Test Item File for ARTS AND CULTURE: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HUMANITIES Volume 1 by Janetta Rebold Benton and Robert DiYanni
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Chapter 1: Prehistoric, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian Civilizations Multiple Choice 1. It is thought that the __________ was used for Old Kingdom tombs because, as one of the most stable geometric forms, it symbolized permanence to ancient Egyptians. A. circle B. cube C. sphere D. pyramid E. cone Answer: D Page ref: 22 2. During the New Kingdom, burial in __________ replaced burial in pyramids. A. the temple B. rock-cut tombs C. a courtyard in the palace D. the city square E. none of the above Answer: B Page ref: 26 3. The Human-Headed Winged Lion (fig. 1.9) with the body of a lion, wings of a bird, and head of a human probably functioned as a(n) __________. A. worshipper in the temples B. figure celebrating military victories C. guardian figure D. illustration of favorite stories E. king Answer: C Page ref: 13 4. Which of the following is not true regarding Paleolithic sculpture? A. The most frequently depicted subjects are memory images of animals B. There are few figures of wood or other perishable materials that remain today C. The most famous example of a sculpture from the era is the Woman (or Venus) of Willendorf (fig. 1.2) D. In France, a clay sculpture of two bison was found E. No humans are represented Answer: E Page ref: 5 5. The basic plan of the rock-cut tombs of the Middle Kingdom resemble __________. A. an Egyptian home of the time B. the pharaoh’s palace C. a typical Egyptian shop D. the simplest type of temple E. both B and D Answer: A Page ref: 26 6. Egyptian relief sculptures and paintings show human figures both in profile and frontal positions simultaneously __________.
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A. t0 display each part of the body from its most characteristic point of view B. because artists were unskilled in drawing the human body C. because such a design was dictated by Egyptian religious beliefs D. none of the above E. both A and C Answer: A Page ref: 29 7. The only significant break in the continuity of Egyptian life were the political, religious, and artistic changes during the reign of which pharaoh? A. Zoser B. Chefren C. Tutankhamen D. Akhenaten E. Mycerinus Answer: D Page ref: 31 8. The ruler __________ is associated with an ancient code of laws and decrees. A. Naram-Sin B. Gilgamesh C. Hammurabi D. Nebuchadnezzar E. Ashurnasirpal II Answer: C Page ref: 12 9. Some scholars believe that cave paintings were created to __________. A. ensure a successful hunt B. express the power of the ruler C. commemorate the death of a member of the group D. celebrate an abundant harvest E. represent gods Answer: A Page ref: 6 10. King Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt __________ which became the greatest city in the Near East. A. Babylon B. Cairo C. Lagash D. Ur E. Persepolis Answer: A Page ref: 14 11. The earliest burial places of the Old Kingdom Egyptian nobility were called __________, flat-topped one-story rectangular buildings with slanted walls. A. pyramids B. serdabs C. mortuary temples D. mastabas E. huts Answer: D Page ref: 21 12. Scholars were able to decipher Egyptian writing by comparing the three languages included on the __________.
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A. Palette of Narmer B. Rosetta Stone C. Stepped Pyramid of Zoser D. Book of the Dead E. wall relief of Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt Answer: B Page ref: 18 13. The term ka is roughly equivalent to the concept of __________. A. sin B. good versus evil C. heaven D. judgment E. a soul Answer: E Page ref: 20 14. What is known of Paleolithic life derives largely from __________. A. cromlechs B. cuneiform writing C. relief sculptures D. paintings found in caves E. all of the above Answer: D Page ref: 5 15. The Great Sphinx (fig. 1.17) __________. A. was placed in a Valley Temple B. is made of gold and semiprecious stones C. indicates the power of the pharaoh D. reappears in Classical Greek mythology E. none of the above Answer: C Page ref: 22 16. In painting of the Neolithic era __________. A. paintings are located in rock shelters and beneath cliff overhangs B. the human figure is given prominence C. paintings feature more storytelling than in the Paleolithic era D. all of the above E. none of the above Answer: D Page ref: 6 17. The oldest known major literary work in the world is called __________. A. The Iliad B. The Tale of Genji C. The Poem of the Supersage D. The Law Code of Hammurabi E. The Epic of Gilgamesh Answer: E Page ref: 10 18. Egyptian relief work, such as Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt (fig. 1.21), was meant to be seen __________. A. by visitors to the nobleman’s tomb B. by no one
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C. only by the ka of the deceased D. by priests who came often to the tomb to perform rituals E. by those who discovered the tomb thousands of years later Answer: C Page ref: 25 19. __________ is (are) the most common subjects for European cave paintings. A. Scenes of battle B. Animals C. Humans participating in religious rituals D. Women representing fertility goddesses E. none of the above Answer: B Page ref: 5 20. __________ is not one of the standard poses for Egyptian sculptures of the human figure. A. Sitting on a block B. Standing with one foot forward C. Sitting cross-legged on the floor D. Kneeling on both knees E. Reclining Answer: E Page ref: 22 21. Which of the following statements is true of New Kingdom temples? A. One of the largest is at Luxor B. The temples were considered the home of the gods C. They were constructed using the post and lintel system D. The entire temple complex was essentially symmetrical and organized around a longitudinal axis E. all of the above Answer: E Page ref: 26 22. __________ is (are) not included in the Victory Stele of Naram-Sin (fig. 1.7). A. A mountain B. The ruler Naram-Sin C. An army victoriously marching up the mountain D. A representation of the temple E. A set of stars representing Naram Sin’s protecting gods Answer: D Page ref: 11
True/False 23. A ziggurat is a mountain-like platform upon which Sumerians placed their temples. Answer: T Page ref: 9 24. The prophet Zoroaster, a Persian, developed a dualistic religion that asserted the universe was divided between two forces, one good and the other evil. Answer: T Page ref: 15 25. A serdab is a hidden room in a tomb that contains a statue of the dead person. Answer: T Page ref: 21
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