AP World History Practice Test Chapter 4 [UPDATED]

Last Updated on May 23, 2024

AP World History Practice Test Chapter 4: The Development and Codification of Religious Traditions. You can also download the Advanced Placement exam 2024 full-length review practice test in printable pdf.

Engaging with our AP World History Practice Test for Chapter 4 is a strategic way to prepare yourself for your AP World History exam, reinforcing your understanding of pivotal historical events and transformations that significantly influenced the world from 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E. This period encapsulates the Post-Classical Era, an epoch marked by the rise and fall of empires, the expansion of trade networks, and dramatic shifts in cultural and religious landscapes.

This AP World History test prep delves into the understanding of crucial global processes and civilizations such as the Islamic Caliphates, Byzantine Empire, Mongol Empire, the Vikings in Europe, African Kingdoms, and the Civilizations of the Americas. It aims to test your grasp of their political structures, cultural contributions, economic systems, and the significant individuals associated with these societies.

AP World History Practice Test Chapter 4

Chapter 4

AP World History Practice Test Chapter 4

AP World History Practice Test

Chapter 4: The Development and Codification of Religious Traditions
Total Items: 23 MCQs
Time Limit: N/A

1 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

“I say: Promote the worthy and the capable without waiting
for them to rise through the ranks. Dismiss the unfit and
incapable without waiting for even a single moment...
Transform the ordinary people without waiting for
government controls. If social divisions are not yet set, then
take control of illuminating the proper bonds. Even the sons
and grandsons of kings, dukes, gentry, and grand ministers, if
they cannot submit to ritual and yi, should be assigned the
status of commoners. Even the sons and grandsons of
commoners, if they accumulate culture and learning, correct
their person and conduct, and can submit to ritual and yi,
should be assigned the status of prime minister, gentry, or
grand ministers. And so, for those engaging in vile teachings,
vile doctrines, vile works, and vile skills, and for those

among the common people who are rebellious and perverse,
give them each an occupation and teach them, and take a
while to wait for them.”

Xunzi, Chinese philosopher, circa 250 B.C.E.

A historian would most likely use this passage to illustrate which of the following?

The brutality of imperial rule in China

The emergence of patriarchal values during the Han dynasty

The diffusion of ideas from South Asia to East Asia

The concerns regarding proper behavior in China

2 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

among the common people who are rebellious and perverse,
give them each an occupation and teach them, and take a
while to wait for them.”

Xunzi, Chinese philosopher, circa 250 B.C.E.

Ideas similar to those in the passage have directly contributed to the implementation of which of the following by the Han dynasty?

The practice of foot binding

A strict social hierarchy

An imperial examination system

Military conscription

3 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

among the common people who are rebellious and perverse,
give them each an occupation and teach them, and take a
while to wait for them.”

Xunzi, Chinese philosopher, circa 250 B.C.E.

According to the passage, Xunzi supported an approach to government that most clearly reflected the principles of

Confucianism

Legalism

Daoism

Buddhism

4 / 23

Questions refer to the following passage.

“God spoke, and these were his words: I am the Lord your
God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

—You shall have no other god to set against me. You shall not
make a carved image for yourself nor the likeness of anything
in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters
under the earth.
—You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the
Lord your God, am a jealous god. I punish the children for
the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of
those who hate me. But I keep faith with thousands, with
those who love me and keep my commandments.
—You shall not make wrong use of the name of the Lord your
God; the Lord will not leave unpunished the man who
misuses his name.
—Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. You have six days
to labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a
Sabbath of the Lord your God; that day you shall not do any
work, you, your son or your daughter, your slave or your
slave-girl, your cattle or the alien within your gates; for in six
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is
in them, and on the seventh day he rested. Therefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.
—Honor your father and your mother, that you may live long in
the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
—You shall not commit murder.
—You shall not commit adultery.
—You shall not steal.
—You shall not give false evidence against your neighbor.
—You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not
covet your neighbor’s wife, his slave, his slave-girl, his ox,
his [donkey], or anything that belongs to him.”

Ten Commandments,” Old Testament of the Bible, Exodus
20:1–17

Ideas similar to those expressed in the passage directly contributed to which of the following in the period 600– 1450 C.E.?

The development of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula

The implementation of Justinian’s Code in the Byzantine Empire

The establishment of the Twelve Tables of Roman law

The rise of Protestantism in Western Europe

5 / 23

Questions refer to the following passage.

“God spoke, and these were his words: I am the Lord your
God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Ten Commandments,” Old Testament of the Bible, Exodus
20:1–17

The passage best illustrates which of the following patterns in the period 600 B.C.E.–600 C.E.?

As states increased in size and contacts intensified, technological diffusion occurred

The founding and spread of all the world’s major belief systems

Codification of religious traditions provided a bond among people and an ethical code by which to live.

Belief systems often reinforced patriarchal gender systems.

6 / 23

Questions refer to the following passage.

“God spoke, and these were his words: I am the Lord your
God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Ten Commandments,” Old Testament of the Bible, Exodus
20:1–17

The guidelines described in the passage are best understood in the context of which of the following?

Christianity drew upon the earlier teachings of Judaism.

Judaism based its teachings on Christian core beliefs.

Christianity was influenced by Persian legal traditions.

Judaism and Christianity were inspired by Roman legal codes.

7 / 23

Questions refer to the map below.

Which of the following best describes how the spread of Buddhism affected its core beliefs?

The teachings of the historic Buddha were relatively unchanged as they spread

Syncretism occurred as the basic beliefs were adapted by followers in various regions.

The beliefs of reincarnation and karma changed to suit the ideals of those adopting these beliefs.

The religion was drastically altered as it spread to East Asia.

8 / 23

Questions refer to the map below.

Which of the following factors contributed most to the spread of Christianity as depicted on the map?

Missionaries and saints spread teachings of the religion despite initial imperial Roman hostility.

Support of the imperial Roman government facilitated the spread of Christianity throughout the empire

Merchants used trade contacts to establish religious schools throughout the Mediterranean

Jesus of Nazareth traveled throughout the Roman Empire and diffused its core beliefs.

9 / 23

Questions refer to the map below.

The paths of Christianity and Buddhism as shown on the map best reflect which of the following?

Merchants actively spread religion in order to enhance their political standing.

Missionaries often had the support of the empires in which they lived.

Trade networks facilitated the spread of belief systems.

Geographic features prevented the spread of religions beyond their places of origin

10 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

“The self embodied in the body of every
being is indestructible;
you have no cause to grieve for all these
creatures, Arjuna!
Look to your own duty; do not tremble
before it;
Nothing is better for a warrior than a
battle of sacred duty.
The doors of heaven open for warriors
who rejoice
to have a battle like this thrust on them
by chance.
If you fail to wage this war of sacred
duty,
you will abandon your own duty and
fame only to gain evil.
People will tell of your undying shame,
and for a man of honor, shame is worse
than death.”

Bhagavad Gita,
ancient Indian
text, circa 4th
century B.C.E.

Compared to the actions described in the passage, Buddhist teachings differed in that they

rejected the belief in reincarnation

advocated monasticism for all followers

promoted the concept of dharma

rejected the caste system

11 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

Bhagavad Gita,
ancient Indian
text, circa 4th
century B.C.E.

The ideas expressed in the passage contributed to the development of which of the following?

The Hindu belief in reincarnation

The rise of patriarchal cultural practices, such as sati

The Buddhist principle of nirvana

The concept of moksha

12 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

Bhagavad Gita,
ancient Indian
text, circa 4th
century B.C.E.

Which of the following conclusions about Indian society during the period before 600 B.C.E. is most directly supported by the passage?

The founding of new religious traditions challenged existing customs.

The concepts of dharma and reincarnation were reflected in written traditions.

Religious traditions were influenced by cross-cultural interactions.

Cultural traditions influenced military strategies.

13 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

Bhagavad Gita,
ancient Indian
text, circa 4th
century B.C.E.

Ideas expressed in the passage formed the basis of which of the following belief systems?

Zoroastrianism

Hinduism

Sikhism

Animism

14 / 23

Questions are based on the excerpt below.

“I approached Ekron and slew the governors and nobles who
had rebelled, and hung their bodies on stakes around the city.
The inhabitants who rebelled and treated [Assyria] lightly I
counted as spoil. The rest of them, who were not guilty of
rebellion and contempt, for whom there was no punishment, I
declared their pardon. Padi, their king, I brought out to
Jerusalem, set him on the royal throne over them, and
imposed upon him my royal tribute. As for Hezekiah the
Judahite, who did not submit to my yoke: forty-six of his
strong, walled cities, as well as the small towns in their area,
which were without number, by levelling with battering-rams
and by bringing up siege-engines, and by attacking and
storming on foot, by mines, tunnels, and breeches, I besieged
and took them. 200,150 people, great and small, male and
female, horses, mules, asses, camels, cattle, and sheep
without number . . .”
Excerpt from The Sennacherib Prism, an Assyrian account of
their siege of Jerusalem, circa 701 B.C.E

Which of the following best describes an important long- term effect of the expansion of the Assyrian Empire?

The diffusion of navigational technologies throughout the Mediterranean basin

The creation of the first written law code to unify the region

The establishment of Jewish diasporic communities as a result of Assyrian military conquest

The transmission of polytheistic religious beliefs to Western Europe

15 / 23

Questions are based on the excerpt below.

Based on the excerpt, which of the following can be inferred about Assyrian military policies?

Diplomacy could be used to avoid conquest.

Surrender to the Assyrians led to complete loss of local control by existing states.

Those who cooperated with the Assyrians were more likely to avoid harsh treatment.

The Assyrians established tributary relationships with all of the groups they conquered

16 / 23

Questions are based on the excerpt below.

A historian would most likely use this excerpt to illustrate which of the following about the period before 600 B.C.E.?

Warfare in this period combined military force with diplomacy.

Military technology failed to facilitate the expansion of an empire.

States of this period lacked military organization and strategy.

The expansion of states led to competition among groups for resources.

17 / 23

Questions are based on the images below.

When taken together, the two images best support which of the following continuities in world history?

Belief systems contributed little to artistic expression of societies.

Art and architecture reflected the values of religions and belief systems

Belief systems rarely spread outside of their place of origin.

Religious practices remained consistent as belief systems spread

18 / 23

Questions are based on the images below.

The object in Image 2 best illustrates which of the following patterns in world history?

The power of states was based on the ability of rulers to control religion.

Rulers used art to glorify themselves.

Rulers used religious imagery to enhance their political standing.

Governments used art and architecture as propaganda.

19 / 23

Questions are based on the images below.

The building in Image 1 best illustrates which of the following processes in world history?

The spread of Chinese values throughout Asia

The diffusion of architectural styles as religions spread

The influence of Indian political systems on neighboring societies

The diffusion of religion due to contacts through trade networks

20 / 23

Questions refer to the excerpts below.

[Excerpt 1] “Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi [Ashoka],
speaks thus: To do good is difficult. One who does good first
does something hard to do. I have done many good deeds,
and, if my sons, grandsons and their descendants up to the
end of the world act in like manner, they too will do much
good. But whoever amongst them neglects this, they will do
evil. Truly, it is easy to do evil . . . .”
[Excerpt 2] “Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, desires
that all religions should reside everywhere, for all of them
desire self-control and purity of heart. But people have
various desires and various passions, and they may practice
all of what they should or only a part of it. But one who
receives great gifts yet is lacking in self-control, purity of
heart, gratitude and firm devotion, such a person is mean.”
Excerpts from Edicts of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (reigned 269
B.C.E. to 232 B.C.E.)

The edicts issued by Ashoka most clearly reflect which of the following patterns in world history?

The influence of religion on social hierarchies

The role that religious leaders have played in government systems

The influence of belief systems on legal systems

The impact of laws on the formation of new religions

21 / 23

Questions refer to the excerpts below.

The practice of religion as described in the second excerpt is best understood in the context of which of the following?

The conversion of merchants in South Asia to Islam

The large Hindu population of the Mauryan Empire

Ashoka’s goal of promoting religious uniformity

The arrival of Christian missionaries

22 / 23

Questions refer to the excerpts below.

The discussion of good deeds referred to in the first excerpt was most likely influenced by which of the following developments in the period before 600 B.C.E.?

The Hindu concept of karma

The Confucian idea of filial piety

The Zoroastrian concept of dualism

The Buddhist concept of reincarnation

23 / 23

Questions refer to the passage below.

among the common people who are rebellious and perverse,
give them each an occupation and teach them, and take a
while to wait for them.”

Xunzi, Chinese philosopher, circa 250 B.C.E.

Xunzi’s idealized vision of Chinese society as described in the passage differs most strongly from the values of which of the following belief systems?

Christianity

Hinduism

Buddhism

Islam

Your score is

See also:

AP World History Practice Test 2024 with Study Guide