World History: Review Test #1

1. Instead of fighting a war, Spain and Portugal agreed to have their border dispute settled by the Pope. In 1494, this agreement gave Portugal control over much of present-day Brazil. What did the settlement create?

2. Read the passage and questions. Then choose the best answer.

From 1492-1588, Spain built a vast empire in the New World. Most of Spain’s colonies were in South America. The Spanish people wanted to find gold and silver. Ships took the gold and silver back to Spain. Others came to bring Christianity to the Native Americans. The king also granted favored citizens special rights to trade and land in the New World.

What is another name for special rights to trade and land?

3. From 1492-1588, Spain built a vast empire in the New World. Most of Spain’s colonies were in South America. The Spanish people wanted to find gold and silver. Ships took the gold and silver back to Spain. Others came to bring Christianity to the Native Americans. The king also granted favored citizens special rights to trade and land in the New World.

When Spain started taking gold and silver from the New World, the result was

4. From 1492-1588, Spain built a vast empire in the New World. Most of Spain’s colonies were in South America. The Spanish people wanted to find gold and silver. Ships took the gold and silver back to Spain. Others came to bring Christianity to the Native Americans. The king also granted favored citizens special rights to trade and land in the New World.

From the facts of this passage, we can conclude that

5. Which of the following was NOT an effect of exploring the New World?

6. Prince Henry, ‘The Navigator,” set up a school to improve sailing skills across oceans. In which country did he start his school?

7. What effect did French support of the American Revolution have on France?

8. During War II, which of the following were ALL Axis powers?

9. Major advances in medicine have occurred within the 20^th century. Vaccines for viral diseases as well as antibiotics for bacterial infections have increased life expectancies. Previously untreatable disorders of some organs can now be treated through laser surgery. Gene cloning and gene synthesis have been helpful in many hormone treatments today.

Which of the following is a consequence of this medical revolution?

10. There are many different political regions in the world. Democratic, socialist, Communist and totalitarian systems of government can be found in many regions of the world. One could then reason that naming an area a political region...

11. The creation of a global information superhighway, or infrastructure, is an important tool to increase world trade. At the speed of light, huge quantities of information can travel across the globe. What advantages are likely to come from this trend in communications?

I. Small business owners can use their personal computers to engage in trade worldwide.

II. The United States will have to tighten security to prevent top secret information from being spread worldwide

III. More telephone numbers will be needed to accommodate new fax numbers.

IV. With new translation software, people of different languages will be able to communicate with a computer.

12. By 1700, three European nations laid claim to land in North America. Who were those nations?

13. While fighting the Crusades in the Middle East, European merchants made many profitable trading contacts with the Orient. Why did this lead to the discovery of the New World?

14. In seventeenth century, Galileo proved that objects of different masses fall at the same speed. What made this event so remarkable?

15. Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

In the 1790’s and early 1800’s, Napoleon I conquered a vast territory for France including most of Western Europe and Egypt. Everywhere he conquered, he instituted enlightened policies into local governments. He even changed their systems of law and education. These institutional changes outlasted his empire, which crumbled at the Battle of Waterloo.

What kind of enlightened policies did Napoleon I establish in other nations?

16. Which of the following political situations contributed to the discovery of the New World?

17. During the 1400’s, the caravel (a ship with strong sails) became increasingly popular in overseas travel. How did the caravel contribute to the discovery of the New World?

18. Members of the Smith family are taking a vacation. They live in a cold, temperate region of the country and have been instructed by the travel agency to bring light clothing, extra water supplies, and protective eye wear in case of sand storms.

In which zone will they most likely take a vacation?

19. With the Industrial Revolution came a number of problems in factory conditions and laws. Which of the following was a problem in the developing industries?

20. This system incorporates aspects of capitalism and socialism. The government controls some industries while others operate in a market economy. What is this system called?

21. Which of the following helped sweep Hitler’s fascist regime into power in Germany in 1933?

I. Germans wanted a leader that would keep the communists out of power

II. Germans were looking for a comprehensive welfare package.

III. Germans were looking for a leader who could increase employment.

IV. Germans were dissatisfied with the settlement of WWI.

22. Costa Rica is a very fertile, mountainous nation. When settlers first arrived, many people acquired smaller plots of land, because farming on mountains was very labor-intensive. What socio-economic development can be traced to this physical factor?

23. Israel is a nation with few natural resources that would interest neighboring nations. Yet its existence has been threatened since it was created by the United Nations in 1948. Why has this hostility occurred?

24. Islam is one of the major religions in the world. What is the name of its Holy Book?

25. One of the things to come from radical Islam today is something called Jihad, or Holy War. What has that concept led to in our society today?