AP World History Skills Check 2

Name:

Date:

1. Which of the following classical religions and philosophies focused more on affairs of
this world than on the realm of the divine and its relationship to human life?
(A) Confucianism
(B) Buddhism
(C) Judaism
(D) Zoroastrianism

2. Zoroastrianism most probably influenced which of the following philosophical or

religious traditions?
(A) Greek rationalism
(B) Daoism
(C) Confucianism
(D) Judaism
3. Buddhism and Hinduism are similar in that they both
(A) rejected the religious authority of the Brahmins.
(B) rejected the concept of karma.
(C) offered hope for final release from the cycle of rebirth.
(D) promoted the idea that Ahura Mazda was in a cosmic struggle with Angra Mainyu.
4. Which of the following was primarily a religion focusing on the supernatural, rather
than a philosophy?
(A) The Greek rationalism of Aristotle
(B) Zoroastrianism
(C) Confucianism
(D) Legalism
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5. Which cultural tradition is particularly noted for its emphasis on logic and relentless
questioning of received wisdom, without giving much role to the gods?
(A) Confucian philosophy
(B) Greek philosophy
(C) Daoism
(D) Zoroastrianism
(E) Judaism

6. Both the Buddha and Jesus

(A) were transformed by their followers into gods.
(B) actively opposed Zoroastrianism.
(C) actively sought to found new religions during their lifetimes.
(D) came from poor backgrounds.

7. Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between Daoism
and Confucianism, as understood by Chinese elites?
(A) Daoism is an offshoot of Confucianism that develops the mystical elements inherent
in Confucius teachings.
(B) Daoism and Confucianism were usually in strict opposition to each other, and people
could not practice both simultaneously.
(C) Daoism and Confucianism were regarded as complementary rather than
contradictory.
(D) Most Confucians despised Daoism as a meaningless superstition.

8. The idea that human beings are essentially evil and will behave in an orderly fashion
only if compelled to by harsh laws and harsh punishments is most closely associated
with the ideas of
(A) Taoism
(B) Legalism
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(C) Confucianism
(D) Animism

9. Which of the following is the best example of ideas spreading across a trade route?
(A) Coins as a medium of exchange
(B) Religious rivalries
(C) Social customs
(D) Clothing styles

10. The Neolithic Revolution was characterized by the

(A) change from nomadic herding to settled farming
(B) growth of iron toolmaking technology
(C) migration of early peoples to the Americas
(D) decline of the Roman Empire

11. Hunting and gathering societies

(A) are not able to produce art
(B) are always warlike
(C) organize rather small groups into political units
(D) generally produce a food surplus

12. A society is almost certainly a civilization if

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(A) It is agricultural.
(B) It has some political structure.
(C) It has cities.
(D) It gathers food to survive.

13. Egypt differed from Mesopotamian civilization by stressing

(A) well organized, durable empires
(B) extensive trade
(C) firm religious beliefs
(D) greater social equality

14. Which river-valley civilization was most completely destroyed by invasion?

(A) Hwang Ho
(B) Indus
(C) Nile
(D) Tigris-Euphrates

15. The development of writing

(A) resulted from new technologies, notably the invention of paper
(B) helps explain why agriculture could develop
(C) helps explain why governments could become more formal and bureaucratic
(D) was unusual in an agricultural society
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