Grade 8 History 2.1 Regents Exam Preparation Task 1 Directions (1–10): For each statement or question, record on your separate answer sheet the letter of the word or expression that, of those given, best completes the statement or answers the question. Base your answers to the following two questions on the passage below and on your knowledge of social studies. . . The serf question is commonly seen as the acid test of Catherine's sincerity; and her failure to solve it is taken as proof of insincerity. But Catherine was convinced, both on humanitarian and practical grounds, of the desirability of emancipation, or at least of state regulation of the relationship between noble and serf. She voiced her beliefs clearly and often, publicly and privately. She roundly declared that 'unless we agree to alleviate the cruelties and to mitigate [reduce] a condition intolerable for human beings, they themselves will take matters into their own hands, whether we like it or not'. On the other hand, when it came to putting her wishes into action, Catherine was faced with the almost unanimous disapproval of the nobility. They, having won wide authority over the serfs from her predecessors, were bent on exacting [forcing] still more from Catherine herself, and had little patience with her liberal ideas. The gulf between noble and serf had grown too wide for Catherine to bridge it. Faced with such an impasse, she could do nothing. To push through her programme with any prospect of success, she would have had to resort to the forcible methods of Peter the Great, an option that she had neither the inclination nor the power to take. Trapped in a historical process that was none of her making and which she could not control, Catherine was compelled to yield against her private judgment. Hence the paradox [contradiction], that under the most enlightened Russian ruler of the century, the condition of the serfs underwent so marked and rapid a deterioration. The nobility demanded payment for their support of Catherine; and Catherine had to pay at the serfs' expense. . . . Source: A. Lentin, "Catherine the Great and Enlightened Despotism," History Today, March 1971 1. Based on this passage, what issue was debated but not changed during the reign of Catherine the Great? A. Abolishing noble titles B. Emancipating the serfs C. Withholding pay from the nobility D. Increasing royal authority 2. Which claim is best supported by this passage? A. Political and social changes can be difficult to bring about. B. Monarchs rule with unquestioned authority. C. Nobility rarely have an impact on royal decisions. D. Inequality was not a concern of monarchs.
Questioning her leadership qualities by the use of the serf question/acid test
to reduce the cruelties of serfs (how to better their situation)
Direct opposition is the noble as they have problems with her liberal ideas
Conditions gotten worse
Base your answers to the following two questions on the passage below and on your knowledge of social studies. My citizens, We have accomplished many and great tasks in a short time. The greatest of these is the Turkish Republic, the basis of which is the Turkish heroism and the great Turkish culture. We owe this success to the cooperative progress of the Turkish nation and its valuable army. However we can never consider what we have achieved to be sufficient, because we must, and are determined to accomplish even more and greater tasks. We shall raise our country to the level of the most prosperous and civilized nations of the world. We shall endow our nation with the broadest means and sources of welfare. We shall raise our national culture above the contemporary level of civilization. . . . Source: Speech by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 1933 3. Which claim is being made by this passage? A. Islamic law is the foundation of Turkish society. B. The Turkish nation needs to remain isolated to survive. C. Turkey has the potential to become a world leader. D. A policy of imperialism is essential if Turkey is to grow. 4. Which concept is most closely associated with the ideas expressed in this passage? A. Westernization B. Socialism C. Neutrality D. Theocracy Base your answers to the following two questions on the passage below and on your knowledge of social studies. . . In 1991, while the attacking Tutsi rebels were gaining ground, speeches at Rwandan political meetings, notably at rallies held by the party of President Habyarimana and his ministers, consisted almost entirely of threats made against Tutsis. In Butare, home of the national university, professors vied with one another to publish historical screeds [rants] and anti-Tutsi diatribes [lectures]. In the broadcast studios of popular radio stations, Radio Rwanda and Radio Mille Collines, the Tutsis were referred to as "cockroaches." Announcers, the two best known of whom were Simon Bikindi and Kantano Habimana, used humorous sketches and songs to call openly for the destruction of the Tutsis. . . . Source: Jean Hatzfeld, Machete Season: The Killers in Rwanda Speak, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005 5. Based on this passage, one can infer that popular radio programming... A. gave hope to the Tutsis during the genocide. B. was used to help end the genocide. C. was not well known in Rwanda. D. was a propaganda tool that led to the Tutsis being seen as inferior. 6. Which situation in Rwanda led to the events described in this passage? A. The establishment of a classless society B. Ethnic rivalries promoted by colonial favoritism C. Famine caused by environmental disaster D. A large influx of refugees
Base your answers to the following two questions on the passage below and on your knowledge of social studies. "For an important body of historical opinion, the questions asked about the emergence of the Final Solution [the Holocaust] can be answered easily with reference to Hitler's anti-Jewish rhetoric, drawn from various points in his career but seen to reflect a consistent murderous objective. In this view, Hitler is seen as the driving force of Nazi anti-Semitic policy, whose views indicate a coherent line of thought from a very early point. Hitler is also seen as the sole strategist with the authority and the determination to begin the implementation of the Final Solution. ... This line of thought accents the role of Hitler in initiating the murder of European Jewry, seeing a high degree of persistence, consistency, and orderly sequence in Nazi anti-Jewish policy, directed from a very early point to the goal of mass murder." Source: Michael Marrus, historian, The Holocaust in History, 1989 7. Which of the following pieces of evidence would most directly support the argument about the Holocaust described by Marrus? A. Hitler called for the elimination of the Jewish people from Europe in his early 1920s autobiography Mein Kampf. B. Hitler believed that the German people were entitled to "living space" in Eastern Europe. C. Hitler associated Bolshevism and communism with the Jewish people. D. Hitler supported the elimination of Gypsies and other non-Jewish minorities he deemed undesirable. 8. All of the following statements are factually accurate. Which would most directly challenge the argument described by Marrus? A. The mass killings of Jews in occupied territories increased as the course of the war turned against Germany. B. Many high officials in the German government were tried for crimes against the Jews after the war ended. C. Small groups of police and soldiers known as Einsatzgruppen undertook the killing of many Eastern European Jews through mass shootings. D. The Nazi regime considered a plan to deport European Jews to the French colony of Madagascar.
Base your answers to the following two questions on the passage below and on your knowledge of social studies. XIII . . . An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant [agreement]. XIV A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike. . . . Source: President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, 1918 9. Which concept is best supported by the information in Article XIII? A. Religious tolerance B. Social contract C. Self-determination D. Appeasement 10. Which organization was formed in response to the concerns addressed in Article XIV? A. European Union B. United Nations C. Warsaw Pact D. League of Nations
1 answer
Here are the answers to the questions based on the provided passages and context:
B. Emancipating the serfs
This passage discusses Catherine the Great's struggle with the issue of serfdom and emancipation, showing that this issue was debated but ultimately not resolved.
A. Political and social changes can be difficult to bring about.
The passage illustrates the challenges Catherine faced in trying to implement her ideas against the opposition of the nobility.
C. Turkey has the potential to become a world leader.
Atatürk's speech emphasizes the vision for Turkey to grow and become prosperous and civilized.
A. Westernization
The passage's focus on raising Turkey's national culture and civilization suggests an alignment with Westernization efforts.
D. was a propaganda tool that led to the Tutsis being seen as inferior.
The passage describes how radio broadcasts promoted negative stereotypes and incited violence against the Tutsi population.
B. Ethnic rivalries promoted by colonial favoritism
The historical context hints at the role of colonialism in creating divisions between the Hutu and Tutsi populations.
A. Hitler called for the elimination of the Jewish people from Europe in his early 1920s autobiography Mein Kampf.
This evidence supports the argument about Hitler's long-standing anti-Semitic ideology.
A. The mass killings of Jews in occupied territories increased as the course of the war turned against Germany.
This statement would challenge Marrus's argument that Hitler was the sole strategist behind the Holocaust, indicating that resources and responses varied with the war's progress.
C. Self-determination
Article XIII supports the concept of self-determination, particularly regarding the establishment of a Polish state based on the populations living there.
D. League of Nations
The League of Nations was formed in response to the concerns addressed in Article XIV, aimed at ensuring political independence and territorial integrity for all nations.
1 answer