1. Colegio San Patricio
st
1 Period Social Studies Exam
School Year 2009-2010
Name______________________________________________ List #______8th ______
Teacher___________________________________ Date _______________________
Thinking Skill: Comprehension
I. Read carefully the following text, and answer the questions below the text.
The poetic expressiveness and creativity of Japanese women poets of the
Manyoshu era is generally regarded as a manifestation of the freedom and
relatively high political and economic status women of that era enjoyed. During
the Heian period (A.D. 794-1185) which followed, Japanese women became
increasingly relegated to domestic roles under the influence of Buddhism and
Confucianism, which excluded women from the political and economic arenas.
Yet, since poetry of the period came to be defined solely as short lyrical poetry,
known as waka, and became the prevailing means of expressing love, women
continued to excel in and play a central role in the development of classical
Japanese poetry. Moreover, while official Japanese documents were written in
Chinese, the phonetic alphabet kana was used for poetry. Also referred to as
onna moji ("women's letters"), kana was not deemed sufficiently sophisticated for
use by Japanese men, who continued to write Chinese poetry, increasingly for
expressing religious ideas and as an intellectual pastime. Chinese poetry ultimately
yielded, then, to waka as the mainstream of Japanese poetry.
II. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose and underline the correct answer for each questions
regarding the above text that you read. (5 points each)
1. Based on the passage, mainstream Japanese poetry of the Heian period can
best be described as
a. philosophical in its concern.
b. an outgrowth of Buddhism and Confucianism.
c. sentimental in nature and lyrical in style.
d. written primarily for a male audience.
2. Which of the following statements about kana finds the LEAST support in the
passage?
a. It was based on the sound of the Japanese language.
b. It was used primarily by Japanese men.
c. It was used for Japanese poetry but not for Japanese prose.
d. It was considered inappropriate for austere subject matter.
3. The author’s primary purpose in the passage is to
a. identify the reasons for the popularity of a distinct form of literary
expression in Japan
b. distinguish between the Japanese poetry of one historical period with
that of another.
c. trace the influence of religion on the development of Japanese poetry.

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d. provide an explanation for the role of women in the development of
Japanese poetry.
Thinking Skill: Comprehension
III. INTERPRETING CHARTS. Choose the best answer for each item. Write the
letter of your answer in the blank. (5 points each)
Samurai vs. Knight
Japanese Samurai European Knights
Lived by code of honor called Lived by code of honor called
Bushido, which valued bravery and chivalry, which valued bravery and
loyalty to their lord above all else. loyalty to heavenly God, earthly
Would commit ritual suicide rather lord, and chose lady. Code also
than face defeat or dishonor. demanded that knights show
humility.
Fought for lord in exchange for an Fought for lord in exchange for land.
allowance.
Expected women to live up to same Regarded women as weak
values of honor and courage. creatures to be idolized and
defended.
Entered into battle with iron and Entered into battle with chain mail or
leather armor, swords, and bows plate armor, broadsword, and
and arrows. lance.
_____ 1. To whom was the samurai required to be loyal?
a. heavenly God, earthly lord, and chosen lady
b. their lord above all else
c. their parents and children above all else
d. their heavenly God, earthly lord, and parents
_____ 2. What would samurai rather do than face defeat or dishonor?
a. show humility
b. burn their armor
c. commit ritual suicide
d. kill each other
_____ 3. Why did European knights fight for their earthly lord?
a. in exchange for an allowance
b. in exchange for land
c. in exchange for weapons and armor
d. so that the lord would protect their wives
______ 4. What did Japanese samurai expect of women?
a. to live up the same values of honor and courage as men
b. to be weak creatures who needed to be idolized
c. to be weak creatures who needed to be defended by men
d. that women could never fight in battle
_____ 5. What did European knights wear and bring into battle?
a. iron and leather armor, swords, and bows and arrows
b. iron and leather armor, broadsword, and lance

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c. chain mail or plate mail, swords, and bows and arrows
d. chain mail or plate armor, broadsword, and lance
Thinking Skill: Comprehension
IV. MATCHING. Write the number on the blank of the name or term that
best matches the description. (4 points each)
1.______ Only woman to rule China in A. movable type
her own name. B. pastoralist
2.______ A class of powerful, well-to-do C. Wu Zhao
people who enjoy a high social status. D. gentry
E. Tang Taizong
3.______ Blocks of metal or wood, each F. khanates
bearing a single character, that can G. clan
be arranged to make up a page for H. shogun
printing. I. samurai
4.______ In feudal Japan, a supreme J. Shinto
military commander who ruled in the
name of the emperor.
5.______ A group of people descended
from a common ancestor.
6.______ The native religion of Japan.
7.______ Regions in which the Mongol
empire divided, each one ruled by a
descendant of Genghis.
8.______ A member of a nomadic
group that herds domesticated
animals.
V. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Identify the choice that best completes the statement
or answers the question, and write the letter on the blank to the left. (3
points each)
____1.What happened during the Pax Mongolica?
a. The irrigation systems in the Tigris and Euphrates valleys were
rebuilt.
b. A cure for the bubonic plague was developed in China.
c. Ideas and inventions spread with trade between Europe and Asia.
d. Movable type, gunpowder, and the magnetic compass were
invented.
____2.What helped the Chinese to overthrow the Mongol rulers?
a. internal struggles amongst Mongol family members
b. Japanese warriors that united with Chinese rebels
c. Korean warriors that united with Chinese rebels
d. rebel Mongol warriors that were tired of khan rule
____3.What created an intelligent, capable governing class in China?
a. Wise agricultural advisors

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b. A highly refined court society that valued art
c. The civil service examination system
d. The inclusion of women in leadership roles
____4.Why did Kublai Khan favor Mongols and foreigners for government
posts?
a. He did not believe in Confucian teachings.
b. He feared that Chinese officials would support Japan.
c. Genghis Khan had wanted him to remove all Chinese officials
from power.
d. He believed that Mongols and foreigners had no local loyalties.
____5.Which Mongolian practice did Kublai Khan NOT follow?
a. Military conquest of China
b. Increased trade in the Mongol Empire.
c. The rituals of his ancestors
d. A nomadic way of life
____6.What did the kamikaze, or divine wind, do for Japan?
a. It stopped a Korean invasion.
b. It stopped a Mongolian invasion.
c. It brought rain after a long drought.
d. It brought the shoguns safely home from Korea.
____7.All of the following inventions were of the Tang and Song dynasties
EXCEPT
a. Porcelain
b. Paper money
c. The microscope
d. The magnetic compass
Thinking Skill: Critical Thinking
VI. Drawing conclusions. Why was Tang and Song China the most
advanced civilization of its time? (5 points)
Comparing and contrasting. How were the accomplishments of Genghis
Khan similar to and different from those of Kublai Khan? (5 points)
BONUS (3 points)
What does Samurai mean?

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GOOD LUCK!