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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. China underwent a "century of _____" before giving into national communism.

2. Which major Chinese city was first visited by Kissinger?

3. China is referred to as being a ____ society.

4. Who was China's leader at the time?

5. The high point of the _____ Dynasty was also the turning point for China.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. How does Kissinger explain the Nian Rebellion?

7. Examine the first appearance of Chinese characters as they came into being.

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

9. What were the The Qiying-Pottinger negotiations? What did the negotiations change between China and the West?

10. What does Kissinger say about the beginning of the decline of China?

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

Explain in details Deng's modernization of China. How did Deng make China a viable country in the global market place? What were his plans? Were all of them successful? What were the biggest changes? How have Deng's changes affected today's China? What other things might Deng have accomplished if he had stayed in office? Do you agree with Deng's choice to retire?

Essay Topic 3

China and the United States were trying to work closely with the Soviet Union during the downfall of Communism. Did the U.S. and China know that Communism was about the fall? Did they know that the Soviet Union would soon cease to exist? How would they be able to work with the new Russia? How did it affect foreign policy and globalization?

(see the answer keys)

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