Middle East Exam
Sample test questions

Rules
• Read the question and determine the correct answer.
• Text the letter of the correct answer or the correct word if it is a definition to
• 412-606-1838
• Points will be awarded as follows:
• 1 st correct answer- 5 points
• 2 nd - 4 points
• 3 rd - 3 points

• Geographic diversity in the Middle East has contributed to
• a. Unequal standards of living
• b. A common economic system
• c. similar political systems
• d. military alliances with Japan

Answer
• a. Unequal standards of living

• Mesopotamia was an early center of civilization because it
• a. had large amounts of oil and natural gas
• b. was protected from invasion by the Atlas
Mountains
• c. had ample water from the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers
• d. commanded a vital trade route between the Black and Mediterranean seas.

Answer
• c. had ample water from the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers

• Which group is correctly linked with one of its major achievements?
• a. Persians – invention of cuneiform
• b. Sumerians – invention of iron
• c. Hittites – development of the alphabet
• d. Hebrews- development of monotheism

Answer
• d. Hebrews- development of monotheism

• Which geographic feature has been most responsible for the population distribution in the Middle East?
• a. abundance of oil deposits
• b. location of water
• c. presence of high plateaus
• d. availability if natural harbors

Answer
• b. location of water

• The religions of Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam share a common belief in
• a. nirvana
• b. monotheism
• c. reincarnation
• d. animism

• b. monotheism
Answer

• A belief shared by Jews, Christians, and
Muslims is that
• a. the Koran contains the laws of God
• b. the Ten Commandments are the holy word of God
• c. Jesus was the Messiah
• d. Muhammad was the messenger of God

• b. the Ten Commandments are the holy word of God

• A farming method pioneered in Israel that pumps water and fertilizer directly to the roots of plants

• Answer: What is fertigation?

• The conversion of salt water into fresh water for irrigation and drinking.

• Answer: desalination

• OPEC

• Answer: What is the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries

• The PLO

• Answer: What is the Palestinian Liberation
Organization.

• The movement to unite all Arabs based on their common language and culture.

• Answer: What is Pan-Arabism?

• The name for Islamic Law

• Answer: What is Shariah?

• A nation ruled by religious leaders

• Answer: What is a theocracy?

• Two effects of urbanization are
• a. high concentration of skilled laborers and good restaurants
• b. prettier gardens and fresher vegetables
• c. sub-standard, crowded living quarters and high unemployment
• d. cooler and wetter winters

Answer
• c. sub-standard, crowded living quarters and high unemployment

• An economic goal of Middle Eastern nations was
• a. to increase European economic influence
• b. increase the spread of western money
• c. nationalize foreign-owned oil companies
• d. save money in Swiss banks

Answer
• c. nationalize foreign-owned oil companies

• Three ways that countries tried to increase agricultural production were
• a. desalination, fertigation, and giving land to the poor
• b. desalination, fertigation, and alienation
• c. dehydration, desertification, and giving land to the poor
• D. ferigation, subjagation, constipation

Answer
• a. desalination, fertigation, and giving land to the poor

Bonus Round
• Text the appropriate answer in the form of a number.
• Point values are doubled for this round.

• The number of hostages held by the Iranians after the capture of the U.S. Embassy in
Tehran

• Answer: 52

• The number of days these hostages were held

• Answer: 444

• The number of major religions founded in the
Middle East.

• Answer: 3

• The number of days the Israeli-Egyptian War of 1967 lasted.

• Answer: 6

Final Round.
• This answer is worth 20 points.

• In 1990 the United States attacked Iraq in order to free Kuwait. This war was named after what Mid-East body of water?

• Answer: The Persian Gulf