Question 1

Lu Xun's "Diary of a Madman"

Accepted Answer

"Diary of a Madman" attacked the negative aspects of the traditional Chinese family, particularly its oppressive nature and the mistreatment of its members. The story is often considered a seminal work of modern Chinese literature and a critique of traditional Confucian values. It does not champion female equality or portray women as "man-eaters", nor is it a comedy or a best-seller in Japan, China, and India.

Question 2

Which of the following is not correct regarding Chiang's programs in China?

Accepted Answer

Chiang Kai-shek was unable to fully solve China's economic and social problems during his reign. Although he made some progress in modernizing China's economy and infrastructure, widespread poverty and inequality persisted.

Question 3

During the 1920s,

Accepted Answer

The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) did indeed ally itself with the Nationalists (KMT) in 1923 on the advice of the Comintern. This alliance was commonly known as the First United Front and aimed to unify China against the warlords who controlled large parts of the country at the time. Sun Yat-sen was a prominent figure in the KMT but had passed away in 1925, so he did not bring his party back to prominence in the 1920s. Mao Zedong was not a military leader at this time and did not establish the Nanjing Republic. China did not return to the values of Confucius during the 1920s, as this was a period of political and social upheaval known as the New Culture Movement.

Question 4

The New Culture Movement at Peking University

Accepted Answer

The New Culture Movement at Peking University advocated the study of science and democracy and "new" and largely Western ideas, rejecting traditional Confucian values in favor of modernization.

Question 5

By the end of the 1920s, the Comintern

Accepted Answer

The answer of By the end of the 1920s, the...

Question 6

In an effort to find allies in a hostile world, Lenin

Accepted Answer

Lenin believed that the success of the socialist revolution in Russia depended on the spread of communism to other countries. To achieve this, he attempted to build temporary alliances with nationalist movements in colonized countries, hoping that they would overthrow imperialist colonial regimes and establish communist governments. This strategy became known as "national liberation communism."

Question 7

A famous alliance between communist and nationalist parties in the 1920s took place in

Accepted Answer

The famous alliance between communist and nationalist parties in the 1920s took place in China, where the Communist Party and the Kuomintang formed an alliance known as the First United Front. They cooperated in their efforts to overthrow foreign imperial powers and warlords, but ultimately their alliance broke down and led to a civil war.

Question 8

Under Shah Reza Khan,

Accepted Answer

Shah Reza Khan initiated sweeping reforms to modernize Iran's government, including the centralization of power, the establishment of a professional bureaucracy, and the modernization of the military. However, there was little progress in modernizing the economy, and religious authority remained a powerful force in Iranian society. While Shah Reza Khan sought to reduce foreign influence in Iran, he did maintain diplomatic relations with various European powers.

Question 9

According to the Balfour Declaration,

Accepted Answer

The Balfour Declaration stated that there should be a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which led to increased Jewish immigration to the area and eventually to the establishment of the state of Israel. Option A is incorrect as the Balfour Declaration did not recognize the independence of Arab states. Option B is incorrect as the idea of dividing Palestine between Muslims and Jews did not appear in the Balfour Declaration. Option C is incorrect as the Balfour Declaration did not call for the expulsion of Muslims from Palestine. Option E is incorrect as the Balfour Declaration did not prohibit Jews from entering Palestine.

Question 10

The Japanese term for the industrial and financial conglomerates that controlled much of the nation's industry was

Accepted Answer

The Japanese term for the industrial and financial conglomerates that controlled much of the nation's industry was "zaibatsu."

Question 11

Most of the early Iranian oil profits went into the hands of

Accepted Answer

Most of the early Iranian oil profits went into the hands of British investors through the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later renamed as British Petroleum or BP). Iran initially only received a small share of the profits, leading to economic and political discontent within the country.

Question 12

To avoid eradication by Chiang's army, Mao led his PLA from South China to the North China town of Yan'an. This journey has come to be called the

Accepted Answer

The journey from South China to Yan'an is known as the Long March. The Great Leap Forward and the Northern Expedition refer to different historical events in China, and the Northern March and Long Expedition are not commonly used terms to describe this specific event.

Question 13

The Turkish Republic changed its society by all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The Turkish Republic did not make Islam the sole religion of the state; in fact, it became a secular state and separated religion from government. Therefore, option E is incorrect. All of the other options are correct and reflect changes made to Turkish society by the Turkish Republic.

Question 14

In the Middle East during the interwar period,

Accepted Answer

The discovery of oil at Dhahran in 1938 transformed Saudi Arabia from a region experiencing chronic poverty to one of unexpected national affluence, thus making choice A the correct option. The Nile breakthrough and the mandate to the World Zionist Congress, which are mentioned in choices B and C respectively, did occur during the interwar period, but the question is asking for the best choice. Choices D and E are incorrect; the Balfour Declaration remained in effect during the interwar period, and Lawrence of Arabia did not become the king of Saudi Arabia.

Question 15

The so-called "May Fourth Movement" was

Accepted Answer

The May Fourth Movement was a series of protests and demonstrations organized by Chinese students and intellectuals in response to the decision at the Versailles Peace Conference to award Germany's sphere of influence in Shandong province to Japan rather than returning it to Chinese control. The movement ignited a new wave of nationalism and anti-imperialism in China and was a precursor to the Chinese Communist Revolution.

Question 16

By the 1920s and 1930s, Japan

Accepted Answer

During the 1920s and 1930s, Japan saw a rise in both Marxist influence among organized labor and radical nationalism. This period was marked by significant social and political upheaval, with various ideologies vying for influence within the country.

Question 17

How did the Bolshevik victory in Russia alter Asian ideas about Marxism?

Accepted Answer

The Bolshevik victory in Russia altered Asian ideas about Marxism as nationalist leaders became receptive because they saw their "pre-modern" societies as similar to that of "backward Russia," making Russian developments relevant. This idea was particularly embraced in countries like China, where the Chinese Communist Party was formed in 1921.

Question 18

The Chinese Communist Party

Accepted Answer

The option D correctly states that the Chinese Communist Party managed to survive a series of defeats, including the crushing losses suffered during Mao Zedong's Long March in 1934. Option A is incorrect as while some of the party's early leaders, like Li Dazhao, were associated with Wuhan University, it was not founded by students and professors at the university in 1925. Option B is also incorrect as the New Culture Movement was a broader intellectual and cultural movement that included a variety of perspectives, including Marxism, and was not organized or controlled by the Communist Party. Option C is incorrect as the Communist Party did not require all new members to be of proletarian social origin. Option E is also incorrect as the Communist Party was not successful in the Chinese presidential elections of 1928.

Question 19

All of the following are correct about Iraq except

Accepted Answer

The British did not rule through the minority urban Shi-ite population. Instead, they relied on a combination of minority urban Sunni elites and non-Iraqi indigenous groups such as Assyrians and Kurds to maintain control.

Question 20

Chiang's "New Life Movement" was an effort to

Accepted Answer

Chiang's "New Life Movement" aimed to promote Confucian social ethics, such as respect for elders and the importance of family, while rejecting excessive greed and individualism associated with Western capitalism. It was an attempt to create a modern Chinese society with traditional values that would lead to social stability and progress.

Quiz 11: Nationalism, Revolution, and Dictatorship: Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America From 1919 to 1939