6th Grade Sample Assessment Questions for Unit 4
CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS
Conceptual Lens: CITIZENSHIP, CULTURE, GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEMS, ORDER
Essential Standards: C&G.1.1, C&G.1.3, C&G.1.4, C.1.3, C.1.1
Essential Standard C&G.1.1
1. Important long-term contributions of
ancient Greek and Roman civilizations are
primarily found in the area of
A.
B.
C.
D.
military technology
religious doctrine
economic policy and planning
government and law
2. The ancient Athenians are credited with
A. inventing and using the wheel
B. eliminating slavery
C. establishing governments that had
democratic elements
D. inventing the printing press
3. A totalitarian state
A.
B.
C.
D.
has many political parties
has freedom of speech and press
controls most parts of a person's life
is voluntarily supported by all the
people
6. Which is true for both Athens and Sparta?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Both emphasized the military.
Both were city-states.
Both produced great art.
Both worshiped one god.
7. Two outstanding contributions of Rome to
civilization were in
A.
B.
C.
D.
literature and medicine
painting and drama
engineering and law
music and military tactics
8. I became the undisputed master of the
Roman Empire around 49 BC. This was the
beginning of a reign of reforms in the
Roman society and government. I
proclaimed myself a dictator for life. Who
am I?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Julius Caesar
Euclid
Charlemagne
Aristotle
4. Which is true for both Athens and Sparta?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Both emphasized the military.
Both were city-states.
Both produced great art.
Both worshiped one god.
5. After the western Roman Empire fell to
Germanic invaders in the 5th century A.D.,
the eastern part of the empire eventually
became known as the
A.
B.
C.
D.
Byzantine Empire
Carthaginian Empire
Islamic Empire
Persian Empire
Answer questions 9-10 by reading the passage
and quote below.
Anacharsis of Greece
Anacharsis was a Greek who traveled through
the land during the 6th century BC. He gained
wisdom from his observations. He once said,
"Written laws are like spider's webs; they will
catch the weak and poor, but would be torn in
pieces by the rich and powerful
9. What is the meaning of this quote from
Anacharsis?
A. Laws can be corrupted by the wealthy.
B. Ancient dirt roads were built by poor
people.
C. The poor write the best laws.
D. Without laws, there can be no wisdom.
10. According to the quote, how did Anacharsis
become wise?
A. He read fairy tales from Plato.
B. He traveled the land and watched
carefully.
C. He prayed for wisdom about mankind.
D. He was given information from wealthy
people.
11. A political leader during the Roman Empire
was called
A.
B.
C.
D.
a king
a mayor
a commissioner
an emperor
Essential Standard C&G.1.3
12. In a comparison of the ancient cities of
Athens and Sparta, Sparta placed more
emphasis on
A.
B.
C.
D.
education
military service
family order
human rights
13. I was one of the most influential military
commanders in history. I conquered most
of the world known to the ancient Greeks
and never lost a battle. I lived during the
period 356 to 323 BC. The drawing shows
me listening to my famous teacher. Who
am I?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Genghis Khan
Alexander the Great
Marco Polo
Julius Caesar
14. Which describes a government that controls
many territories and people?
A.
B.
C.
D.
a democracy
a civilization
a village
an empire
15. The Spartans of ancient Greece were
notable for their
A.
B.
C.
D.
democratic government
disciplined lifestyle and military skills
rejection of slavery
sponsorship of the arts and literature
16. By 300 BC, this location boasted of being a
democracy, with citizens elected by
councils, running the court system and
participating as judges and jury. Yet, this
same system had slaves. Also, most women
could not take part in government. Where
was this?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Sparta
Athens
Rome
Constantinople
Essential Standard C&G.1.4
17. A major reason for the decline of the
Roman Empire was
A. a series of military defeats in Africa
B. political corruption and the instability
of the government
C. the abolition of slavery throughout the
Empire
D. continued acceptance of traditional
religions
18. After the fall of Rome, the eastern portion
of the Roman Empire became known as the
A.
B.
C.
D.
Persian Empire
Byzantine Empire
Mongol Empire
Gupta Empire
Answer questions 19-20 by reading the quote
below.
A Quote from Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher. He lived
between 384 - 322 BC. He once said that all art,
all investigation and every human pursuit or
undertaking seems to aim at some good. He
also said that 'the good' is that at which all
things aim. He applied this idea to government.
He explained that "The good of man must be
the purpose of politics."
19. Which statement about Aristotle is not
supported by the passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
He was Greek.
He was a philosopher.
He lived over 2,300 years ago.
He was a scientist.
20. What is the main idea of Aristotle's quote?
A. The aim of good government should be
the protection of the people.
B. Scientists should be politicians.
C. Philosophers make the best politicians.
D. Art and music are very important to
good government.
Answer questions 21-23 by reading the
passage below.
The Decline of the Roman Empire
Historians debate why the Roman Empire came
to an end. They explain it could have been due
to weak emperors, plagues and disease, or lack
of government participation by the people.
Weak emperors could have caused political
confusion. Plagues and diseases spread among
some parts of the population. Less
participation in government by the upper
classes in political and economic decisions may
have meant they were becoming lazy and more
interested in relaxation or leisure. The empire
was strongest when people were making great
achievements in art, architecture, math and
science. Near the end of the Roman Empire,
these intellectual thoughts had diminished.
21. What statement is NOT correct according to
this passage?
A. A civilization can only survive with good
scientists and little else is important.
B. Art and science are keys to a strong
civilization.
C. Good political leadership maintains
order in a civilization.
D. Plagues or disease can weaken a
civilization.
22. The main idea of this passage is
A. to explain the fall of the Roman Empire
B. to detail the strengths of Roman
civilization
C. to argue that the Roman Empire was
superior to Greek civilization
D. to explain the reason for plagues in the
late Roman Empire
23. The word "prevalent" means
A.
B.
C.
D.
scarce
widespread
detailed
noticeable
Essential Standard C.1.3
24. Which societal condition was basic to the
development of Greek philosophy and
Renaissance art?
A.
B.
C.
D.
rigid social classes
emphasis on individualism
religious uniformity
mass education
Essential Standard C.1.1
25. Which of the following statements is a
FACT, not an opinion, about ancient Rome?
A. Julius Caesar brought about the end of
the Roman Empire.
B. Roman law was superior to
Mesopotamian law.
C. Roman engineers built aqueducts that
lasted for more than 1000 years.
D. The PaxRomana improved life in the
Mediterranean region
26. To what country would someone travel to
see the Parthenon on the Acropolis?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Greece
Italy
Turkey
Israel
27. When a culture becomes highly complex,
such as the Greek and Roman cultures, it is
usually called
A.
B.
C.
D.
a civilization
a village
a government
a cult
Historian Edward Gibbon described secondcentury A.D. Rome as a time when the human
race was most happy and prosperous. Arnold
Toynbee describes the same period as one of
stalemate and stagnation.
28. The two statements by these famous
historians show that
A. history repeats itself
B. true historians must disagree just to be
different
C. history can be interpreted in different
ways
D. civilizations which lacked written
language will have differing
interpretations
29. The word “aqueduct” is used to describe
the movement of water through a stone
canal. In what location would you find
aqueducts before 1000 AD?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Paris, France
St. Petersburg, Russia
London, England
Rome, Italy
30. An “amphitheater” is an open-air, usually
circular theater. These theatres would have
been found in which of the following
locations around 300 BC?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Greece and Rome
England and France
France and Egypt
Spain and Portugal
31. The time period referred to as Hellenistic
occurred
A. before the time of the Ancient Greeks
B. after the Middle Ages in Western
Europe
C. at the same time as the early days of
the Roman Republic
D. at the same time as the early days of
the Italian Renaissance
32. Hellenistic culture is most closely associated
with
A.
B.
C.
D.
Greece
Italy
England
France
In addition to being a mathematician, he is also
credited with designing a number of machines.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Archimedes
Euclid
Eratosthenes
Zeno
33. Which person in the chart is being referred
to by the following statement?
34. The following question should be answered in a complete paragraph. This paragraph should have
an introduction sentence that states your claim, a body with 2-3 sentences that supports your claim
and a conclusion sentence.
Historians have differing views on which ancient cultures were the most significant to the growth of the
United States. We have just studied Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Which of these ancient
cultures do you feel has had the greatest significance on our contemporary culture?
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