Practice Exam Questions
This topic is a Paper 2, Section B 'Study of Change'. Paper 2 lasts 1 hour 30 minutes in duration which leaves about 45 minutes per topic. Students have to answer questions on two topics, one from Section A and one from Section B. The China topic will be assessed in the exam through three questions which require source analysis skills, recall of key information of events as well as a detailed essay question on the causes and nature of change:
Question (a) - will focus on source comprehension and is worth three marks. Students are expected to identify three pieces of information that a written source may contain in reference to the question:
1. What does this source tell us about Chiang Kai-shek's Northern March?
"In 1926, Chiang Kai-shek, supported by the communists, set out on the Northern March to destroy the warlords of central and northern China. Starting from Canton, the Kuomintang had captured Hankow, Shanghai and Nanking by 1927 and Beijing (Peking) the following year. Much of Chiang’s success was due to massive local support among peasants attracted by communist promises of land. The capture of Shanghai was helped by a rising organised by Chou En-lai, a member of the Kuomintang and also a communist."
2. What does this source tell us about the reasons for the failure of the Great Leap Forward?
"During the Great Leap Forward, some communes suffered because of the incredible haste with which they were set up and the lack of technical expertise. Because the peasants were busy elsewhere, crops were neglected. There were also bad harvests from 1959 to 1961. The withdrawal of Soviet help in 1960 made matters worse. However, the main reason for the failure of the Great Leap Forward was the leadership of Mao. He set almost impossible targets."
3. What does this source tell us about the effects of the Hundred Flowers Campaign?
"In the spring of 1957, Mao was shocked by the way intellectuals responded to his 'Hundred Flowers Campaign'. He had hoped for criticism of people who opposed communist ideas. Instead, Mao faced criticism of his own leadership. The main effect of the 'Hundred Flowers Campaign' was the 'Anti-Rightist' campaign. Many people who had spoken out ended up under arrest. Within a year, Mao had launched the Great Leap Forward."
4. What does this source tell us about the importance of the Long March?
"For twelve months we were under daily bombing from the skies, whilst on land we were pursued by a huge force. We met untold dangers when marching across eleven provinces. The Long March has shown the world that the Red Army is an army of heroes. The Long March also tells the 200 million in the eleven provinces that only the road of the Red Army leads to freedom."
5. What does this source tell us about the treatment of teachers during the Cultural Revolution?
"I ran inside the school and saw a row of teachers with black ink poured over their heads and faces. Hanging on their necks were placards with words such as 'class enemy'. Beatings and torture followed. I have never seen such tortures before; they were even made to eat insects. The head teacher was savagely beaten. He had his eyes closed and his mouth full of ink and blood."
6. What does this source tell us about the First Five Year Plan?
"The Five-Year Plan seemed to be a great success. The city of Foshan was a good example of the rapid industrial development. It was a city of 700,000 people, four times bigger than it had been in 1949. It had three underground mines as well as another three petrol refineries under construction. There was building work all over the city. Communities of people were laying huge steel girders over river beds."
7. What does this source tell us about the actions of the CCP during the Japanese invasion?
"From 1937, the CCP made clear that its policy was to drive out the Japanese, and this attracted more and more support. The Eighth Route Army acted independently, often behind enemy lines. It set up a network of command posts in villages across China. Its behaviour won increasing support for the CCP. It also created a network of support for the CCP throughout China."
8. What does this source tell us about the Great Leap Forward?
"Now our enthusiasm has been aroused, we shall be able to do things we have never done before. When our nation has such great energy we shall catch up with Britain in fifteen years. We shall produce 40 million tons of steel annually, whereas at the moment we only produce just over five million."
Question (b) - will focus on explaining key features of events and recalling knowledge. Students are expected to give a detailed explanation/analysis of two features of an event. A key feature could be the causes, what happened or the effects of an event. This question is marked out of seven:
1. Explain the key features of either the Cultural Revolution or the Democracy Movement of 1979-89.
2. Explain the key features of either the First Five Year Plan or the Great Leap Forward.
3. Explain the key features of either the changes in industry and agriculture under Deng Xiaoping or the Treatment of the Gang of Four.
4. Explain the key features of either the Long March or the Hundred Flowers Campaign.
5. Explain the key features of either the War against Japan 1937-45 or the Civil War 1945-49.
6. Explain the key features of either the Agrarian Reform Law or Deng's Modernisations.
7. Explain the key features of either the Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957 or the Long March.
8. Explain the key features of either Mao Zedong Thought or the Great Leap Forward.
9. Explain the key features of either the changes in industry and agriculture under Mao or the Democracy Movement.
10. Explain the key features of either the 1911 Revolution or China under the Warlords.
11. Explain the key features of either the May 4th Movement or the Shanghai Massacres.
12. Explain the key features of either the Northern March or the early Kuomintang.
13 . Explain the key feature of either attacks on landlords (1949-50) or the Hundred Flowers Campaign (1956-57).
2. Explain the key features of either the First Five Year Plan or the Great Leap Forward.
3. Explain the key features of either the changes in industry and agriculture under Deng Xiaoping or the Treatment of the Gang of Four.
4. Explain the key features of either the Long March or the Hundred Flowers Campaign.
5. Explain the key features of either the War against Japan 1937-45 or the Civil War 1945-49.
6. Explain the key features of either the Agrarian Reform Law or Deng's Modernisations.
7. Explain the key features of either the Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957 or the Long March.
8. Explain the key features of either Mao Zedong Thought or the Great Leap Forward.
9. Explain the key features of either the changes in industry and agriculture under Mao or the Democracy Movement.
10. Explain the key features of either the 1911 Revolution or China under the Warlords.
11. Explain the key features of either the May 4th Movement or the Shanghai Massacres.
12. Explain the key features of either the Northern March or the early Kuomintang.
13 . Explain the key feature of either attacks on landlords (1949-50) or the Hundred Flowers Campaign (1956-57).
Question (c) - will focus on explanation, analysis and judgement of change. Students are expected to give a developed explanation of change across a time period, and to be able to link aspects using precisely selected knowledge. This question should be written like an essay and is worth fifteen marks:
1. How far did the organisation of agriculture change in China in the years 1949-89? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- The attack on landlords
- Changes under Deng Xiaoping
2. How far did threats to the government of China change in the years 1911-49? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- Warlords, 1916-28
- Mao and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), 1928-49
3. In what ways did the organisation of the economy in China change in the years 1949-89? You may use the following information to help you with you answer and any other information of your own.
- The First Five Year Plan, 1953-57
- Changes in industry and agriculture under Deng Xiaoping
4. In what ways did support for Mao and the Chinese Communist Party change in the years 1934-1970? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- The Chinese Civil War 1945-49
- The Great Leap Forward 1958-62
5. In what ways did threats to the Chinese Communist Party change in the years 1934-1989? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- The Long March 1934-35
- The Democracy Movement
6. How did the treatment of opponents of the CCP change from 1949 to 1989? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- The Hundred Flowers Campaign
- The Cultural Revolution
7. In what ways did the Democracy Movement develop in the years 1979-1989? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- Democracy Wall 1979
- University Protests 1986
8. In what ways did the Kuomintang (KMT) decline in the years 1937-1949? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- The War with Japan 1937-1945
- The Chinese Civil War 1946-1949
9. In what ways did support for Deng Xiaoping change in the years 1958-1989? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- The Great Leap Forward 1958-1962
- The Cultural Revolution 1966-1969
10. In what ways did agriculture and industry change in the years 1952-1957? You may use the following information to help you with your answer and any other information of your own.
- The First Five Year Plan
- Collectivisation
