Lesson 8, Sections 1–5 Reading Check

Imperial China has been divided into different periods by historians. How are these periods divided up?

• by emperor
• by foreign rule
• by dynasty
• by government policy

During the Han dynasty, government officials were chosen based on their

• ability to pass strict tests.
• relationship to the emperor.
• level of wealth and nobility.
• knowledge of the world.

Who became the first Chinese ruler to claim the title of emperor?

• Li Yuan
• Prince Zheng
• Confucius
• Kublai Khan

A dynasty is a

• rule by officials of proven merit.
• complete history of one emperor.
• political leader of a territory.
• line of rulers from the same family.

The Mandate of Heaven permitted Chinese people to overthrow an emperor

• never under any circumstances.
• if he was ruling badly.
• when he became unpopular.
• with the support of the scholars.

China’s golden age of expansion and prosperity occurred during which dynasty?

• Qin dynasty
• Han dynasty
• Tang dynasty
• Song dynasty

Which event did NOT contribute to the fall of the Han government?

• corruption in the government
• warlords opposing the government
• workers forced to labor on public projects
• rebellions by scholar-officials

Before the Han dynasty, emperors generally chose their government officials from one of the groups below. This group was the

• meritocracy.
• scholar-officials.
• aristocracy.
• lower class.

Which dynasty created the civil service examination?

• Han dynasty
• Sui dynasty
• Tang dynasty
• Ming dynasty

What was true about civil service exams during the Tang dynasty?

• The civil service exams often favored aristocrats.
• Peasants were more likely to take the exam than aristocrats.
• The exams were open to all, including merchants and beggars.
• Member of the aristocracy could not take the exams.