Question

Read the quotation and answer the question.

Confucian classics were made the cornerstone of the [Chinese civil service examination] system simply because it had been the philosophy of the people.
After the appearance of this system, students treated [the civil service system] as a stepping-stone toward government employment.
— Pao Chao Hsieh, The Government of China, 1644 to 1911 (1925)

Based on the excerpt, how did the civil service examination system change Chinese society?

A.
The Confucian-based civil service examination led to the development of a literary elite who studied Confucianism for its own sake.

B.
Confucian ideas shaped China’s government and led to discrimination against those who believed in other faiths and philosophies.

C.
Confucian ideas became a unifying force that led to a better connection among the vast and diverse population of China.

D.
The Confucian-based civil service examination system led to the dominance of a highly educated and privileged class in Chinese society

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:

D. The Confucian-based civil service examination system led to the dominance of a highly educated and privileged class in Chinese society.

This answer aligns with the excerpt, which indicates that students viewed the civil service system as a means to gain government employment, thus creating a pathway for the emergence of a literate and educated elite who would dominate government roles.

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