8th Grade Social Studies Quiz – Reading Comprehension

The statement "Nearly 85 percent of Chinese people were farmers" indicates that farmers constituted a significant portion of the Chinese population. This suggests that farmers were the majority of the population, as the percentage mentioned is significantly higher than 50%.

In Qing China, three or four generations lived together in extended families, which means that parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren all lived in the same household.

As China's population increased in Ming China, the amount of rural land decreased. This can be attributed to the growing demand for agricultural land to support the larger population. As more land was needed for farming and settlements, the available rural land decreased in quantity.

A clan consists of dozens or even hundreds of families. A clan is a social group that is based on kinship and shared ancestry. It is a larger unit than a single family and typically includes multiple generations. Clans often have their own traditions, customs, and governance systems. They provide a sense of belonging and identity to their members and play an important role in many cultures around the world.

China did not develop commercial capitalism because trade was strictly controlled by the government. This means that the government had significant control over trade activities, limiting the growth and development of a free market economy. With strict control, it would have been difficult for private individuals and businesses to engage in trade and accumulate wealth through commercial activities. This hindered the emergence of a capitalist system that relies on private ownership and free market principles.

The underlined words "Shortages of land in rural areas led to unrest and revolt" indicate that the shortage of land is the cause of the unrest and revolt. This means that the shortage of land is the reason or factor that directly leads to the occurrence of unrest and revolt.

The correct answer is "Women's mobility was limited as a result of footbinding." This statement supports the idea that women were considered inferior to men in Ming and Qing society because footbinding was a practice specifically targeted towards women. It involved the breaking and binding of women's feet, resulting in lifelong physical disabilities and extreme pain. This practice was seen as a symbol of beauty and status, but it also served to restrict women's mobility and independence, reinforcing the notion that women were subordinate to men.

Chinese families based upon Confucian ideals emphasized the importance of education of children, care of the elderly, and support of unmarried daughters. These values were deeply ingrained in Confucian philosophy, which emphasized filial piety and the maintenance of harmonious family relationships. However, the destruction of religious shrines goes against these ideals as it signifies a lack of respect for spiritual beliefs and cultural traditions. Therefore, destruction of religious shrines was not performed by Chinese families based upon Confucian ideals.

"The Golden Lotus" is considered by many as the first realistic social novel because it explores the lives of various characters from different social classes and depicts their struggles, desires, and relationships in a realistic manner. The novel portrays the social realities of its time, including themes of corruption, lust, and power dynamics. Its detailed and intricate portrayal of society and its characters set a precedent for future realistic social novels in Chinese literature.

During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, arts and literature flourished because of the prosperity that occurred during this period. As people became wealthier, they had more disposable income to spend on cultural pursuits such as buying books and art. This increased demand for artistic and literary works, leading to a flourishing of the arts. The statement about Europeans not liking Chinese art during the Ming Era is irrelevant to the question. The decline of Chinese clans and the end of footbinding are also unrelated factors that do not explain the flourishing of arts and literature.

Thomas Malthus believed that the food supply is lower than increases in the population. He argued that population grows exponentially while food production grows linearly, leading to a situation where population outstrips the available food supply. This imbalance between population growth and food production results in scarcity and competition for resources, ultimately leading to famine, disease, and other forms of population control. Malthus' theory highlights the importance of population control measures and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure the availability of food for all.

Indigo was a Chinese cash crop because it was extensively cultivated and traded in China. Indigo is a plant that produces a blue dye, which was highly valued and used in the textile industry. China had a long history of indigo cultivation and it played a significant role in their economy. The demand for indigo was high both domestically and internationally, making it a profitable cash crop for Chinese farmers.