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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. By 1860, the Russians had been in Beijing for ____ years.

2. Which is not one of the nomadic groups mentioned?

3. The Chinese referred to the British as ____.

4. Which country was not referred to in this plan?

5. The treaty also permitted travel on which river?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the Taiping Rebellion? When did it take place?

2. The culmination of Chinese warring was two and a half centuries of turmoil. To what does Kissinger compare this era?

3. How and why does Kissinger compare Confucius to Machiavelli?

4. What did China do to combat the threats from the Europeans?

5. How does Kissinger address the history of the Chinese-Indian borders?

6. Why were the Chinese approached by the "red-haired barbarians" of Britain in regards to free trade?

7. Who was Wei Yuan? When did he live? What was his major work? What did the work contain?

8. Abbé Régis-Evariste Huc made observations about China. What did Huc write?

9. Discuss China's long experience with naval expeditions and exploits.

10. How did China perceive Europe? What was Britain's goal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kissinger took his 40 years experience in working with China to present this book. Kissinger writes:

"This book is an effort, based in part on conversations with Chinese leaders, to explain the conceptual way the Chinese think about problems of peace and war and international order, and its relationship to the more pragmatic, case-by-case American approach. Different histories and cultures produce occasionally divergent conclusions. I do not always agree with the Chinese perspective, nor will every reader. But it is necessary to understand it, since China will play such a big role in the world that is emerging in the twenty-first century." (Preface, p. 11)

Why do you think the book was so important to Kissinger? Do you think it will change the American perception of the country? How can it help to bring the two countries closer together? How could Kissinger write about such a sensitive topic? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Mao and other Chinese leaders focused heavily on the nomadic territories to the north. Why were border wars so important? How did the presence of the nomads help/hinder the conflict between China and the Soviet Union? Who won the conflict?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the long and illustrious career of Henry Kissinger. How effective was Kissinger as Secretary of State? What are the man's opinions about the modern state of affairs between the United States and China? What else has Kissinger done in government? When did he retire? What other books have been written by Kissinger?

(see the answer keys)

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