World History (Grades 9–10) Midterm — Semester 1, Form B

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. What did Martin Luther criticize in his Ninety-Five Theses (1517)?
   1. A. The use of the printing press
   2. B. The art of the Renaissance
   3. C. The sale of indulgences by the Church
   4. D. The power of the Holy Roman Emperor
2. How did Gutenberg's printing press change Europe?
   1. A. Latin disappeared as a written language
   2. B. Painting replaced writing as the main way to share ideas
   3. C. Books became cheaper, spreading ideas and literacy faster
   4. D. Only monks were allowed to own and copy books
3. Why did the Renaissance begin in the Italian city-states?
   1. A. Wealth from trade and a heritage of Roman ruins and texts
   2. B. The absence of any powerful banking families
   3. C. Isolation from the rest of Europe and its ideas
   4. D. A strong central king who funded all artists
4. What role did the Medici family play in the Renaissance?
   1. A. They were Spanish monarchs who funded explorers
   2. B. They were German princes who protected Martin Luther
   3. C. They were Florentine bankers who sponsored artists and scholars
   4. D. They were English nobles who led the Reformation
5. Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
   1. A. Raphael
   2. B. Leonardo da Vinci
   3. C. Michelangelo
   4. D. Donatello
6. What did the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) do?
   1. A. Ended a war between England and Spain
   2. B. Gave France control of North America
   3. C. Banned the Atlantic slave trade
   4. D. Divided newly claimed lands between Spain and Portugal
7. How did Prince Henry the Navigator contribute to exploration?
   1. A. He led the conquest of the Aztec Empire
   2. B. He was the first to sail around the world
   3. C. He sponsored Portuguese voyages along Africa's coast
   4. D. He discovered a sea route to China for Spain
8. Which nation sponsored Columbus's voyage in 1492?
   1. A. England
   2. B. France
   3. C. Portugal
   4. D. Spain
9. What was the leading cause of population decline among Native Americans after 1492?
   1. A. Lack of farmland
   2. B. Long droughts
   3. C. Diseases such as smallpox
   4. D. Volcanic eruptions
10. What was the Columbian Exchange?
    1. A. A bank founded by Christopher Columbus
    2. B. The transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between hemispheres
    3. C. A trade agreement between Spain and China
    4. D. The exchange of prisoners after European wars
11. Why is the Haitian Revolution significant?
    1. A. It was the first revolution in South America
    2. B. It was led by Simón Bolívar
    3. C. It returned Haiti to French control
    4. D. It was the first successful slave revolt to create an independent nation
12. Voltaire is best known for defending what?
    1. A. Freedom of speech and religious tolerance
    2. B. The divine right of kings
    3. C. Strict state control of trade
    4. D. An official national religion
13. Isaac Newton is best known for what?
    1. A. Discovering the circulation of blood
    2. B. Proving Earth was flat
    3. C. Inventing the microscope
    4. D. Laws of motion and universal gravitation
14. What was the Reign of Terror (1793-1794)?
    1. A. A war between France and Britain
    2. B. Napoleon's invasion of Russia
    3. C. A period when thousands were executed as enemies of the Revolution
    4. D. The storming of the Bastille
15. In pre-revolutionary France, who belonged to the Third Estate?
    1. A. The clergy of the Catholic Church
    2. B. The king and royal family
    3. C. Commoners, from peasants to wealthy merchants
    4. D. The nobility

Part 2: Written Response

16. Analyze the positive and negative effects of the Columbian Exchange on Europe, the Americas, and Africa.