the empire's gold.
He believed that cotton was softer and more comfortable than silk.
He was afraid the silkworms would eat too many leaves off the trees.
He wanted to save as much silk as possible to make army banners.
How did the Greek mountains affect communication?
They isolated communities.
They promoted road building.
They led people to write letters.
They made farmers stop speaking.
What made farming in ancient Greece especially difficult?
mud
rocks
bandits
weather
Why did Greek communities sometimes fight each other?
They had too many soldiers.
They were crowded together.
They could not start colonies.
They each wanted more land.
How did most kings in ancient Greece come to power?
They inherited it from a relative.
They were elected by the people.
They paid merchants for support.
They used soldiers to take control.
What might an oligarch do on an ordinary day?
herd sheep and goats
work hard in the fields
sell goods in the market
take part in a chariot race
In a tyranny, what allowed the leader to rule?
military force
family tradition
the law of the land
foreign partnerships
How was democracy in Athens different from other ancient forms of government?
People might vote unwisely.
Merchants made all the laws.
Enslaved men were equal to free men.
All citizens shared ruling power.
Which physical feature made Sparta somewhat isolated?
poor soil
broad rivers
major highways
surrounding mountains
How did the citizens of Athens get enough grain to eat?
They conquered neighboring farm villages.
They traded for food products
Grasses good for making bread grew wild nearby.
Every family raised its own food behind the house.
A 12-year-old Athenian girl would most likely get her education
in another city.
in a day school.
from a priestess.
from her mother.
Which sentence best describes education in Sparta?
Children did not learn to read.
Children studied sculpture and painting.
Both boys and girls got military training.
Both boys and girls learned to cook and clean.
What was an advantage that Greece had over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon?
more land
more people
better strategy
strong central leadership
When Darius sent cavalry across the sea by boat, what must have been in the boats?
horses
cannons
heavy armor
wooden rams
The Persian Empire began in present-day
Iran.
Italy.
Russia.
North Africa.
Why did Athenians start new construction after the Persian wars?
The wars had made them wealthy.
They had conquered other city-states.
Their city had been totally destroyed.
Most of their soldiers had been killed.
Which phrase best describes public buildings in Athens?
made of stone
one story high
on narrow streets
outside the city walls
Why was the Parthenon built?
to foretell the future
to honor the goddess Athena
to reward the chief of the navy
to hold meetings by city leaders
What did Alexander do to help unite the Greeks under his rule?
took away their freedoms
taught them a new religion
had their leaders take turns
gave them a common enemy
What was Alexander’s goal for his empire?
to make Athens the biggest capital city
to require everyone to follow one religion
to make conquered towns and cities independent
to bring different cultures under one government
Alexander told the Greeks that he was the son of which figure?
Aristotle
the god Zeus
the king of Persia
a Macedonian giant
What happened to Alexander's empire after he died?
It was defeated by the Greeks
The capital moved to Babylon
His generals fought for control
His son Philip became the ruler
Why is Herodotus called the "father of history"?
He had many children
He taught in the agora
He wrote about the past
He was an important leader
How was ancient Greek democracy different from American democracy today?
Everyone did not always agree
All citizens voted on every issue
People could speak their opinions
Strong speakers influenced others
Which of these ideas was first introduced in ancient Greece?
Earth moves around the sun.
The planets affect human lives.
It is good to study the star patterns.
The moon seems to change shape.
Who were Romulus and Remus?
opposing generals in a war
explorers on a famous river
the mythical founders of Rome
colonists from ancient Greece
What tourist sights in Rome show Etruscan influence?
buildings with arches
fields of bright flowers
large public courtyards
windmills to water crops
How did Romans learn about Greek culture?
They settled in Greece.
They employed Greeks as teachers.
Greek colonists settled in parts of Italy.
Greek leaders met with Roman leaders.
Who first ruled early Rome?
Etruscan kings
military consuls
Roman senators
plebeian assemblies
Why were plebeians unhappy when the Roman Republic was first set up?
They had lost the right to vote.
They preferred living in an empire.
They had no say in making the laws.
They preferred being ruled by a king.
What was one major job of the consuls?
to command the army
to choose the lawmakers
to perform religious rituals
to construct public buildings
What was a result of the Conflict of the Orders?
Plebeians lost the right to vote.
Patricians gave up some power.
Romans defeated the Greek navy.
Etruscans won control over Rome.
Which of the following did Rome do during the first period of expansion, before 264 B.C.E.?
surrender to Etruscans
conquer most of Europe
expand into North Africa
take over the Italian peninsula
During the Punic Wars in Rome's second period of expansion, Rome's main enemy was
mainland Greece
the Egyptian pharaoh
a city-state in North Africa
a nomadic tribe in Europe
How did enslaving prisoners lead to unemployment?
Roman citizens were banned from enslaving people
People who supported revolts by enslaved people lost their jobs
Landowners enslaved people instead of paying free workers
Soldiers who enslaved people were released from the army
How did the Praetorian Guard cause problems for the emperors?
Although they took part in parades, they had few military skills
Although its members were farmers, they also liked to fight
Although they were stationed in Spain, they sometimes marched into Italy
Although their job was to protect the emperor, sometimes they plotted against him
What is one example of the rule of law in the Roman Empire?
The emperor had to obey the Senate
Senators carried an ax to protect themselves
The punishments were the same for rich and poor
Any Roman could accuse someone of a crime
The poor often ate food that was
bought at "fast-food" shops
prepared by enslaved people
cooked in their kitchen at home
from a fancy, expensive market
Why was fighting a regular event in the Colosseum?
to protect the city from raids
to entertain the audience
to express the anger of the poor
to decide who should be emperor
Jesus probably grew up in the family of
a carpenter in Nazareth
a shoemaker in Jerusalem
an innkeeper in Bethlehem
a fisherman by the Sea of Galilee
One example of a parable is a story about
Jesus rising from the dead
the birth of a baby in a stable
Paul telling others about Jesus
a traveler helping an injured man
What do Christians around the world have in common?
A. the form of worship
B. the teachings of Jesus
C. the style of church building
D. the Book of Common Prayer
What happened to the Roman empire at 476 C.E.?
A. It was conquered by nomads.
B. It lasted another thousand years.
C. It fell apart under local warlords.
D. The last Roman emperor was dethroned
What is the most likely reason why Americans made statues of George Washington in the Roman style?
to give Washington nobility
to give Washington godlike status
to identify Washington as a general
to identify Washington as an emperor
How were the Romans able to build bigger arches than anyone before them?
by placing domes on top of their vaults
by capturing skilled builders to enslave
by designing outdoor stadiums for sports events
by mixing stone and sand with cement to make concrete
Which Roman ideal of justice is based on natural law?
All people are wise
The ruler knows best
All people have rights
The strongest should rule
What rivers were the rivers of Mesopotamia?
What were the rivers of ancient India?
Tigris and Euphrates
Nile and Tiber
Yangtze and Huang He
Ganges and Indus
What were the rivers of ancient China?
