View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did liberalism and democracy function in South American countries?
(a) As a veneer for the workings of colonialism.
(b) As an impetus to move the countries into modernity.
(c) As the breath of fresh air, politically speaking.
(d) As the new structure of governments around the continent.

2. According to Paz, what philosophical fact defines much of Mexico's history?
(a) The people adopted some ideas and invented others.
(b) They had only two great thinkers.
(c) They overturned several of Spain's philosophical treatises.
(d) The people adopted ideas, but did not invent their own.

3. How does the Indian perceive salvation? (Chapter Five).
(a) As something open to anyone who would believe.
(b) As something attainable only by a few people.
(c) As something solely individual.
(d) As part of society and the cosmos, as well as individual.

4. When Paz sees that Mexicans return to their tradition, what do they remember?
(a) That they are part of Spain's tradition.
(b) That their tradition is mostly Indian.
(c) That they do not belong to a greater universal tradition.
(d) That their tradition is rooted in conquest and slavery.

5. Who were the last people to enter the Valley of Mexico?
(a) Spaniards.
(b) Nahuatls.
(c) Aztecs.
(d) Mexicans.

6. Which of the following contributed to making colonialism alive and relevant?
(a) Imperial takeover.
(b) Native acceptance.
(c) Violence.
(d) Catholicism.

7. Why did the Spaniards not exterminate the Indians after they were conquered?
(a) They respected the Indians.
(b) They needed labor.
(c) They wanted to learn from the Indians.
(d) Their Catholicism prevented mass slaughter.

8. Following the Revolution, why was socialist education not widely implemented in Mexico?
(a) Socialist education was highly unsuccessful.
(b) The government could not agree on a socialist curriculum.
(c) Training was not available for teachers for providing a socialist education.
(d) Socialism was not the philosophy adopted by Mexicans.

9. Mexico lacks basic industries except for one - what is it?
(a) Wool.
(b) Forestry.
(c) Fishing.
(d) Steel.

10. Why have Mexican culture and politics vacillated from one extreme to another? (Chapter Seven, page 157).
(a) Because there has never been a strong Mexican leader.
(b) Because Mexicans have difficulty synthesizing experiences.
(c) Because Mexicans deny their Spanish and Indian heritage.
(d) Because Mexicans cannot invent their history from the beginning.

11. According to Trotsky, what should happen if the Revolution does not break out in advanced nations following World War II?
(a) Socialism should be forced on those nations.
(b) The Marxist view of history should be revised.
(c) Socialism should be abandoned altogether.
(d) The Marxist view of economics should be revised.

12. What was Vasconcelos' philosophy regarding the material world?
(a) Emotions, rather than intellect, comprehend the world and create reality.
(b) The supernatural world governs the material world.
(c) The material world cannot be understood nor explained.
(d) Intellect, rather than emotions, comprehends the world and creates reality.

13. What did the Revolution force the Mexican people to do?
(a) Overcome the institutions of colonialism.
(b) Think about the future in global terms.
(c) Confront history and invent their future.
(d) Synthesize their colonial past with the pre-Catholicism past..

14. How did the Independence movement begin in South America?
(a) With Mexican housewives gradually overturning the governing body.
(b) Under the leadership of impassioned leader, San Martin.
(c) With simultaneous victories sweeping the continent.
(d) With a small band of determined revolutionaries.

15. Why did the Church support Spanish power?
(a) The Church owed its Mexican existence to the Spanish Conquest.
(b) The Church was threatened by Spain.
(c) The Church was bribed by the Spanish monarch.
(d) The Church owned large portions of land.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was sacrificed when Porfirio Diaz took power and subdued anarchy?

2. Why was unemployment high in Mexico at the time that Paz was writing?

3. When did the Plan of Ayala go into effect?

4. What happened to the people annexed by greater world powers?

5. Which of the following created the Spanish monarchy?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 668 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample