Question

Mongol leader Genghis Khan was one of the world's most formidable conquerors. Born around 1162, Genghis amassed an army of thousands of men and united the nomadic tribes of Mongolia under his rule. Next, he turned his attention to central Asia and China. Using brilliant military tactics—and extreme cruelty—he expanded the Mongol Empire to an area approximately the size of Africa. Kublai Khan, Genghis's grandson, conquered China and was a powerful leader in his own right. Yet unlike his grandfather, Kublai is remembered for governing his acquired territories fairly, rather than dominating them with military might. Instead of exploiting the people of China, Kublai sought to accommodate and embrace Chinese culture. He became the first Mongol to rule over all of China, and he founded the country's Yuan Dynasty. Choose one

1. It draws a contrast between the two leaders' styles of governance.

2. It casts doubt on Kublai Khan's leadership abilities.

Answer 1

1. The passage explicitly contrasts their styles—Genghis through military conquest and cruelty, Kublai through fair governance and cultural accommodation—rather than casting doubt on Kublai's leadership.