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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. In which year did China's leader summon his top military personnel to Beijing?

2. Who is the ancient sage often referred to in the text?

3. In what year did the French Jesuit Jean-Baptiste Du Halde write about China?

4. The Chinese referred to the British as ____.

5. The treaty allowed a permanent ____ to be established in Beijing.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. The Chinese are very involved in strategy. Examine the Chinese use of strategy and the types of games in which it is employed.

5. Who would be put in charge of the new system that would replace Qing?

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

7. How did the Japanese culture compare and contrast to the Chinese culture?

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

9. What was the Nian Rebellion? When did it occur? Who took over the government?

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

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

How might the Sino-American relationship have developed or changed if Richard Nixon had not been forced to resign? What did the Chinese think of the impeachment? How did it affect China's view of the United States? What was Kissinger's role in Sino-American relations after Nixon left office?

Essay Topic 3

China always saw itself as a superior country in both power and culture. Examine this mentality. What gave China the impression that it was superior? Was it superior? How did it show this superiority over its enemies? How did other countries view this standpoint? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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