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World History Pre-Assessment 2026

Total questions: 80

Worksheet time: 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

All of these were effects of the Grand Canal on settlement patterns in Asia EXCEPT?

a)

Increase in population

b)

Development of towns along the canal

c)

People starved due to flooding

2.

The waters around this island country protected it against invaders?

a)

China

b)

Italy

c)

Japan

3.

What allowed for items such as silk, porcelain and gunpowder to be introduced to Europe?

a)

Grand Canal

b)

Silk Road

c)

Suez Canal

4.

What were the Mongolians before Genghis Khan united them under one central leader?

a)

Nomads

b)

Skilled Artisans

c)

Seafaring People

5.

What specific Asian technology allow for European exploration to expand to great distances via water?

a)

Gunpowder

b)

GPS

c)

Magnetic compass

6.

What specific Asian technology allowed for European countries to be able to conquer large civilizations with losing very few of their own soldiers?

a)

Caravel

b)

Gunpowder

c)

Horse

7.

What specific Asian technology allowed for large scale advertisement to encourage Europeans to make the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean?

a)

Movable Type

b)

Astrolabe

c)

Mechanical Clock

8.

Where did the Renaissance begin?

a)

Italy

b)

Spain

c)

France

9.

All of these were reasons why the Renaissance began in Italy except:

a)

Center of the Mediterranean Sea

b)

Strong Navy

c)

End of the Silk Road Trading Posts

10.

What northern geographic formation delayed the expansion of the Renaissance into Northern Europe?

a)

Mediterranean Sea

b)

Atlantic Ocean

c)

Alps Mountains

11.

Who sparked the Protestant Reformation in Europe?

a)

Michelangelo

b)

John Calvin

c)

Martin Luther

12.

Statements written by Martin Luther that disagreed with the Catholic Church and the sale of indulgences were known as what?

a)

10 Commandments

b)

Hammurabi’s Code

c)

95 Theses

13.

Which of the following was NOT a reason people disagreed with the Catholic Church?

a)

People was giving money to the poor

b)

Sale of indulgences

c)

Corruption of church officials

14.

What led the Protestant Reformation in England?

a)

Martin Luther’s excommunication

b)

Renaissance Art traveling North

15.

A person who disagrees with the Catholic Church is known as a:

a)

Presbyter

b)

Protestant

c)

Pope

16.

Which invention helped spread the ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation throughout Europe?

a)

Fresco Painting

b)

Compass

c)

Printing Press

17.

All of these were ways that the Printing Press impacted society EXCEPT?

a)

Spreading of Ideas

b)

Growth of schools and universities

c)

Increase in literacy rates

18.

What book became very popular to the common people after the invention of the Printing Press.

a)

Bible

b)

Romeo and Juliet

c)

Utopia

19.

What former invention led to the creation of the Printing Press?

a)

Astrolabe

b)

Mechanical Clock

20.

All of these continents were involved in the Triangular Trade network EXCEPT?

a)

Africa

b)

North America

c)

Australia

21.

All of these were reasons for Europeans traveling to the New World EXCEPT?

a)

Gold and Silver

b)

Petroleum

c)

Fur for Trade

22.

Which of these diseases allowed for the Spanish to conquer the Aztecs due to large numbers of deaths with their tribe?

a)

Influenza

b)

Small Pox

c)

Malaria

23.

All of the following were reasons for Europeans to be able to dominate indigenous Tribes in the New World EXCEPT?

a)

The bringing of diseases

b)

Establish the Columbian Exchange

c)

Pitting rivals against each other

24.

The Columbian Exchange or Triangular Trade refers to:

a)

The exchange of people, plants, diseases and other items

b)

The exchange of scientific knowledge

c)

Military conflict

25.

What document was NOT inspired by the Enlightenment?

a)

Declaration of Independence

b)

U.S. Constitution

c)

The Prince

26.

John Locke is known for his ideas on natural rights which are:

a)

Individuals’ duty for their government

b)

The economic interest of the people

c)

Rights belonging to ALL people because they are human

27.

All of these reasons why the 13 colonies disagreed with the British and eventually rebelled EXCEPT:

a)

Taxation with Representation

b)

Quartering of troops without consent

c)

Free trade with whomever they chose

28.

The Enlightenment is best described as:

a)

A logical procedure for testing data

b)

An enlightened way of thinking about government and society

29.

Which is NOT an ideal of the Enlightenment?

a)

Liberty

b)

Inequality

c)

Happiness

30.

What scientist was forced to recant (take back) his statements about the earth revolving around the sun?

a)

Aristotle

b)

Leonardo Da Vinci

c)

Galileo

31.

Many scientists used what process to prove their theories during the Scientific Revolution?

a)

Scientific Method

b)

Optic lenses

c)

Atomic Clock

32.

Which group in French Society rebelled against King Louis XVI for perceived injustices against the people?

a)

Nobels and 2nd Estate

b)

Church and 1st Estate

c)

Bourgeoisie and 3rd Estate

33.

Which of these places was stormed by the bourgeoisie that officially started the French Revolution?

a)

Versailles

b)

Bastille

c)

Reichstag

34.

Which of the following is a major reason why people flocked to the cities during the Industrial Revolution?

a)

To find more jobs

b)

To take the Civil Service Exam

c)

Religious Freedom

35.

Which major technological advancement allowed for large scale travel to different parts of the country during the Industrial Revolution?

a)

Horse and Buggy

b)

Tanks

c)

Railroad

36.

What is the purpose of the Labor Union?

a)

A group that helps lead to an increase in unemployment

b)

A group to protect workers’ wages and working conditions

c)

A group to give government ownership of businesses

37.

Where did the Industrial Revolution begin?

a)

France

b)

Egypt

c)

Great Britain or England

38.

All of these were issues that the factory workers had with owners EXCEPT:

a)

Child labor

b)

High Pay

c)

Long hours

39.

Which of these did NOT occur during the Industrial Revolution?

a)

Mass Production

b)

Labor Unions

c)

Printing Press invented

40.

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of Imperialism to the people of Africa and Asia?

a)

Improved Education

b)

Modern health practices

c)

Forced Labor

41.

During which conflict did the United States acquire the Philippines?

a)

World War I

b)

Crimean War

c)

Spanish-American War

42.

What was the major reason behind the Sepoy Rebellion against the British?

a)

British forcing their religion on the Indians

b)

British disrespect for their cultural practices

c)

The failed attempt to conquer Japan

43.

All of these are reasons that one country rules over another EXCEPT?

a)

socially

b)

Economically

c)

Evolutionarily

44.

All of these were David Livingstone’s goals during his explorations EXCEPT?

a)

Bring Christianity

b)

Increase Commerce (Trade)

c)

Demoralize them

45.

The Russians were forced to withdraw from World War I due to takeover which of these groups?

a)

Bolsheviks or Communists

b)

Nazis

c)

Fascists

46.

All of these were technological advancements made during World War I EXCEPT?

a)

Tanks

b)

Poison Gas

c)

Atomic Bomb

47.

Trench Warfare was a common style of fighting in which war?

a)

Korean War

b)

World War I

c)

World War II

48.

All of these were causes of World War I EXCEPT?

a)

Nationalism

b)

Militarism

c)

Socialism

49.

What is War Reparation?

a)

A high profile weapon

b)

Freedom to an oppressed people

c)

Money given to a victorious country

50.

“The Spark” of World War I was when which individual was assassinated?

a)

Franz Ferdinand

b)

Edward VII

c)

Gavrilo Princip

51.

What was the name of the Pre-World War I Alliance that included Russia, France, and Great Britain?

a)

Triple Alliance

b)

Axis Powers

c)

Triple Entente

52.

World War I can be best described as:

a)

Breakdown in alliances resulting in global conflict

b)

A time of peace and prosperity around the world

c)

A time of invention and new idea which spread through Europe

53.

Pride in your own country is commonly referred to as:

a)

Socialism

b)

Communism

c)

Nationalism

54.

To build up your own army in preparation of war is commonly referred to as:

a)

Militarism

b)

Imperialism

c)

Nationalism

55.

The treaty that ended World War I was:

a)

Treaty of Paris

b)

Geneva Convention

c)

Treaty of Versailles

56.

In 1918, German and French leaders met to sign an armistice which meant:

a)

The war would end in the new year

b)

France had to surrender

c)

Fighting would stop

57.

What was the U.S. Congress’s response to Wilson’s idea of at 14 Point Plan?

a)

Accepted with hesitation

b)

Had Wilson rework plan

c)

Refused to sign it

58.

The purpose of this Post-World War I organization is to keep peace around the world?

a)

League of Nations

b)

United Nations

c)

NATO

59.

Which of these countries was punished the most at The Treaty of Versailles?

a)

Italy

b)

United States

c)

Germany

60.

Which of these conditions did Germany have to agree to at the Treaty of Versailles?

a)

Reduce the Military

b)

Pay war Reparations to the Allies

c)

Sign the War Guilt Clause

d)

All the above

61.

Adolf Hitler came to power in which country prior to World War II?

a)

Germany

b)

Italy

c)

Russia

62.

Which dictator came to power in Italy in the 1920’s and led during World War II?

a)

Adolf Hitler

b)

Benito Mussolini

c)

Josef Stalin

63.

Which political group rose to power in Germany in 1933 when Hitler was elected Chancellor?

a)

Bolsheviks

b)

Weimar

c)

Nazi

64.

The Holocaust was a period during which war?

a)

World War I

b)

Vietnam War

c)

World War II

65.

What is the term for Germany’s quick attacks to take the enemy by surprise?

a)

Mein Kampf

b)

Volkswagen

c)

Blitzkrieg

66.

The weapon that forced Japan to surrender at the conclusion of World War II was what?

a)

Atomic Bomb

b)

Poison Gas

c)

Trench Warfare

67.

What does the use of kamikaze show about Japanese culture?

a)

They hated Americans enough to die killing them

b)

They valued national honor more than individual life

c)

They are full of despair after the atomic bombs fell on Japan

68.

What was the strategy that the United States used to defeat Japan in the Pacific?

a)

Island Hoping

b)

Kamikaze

69.

Which of the following policies was one that was used by the United States to stop the spreading of communism around the world?

a)

Appeasement

b)

Big Stick Policy

c)

Containment

70.

Which major country supported North Korea during the Korean War?

a)

Soviet Union

b)

France

c)

Vietnam

71.

The Cuban Missile Crisis involved the following 3 countries:

a)

Cuba, France, United States

b)

Cuba, United States, Vietnam

c)

Cuba, United States, Soviet Union

72.

Which country launched the first satellite into space?

a)

United States

b)

Great Britain

c)

Germany

73.

The U-2 Incident was created when a pilot from this country was shot down spying on the Soviet Union.

a)

Germany

b)

United States

c)

Italy

74.

Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

a)

Kennedy

b)

Lenin

c)

Khrushchev

75.

Which leader instituted changes in government policy such as perestroika and glasnost that allowed citizens to voice their opinions openly that led to revolution?

a)

Stalin

b)

Castro

c)

Gorbachev

76.

As the Cold War was coming to a close, countries in Europe that were Communist such as Poland, Romania, East Germany and others revolted against their governments because they were not protected by their large communist friend. What country was that?

a)

Soviet Union

b)

United States

c)

Brazil

77.

Which of these plans deals with the Soviet Union allowing their citizens to openly criticize the government?

a)

Destalinization

b)

Warsaw Pact

c)

Glasnost

78.

Which of these plans deals with the economic restructuring of the Soviet Union?

a)

Perestroika

b)

Sputnik

c)

The New Deal

79.

How were the United States and the Soviet Union described after World War II?

a)

Allies

b)

Superpowers

c)

Democrats

80.

Which of these Communist Dictators came to power in China after winning the Civil War against Chiang Kai-Shek?

a)

Genghis Khan

b)

Song Taizu

c)

Mao Zedong