AP Chinese Chinese: Cultural Knowledge & Comparisons 2

Question 1

Which traditional Chinese festival involves hanging calamus and mugwort on doors to ward off evil spirits?

Accepted Answer

Dragon Boat Festival

Answer

The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) includes the practice of hanging calamus (菖蒲) and mugwort (艾草) on doors to repel evil and disease.

Question 2

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'mianzi' (面子) is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Social prestige and reputation that must be maintained in public

Answer

Mianzi (面子) refers to social face or prestige—the public image and reputation one maintains in the eyes of others.

Question 3

The Chinese instrument erhu (二胡) belongs to which category?

Accepted Answer

Bowed string instruments

Answer

The erhu is a two-stringed bowed instrument, often called the 'Chinese violin,' and is central to Chinese classical and folk music.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the Chinese educational philosophy of 'keju' (科举)?

Accepted Answer

An imperial examination system for selecting government officials

Answer

The keju system was a centuries-long imperial examination that selected government officials based on knowledge of Confucian classics.

Question 5

A Chinese host offers a guest food multiple times even after the guest politely declines. This behavior reflects which cultural value?

Accepted Answer

Expressing genuine hospitality and concern for the guest's well-being

Answer

In Chinese hospitality culture, repeatedly offering food shows genuine care; guests are expected to decline once or twice before accepting to avoid appearing greedy.

AP Practice Test

AP Practice Test

AP Chinese Chinese: Cultural Knowledge & Comparisons 2