View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When did Ricci leave Macerata to study in Rome?

2. In Chinese, what is a "huihui"?

3. Ricci grew up in Macerata during a period of what?

4. How did Ricci learn more about China?

5. Matteo Ricci lived during which period of time?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does the author know with certainty where Ricci picked up the idea of mnemonic devices?

2. What had the Japanese done to make Ricci's life difficult?

3. Describe the training of Matteo Ricci before he arrived in China.

4. According to Spence, how did Ricci use the four images and four Chinese characters?

5. What were Ricci's rules for picking a location to store the information?

6. According to the author Jonathan D. Spence, how did the Chinese view the use of mnemonic devices?

7. Why does Matteo Ricci agree to use his mnemonic techniques to help Governor Lu's sons?

8. How and why did Ricci display his spirit of ecumenism in China?

9. What were the three major religions in China?

10. What is a "huihui"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the Catholic attitude towards profit and property during the time of Ignatius Loyola.

Essay Topic 2

The last chapter of the book relies on imagery to convey Ricci's last look at the Memory Palace. Discuss the way the author appeals to the five senses and the way the imagery develops the summation of Ricci's life.

Essay Topic 3

The Chinese practiced three major religions: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. In his efforts to Christianize the Chinese, Ricci uses the beliefs from these three religions to show the similarities to his Catholicism. Explain the basics of all four religions and discuss their similarities and differences to each other.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 725 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample