China

School Improvement Partnership Al Shahama Secondary School for Girls Grade 12 English Name: …………………………………...................…...........................................…….. Class: …………………………………… Prepared by Ms Lynn China By Ekaterina Zhdanova-Redman    1     China is one of the planet's oldest civilizations. It has a written history of 4,000 years and boasts rich cultural relics and historical sites. Together with ancient Egypt, Babylon and India, China is recognized as one of the four great ancient civilizations of the world. Moreover, it is the only ancient civilization that has continued to this very day. 2     Archaeological studies have revealed that around 5,000 years ago the Chinese entered the stage of patriarchal society. Not only did villages begin to appear but also the initial forms of cities began to become evident. 3     China was one of the most powerful countries of the ancient world; occupying a leading position in the development of productivity and technology. Ancient China enjoyed and developed agriculture and advanced irrigation system, an independent tradition of medicine and advanced botanical knowledge. 4     China's so called "four great inventions"-the compass, gunpowder, movable type printing, and papermaking-not only changed the world but also accelerated the evolution of world history. China was also rich in ceramics and silk textiles, great inventions that had a tremendous influence in the world. Chinese porcelain with abstract blue-and-white patterns is still popular worldwide. 5     China also kept the world's most detailed and earliest astronomical records. The first people to take note of such astronomical phenomena as comets, sunspots, and new stars were Chinese. It was also the Chinese who produced the most advanced astronomical observatory apparatus of the time. 6     In metallurgy, China long held a leading position. When Europeans still could not turn out a single piece of cast iron in the 14th century, Chinese people had already produced cast iron on an industrial scale four centuries earlier. 7     The Great Chinese Wall has become one of the world's most recognizable constructions. It was built in the third century BC to protect the country from the enemies. It extends about 2,414 km from the Yellow Sea into central Asia and is the only man-made object visible from the moon. It is one of China's most important cultural and historical symbols. 8     One of the other Chinese wonders is the so-called "underground army." Over 6,000 life-size terracotta figures, horses, and chariots were made for the tomb of Emperor Ch'in Shi-huangdi in 210 BC. The burial mound was discovered in 1974. The terracotta warriors of the "underground army" guarding the mausoleum amazed the world. It has been called the "eighth wonder of the world." 9     China is a country with a great diversity of religions, with over 100 million followers of the various faiths. The main religions are Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and China's indigenous Taoism. 10     China's great ancient inventions made tremendous contributions to the world's industry, economy, and culture. They were also important symbols of China's role as a great world civilization. 11     Looking back at the contributions China's civilization has made to the world, there is a strong reason to believe that a more prosperous and stronger China will surely make new contributions to the civilization of mankind.Copyright © 2010 edHelper China 1.   China is:  One of the world's youngest civilizations.  The world's oldest civilization.  The only ancient civilization that has continued to the present.  None of the above 2.   Papermaking was invented in Egypt, not in China.  True  False 3.   China's four great inventions are:  The compass, gunpowder, movable type printing and papermaking  Algebra, astronomy, law, hieroglyphs  Stone-carvings, tobacco, calendar, and basketball  The wheel, irrigation, asphalt making, and pottery 4.   The Great Wall was:  A palace of Chinese emperors  A protection from the enemies  A famous Chinese sculpture  A Chinese mausoleum 5.   The Great Wall is visible from the moon.  True  False 6.   The "underground army" is:  What Chinese called Australians  What Chinese called their enemies  Sculptures of people and horses, buried with a Chinese emperor  Remains of warriors, servants, and horses buried with Chinese emperor in his mausoleum 7.   China is a country with one religion.  True  False 8.   There are no Christians in China.  True  False   China - Answer Key 1    The only ancient civilization that has continued to the present.2    False3    The compass, gunpowder, movable type printing and papermaking4    A protection from the enemies5    True6    Sculptures of people and horses, buried with a Chinese emperor7    False8    False School Improvement Partnership Al Shahama Secondary School for Girls Grade 12 English Name: …………………………………...................…...........................................…….. Class: …………………………………… Prepared by Ms Lynn