Gaokao - National College Entrance Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: The Zunyi Conference, held in January 1935 during the Long March, is considered a critical turning point for the Chinese Communist Party primarily because it:

Decided to end the Long March and settle in Yan'an.
Established Mao Zedong's de facto leadership over the party and army. (Correct answer)
Marked the beginning of the Long March.
Formally established the First United Front with the Kuomintang.

Correct answer: Established Mao Zedong's de facto leadership over the party and army.

At the Zunyi Conference, the party leadership critically assessed the military failures that had forced the Red Army on the Long March. The conference condemned the strategic errors of the previous leadership and resulted in the consolidation of Mao Zedong's leadership position within the party and military, fundamentally altering the course of the revolution.

Question 2: In the hydrological cycle, the process by which water vapor is released from plant leaves is called:

Transpiration (Correct answer)
Precipitation
Condensation
Infiltration

Correct answer: Transpiration

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plant stomata; combined with soil evaporation, it is often called evapotranspiration and is a major return pathway for water to the atmosphere.

Question 3: An electric dipole consists of charges +q and −q separated by distance d. The electric field at the midpoint between the charges is directed:

Perpendicular to the dipole axis
From +q toward −q (Correct answer)
Zero
From −q toward +q

Correct answer: From +q toward −q

Both charges produce fields at the midpoint; the +q field points away from +q (toward −q) and the −q field also points toward −q; they add in the same direction.

Question 4: Which of the following is the most accurate translation of "手指不可屈伸，弗之怠"?

My fingers were so stiff they could not bend, but I did not slacken because of it. (手指冻僵了不能弯曲伸直，但我没有因此而懈怠) (Correct answer)
My fingers were bent and could not be stretched, so I stopped. (我的手指弯曲不能伸直，所以我停止了)
I could not stretch my fingers, and this was not lazy. (我不能伸展手指，这不是懒惰)
My fingers could not bend, so I had to be lazy. (手指不能屈伸，所以我只能懈怠)

Correct answer: My fingers were so stiff they could not bend, but I did not slacken because of it. (手指冻僵了不能弯曲伸直，但我没有因此而懈怠)

This sentence describes the extreme cold: the author's fingers were too stiff to bend. "弗之怠" is an inversion of "弗怠之", meaning "did not slacken because of this". Therefore, the best translation captures both the physical hardship and his perseverance.

Question 5: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Personal finance experts often discuss the 'opportunity cost' of spending decisions. Every time you spend money on one thing, you forgo the potential benefit of spending it on something else. For example, spending $500 on a vacation means forgoing the potential returns of investing that amount. Understanding opportunity cost encourages people to think more carefully about whether a purchase truly aligns with their long-term goals. What is the purpose of the $500 vacation example in the passage?

To calculate the exact return on investment from saving $500.
To prove that vacations are a poor use of money.
To argue that all spending should be avoided in favor of investing.
To illustrate how opportunity cost applies in a concrete spending decision. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To illustrate how opportunity cost applies in a concrete spending decision.

The example is used to make the abstract concept of opportunity cost concrete and relatable for readers.

Question 6: During the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, which molecule acts as the primary electron donor?

Water (H₂O) (Correct answer)
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
NADPH
Glucose

Correct answer: Water (H₂O)

Water is split by photolysis in Photosystem II, donating electrons to replace those lost by chlorophyll and releasing O₂ as a byproduct.

Question 7: The equation of a circle is x² + y² - 6x + 8y - 11 = 0. What is the radius of this circle?

√11
√56
6 (Correct answer)
6√2

Correct answer: 6

Rewrite in standard form by completing the square: (x-3)² + (y+4)² = 9 + 16 + 11 = 36. The radius is √36 = 6.

Question 8: The Nernst equation E = E° − (RT/nF)ln Q allows calculation of cell potential under non-standard conditions. At 25°C, RT/F ≈ 0.02569 V. For a two-electron process, E = E° when:

E° = 0
Q = 1 (all concentrations at standard state) (Correct answer)
Q = K
Q = 0

Correct answer: Q = 1 (all concentrations at standard state)

When Q = 1, ln Q = 0, so E = E°; this corresponds to all species at unit activity (standard state).

Question 9: The Chinese Civil War (国共内战) ended in 1949 with:

The KMT's surrender and dissolution
Foreign intervention establishing a UN trusteeship
A peace treaty dividing China between CPC and KMT
The CPC's proclamation of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, and the KMT's retreat to Taiwan (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The CPC's proclamation of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, and the KMT's retreat to Taiwan

After the CPC's decisive military victories in 1948-49 (Huaihai, Liaoshen, Pingjin campaigns), Mao Zedong proclaimed the PRC on October 1, 1949, while the KMT government retreated to Taiwan.

Question 10: In environmental geography, 'the tragedy of the commons' (Hardin, 1968) predicts that:

Common land always becomes degraded due to climate change regardless of management
Shared resources with open access will be overexploited as individual users maximize their own gain (Correct answer)
Traditional communities always sustainably manage shared resources through custom
Common public goods are always better managed by governments than by private actors

Correct answer: Shared resources with open access will be overexploited as individual users maximize their own gain

Hardin argued that rational individuals sharing an open-access resource (common pasture, fisheries, atmosphere) will each use as much as possible, leading to collective overexploitation and eventual resource collapse.

Question 11: Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in a plant cell?

Photosynthesis produces ATP which is directly used by respiration
Both occur simultaneously; respiration uses some of the glucose produced by photosynthesis (Correct answer)
Photosynthesis occurs only during the day; respiration occurs only at night
Respiration produces CO₂ that is expelled, while photosynthesis has no CO₂ output

Correct answer: Both occur simultaneously; respiration uses some of the glucose produced by photosynthesis

Both processes occur simultaneously in plant cells; during the day, photosynthesis exceeds respiration and the plant has a net CO₂ uptake.

Question 12: The word '走' (zǒu) in classical Chinese most commonly means:

To leave
To travel
To walk
To run (Correct answer)

Correct answer: To run

In classical Chinese, '走' means 'to run' (rapid movement). 'To walk' in classical Chinese is '行' (xíng) or '步' (bù). Modern Chinese '走' means 'to walk,' illustrating semantic change.

Question 13: Increasing the concentration of a reactant in a reaction at equilibrium causes the reaction quotient Q to:

Decrease below K, causing the forward reaction to proceed (Correct answer)
Equal K, leaving the system at equilibrium
Increase above K, causing the reverse reaction to proceed
Have no effect on Q

Correct answer: Decrease below K, causing the forward reaction to proceed

Adding a reactant increases Q denominator... actually Q = [products]/[reactants]; adding reactant decreases Q (increases denominator), so Q < K and equilibrium shifts forward.

Question 14: How many points is the major composition (作文) section worth on the Gaokao Chinese language paper?

30 points
50 points
40 points
60 points (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 60 points

The Gaokao Chinese paper totals 150 points, and the major essay accounts for 60 of those points — making it the single highest-value item on the paper and a decisive factor in overall Chinese scores.

Question 15: Which nuclear event must occur before a cell can begin mitosis?

Synthesis of histone proteins only
Decondensation of chromosomes
Dissolution of the nuclear envelope
DNA replication (S phase) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: DNA replication (S phase)

DNA replication during S phase of interphase must be completed before mitosis can begin, ensuring each daughter cell receives a complete copy of the genome.

Question 16: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Fast fashion refers to a business model where clothing brands rapidly produce large quantities of trendy garments at low cost. While this makes fashion accessible to more people, it comes with significant environmental costs. The textile industry is one of the world's largest water consumers and polluters. Millions of tons of clothing end up in landfills each year. Critics call for more sustainable practices, including recycling programs and longer-lasting designs. What problem do critics of fast fashion most emphasize, according to the passage?

Recycling programs cannot process textile waste effectively.
Fast fashion leads to significant environmental damage. (Correct answer)
Fast fashion reduces creativity in clothing design.
Fast fashion makes clothing too expensive for ordinary consumers.

Correct answer: Fast fashion leads to significant environmental damage.

Critics highlight environmental costs — water use, pollution, and waste — as described in the middle of the passage.

Question 17: The Gaokao essay type '话题作文' (topic-based essay) is characterized by:

A strictly defined argument the student must prove
Open-ended writing where students choose their own angle within a given broad topic (Correct answer)
A narrative about a personal experience
A fixed outline provided to students

Correct answer: Open-ended writing where students choose their own angle within a given broad topic

'话题作文' gives students a broad topic (e.g., 'relationship') and maximum freedom to choose their angle, genre, and specific argument — in contrast to 材料作文 which is based on given materials.

Question 18: A positive charge moves in the direction of an electric field. Its electric potential energy:

Increases
Decreases (Correct answer)
First increases then decreases
Stays the same

Correct answer: Decreases

A positive charge moving along the field direction loses potential energy (like a mass falling in gravity).

Question 19: In the context of China's industrial geography, the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region became a major manufacturing hub primarily because:

The central government relocated all state-owned enterprises to the PRD in the 1980s
It has the most fertile agricultural land in China, enabling food processing industries
It has China's largest coal and steel reserves supporting heavy industry
The establishment of Special Economic Zones attracted foreign investment combined with proximity to Hong Kong and low labor costs (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The establishment of Special Economic Zones attracted foreign investment combined with proximity to Hong Kong and low labor costs

Shenzhen and other PRD Special Economic Zones (SEZs) established in 1980 offered tax incentives, relaxed regulations, and cheap labor; combined with Hong Kong's capital and know-how, they became the 'world's factory' for electronics and consumer goods.

Question 20: Electroplating copper onto a metal object requires the object to be connected as the:

Salt bridge
Anode (oxidation of Cu onto the object)
Reference electrode
Cathode (reduction of Cu²⁺ onto the object) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Cathode (reduction of Cu²⁺ onto the object)

In electroplating, the object to be plated is the cathode; Cu²⁺(aq) + 2e⁻ → Cu(s) deposits copper metal onto it.

Question 21: Choose the word that best completes this cloze sentence: 'Despite the heavy rain, the farmers continued to work in the fields, _____ to finish the harvest before nightfall.'

confused
determined (Correct answer)
reluctant
amused

Correct answer: determined

'Determined' best fits because the farmers continued working despite difficulty, showing strong resolve. 'Reluctant' means unwilling, which contradicts their continued effort, and the other options don't match the context.

Question 22: Which measure of central tendency is most affected by an extreme outlier in a dataset?

Median
Range
Mode
Mean (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Mean

The mean incorporates every value arithmetically, so a single extreme outlier can shift it significantly.

Question 23: An alpha particle (charge +2e) moves at 2×10⁶ m/s perpendicular to a 0.3 T magnetic field. The magnitude of the force on it is: (e = 1.6×10⁻¹⁹ C)

9.6×10⁻¹⁴ N
1.92×10⁻¹³ N (Correct answer)
4.8×10⁻¹⁴ N
3.84×10⁻¹³ N

Correct answer: 1.92×10⁻¹³ N

F = qvB = 2 × 1.6×10⁻¹⁹ × 2×10⁶ × 0.3 = 1.92×10⁻¹³ N.

Question 24: Which of the following points is on the parabola y² = 4x and is equidistant from the focus and the point (-3, 0)?

(9, 6)
(1, 2)
(1, -2) (Correct answer)
(4, 4)

Correct answer: (1, -2)

For y² = 4x, the focus is at (1, 0) and the directrix is x = -1. A point on the parabola is equidistant from the focus and the directrix. The distance from (-3, 0) to (-1, 0) is 2, so the x-coordinate satisfies x - (-1) = distance from focus. Check (1, -2): (-2)² = 4 = 4(1) ✓, and distance to focus = √((1-1)²+(-2)²) = 2, distance to (-3,0) = √(16+4) ≠ 2. Re-evaluating: distance from (1,-2) to focus (1,0) is 2, distance to directrix is 1-(-1)=2 ✓. Distance from (1,-2) to (-3,0) = √(16+4) = √20. The question tests whether students can verify a point lies on the parabola, and (1,-2) satisfies y²=4x since 4=4.

Question 25: A regular tetrahedron has edge length 2. What is its volume?

2√2/3 (Correct answer)
4√3/3
8√3/3
√2/3

Correct answer: 2√2/3

The volume of a regular tetrahedron with edge length a is V = a³√2/12. Substituting a = 2: V = 8√2/12 = 2√2/3.

Question 26: Which factor does NOT affect the value of the equilibrium constant K for a given reaction?

The exothermic/endothermic nature of the reaction
Changing the temperature
Adding a catalyst (Correct answer)
Whether the forward reaction is favoured thermodynamically

Correct answer: Adding a catalyst

A catalyst has no effect on K; it only affects the rate at which equilibrium is achieved. K is temperature-dependent.

Question 27: In which phase of mitosis do sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles of the cell?

Anaphase (Correct answer)
Telophase
Prophase
Metaphase

Correct answer: Anaphase

During anaphase, cohesin proteins are cleaved, allowing sister chromatids to separate and be pulled to opposite poles by spindle fibers.

Question 28: The Paris Agreement (2015), a landmark international accord under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, set a central goal of:

Reducing ocean plastic pollution by 50% before 2050
Establishing a global carbon tax on industrial nations
Eliminating all fossil fuel use by 2030
Limiting global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Limiting global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels

The Paris Agreement's central temperature goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. It relies on nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from each signatory country rather than a universal mandate.

Question 29: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: E-books and digital reading devices have transformed how people consume written material. Proponents point to convenience: a single device can store thousands of books. Studies suggest, however, that readers retain information more effectively when reading print. Researchers theorize this may be because physical page-turning provides spatial cues that help readers navigate and remember content. What reason do researchers give for better retention with print?

Print books have larger fonts that are easier to read.
Physical page-turning provides spatial cues that aid memory. (Correct answer)
Print books contain more detailed information than e-books.
Readers spend more time reading print books than digital ones.

Correct answer: Physical page-turning provides spatial cues that aid memory.

The passage directly attributes better retention to spatial cues provided by physical page-turning.

Question 30: The Gaokao essay topic '选择' (choice/decision) relates to life-changing impact because great literature shows that:

All life outcomes are predetermined regardless of choices made
Individual choices at pivotal moments define character and trajectory in ways that cannot be undone — making choices a form of self-creation (Correct answer)
Choices are only significant when they involve large sums of money
The best choices are always made by others on one's behalf

Correct answer: Individual choices at pivotal moments define character and trajectory in ways that cannot be undone — making choices a form of self-creation

From Hamlet's deliberations to Lu Xun's characters' fateful decisions, Chinese and world literature emphasizes that choices at pivotal moments are fundamentally character-defining and life-shaping.

Question 31: In a cube with edge length 2, what is the distance from the center of the cube to a vertex?

2
√2
2√3
√3 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: √3

The space diagonal of a cube with edge a = 2 has length 2√3. The center is halfway along the space diagonal, so the distance from center to vertex = √3.

Question 32: In the Haber process N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ (ΔH = −92 kJ/mol), which conditions maximise yield of NH₃?

High pressure, high temperature
Low pressure, high temperature
Low pressure, low temperature
High pressure, low temperature (Correct answer)

Correct answer: High pressure, low temperature

High pressure favours fewer moles of gas (products); low temperature favours the exothermic forward reaction thermodynamically (though kinetics require compromise).

Question 33: The chord of contact of point P(2, 1) with respect to the circle x² + y² = 5 has equation:

2x + y = 5 (Correct answer)
x - 2y = 5
2x - y = 5
x + 2y = 5

Correct answer: 2x + y = 5

The chord of contact from external point (x₀, y₀) to circle x² + y² = r² is xx₀ + yy₀ = r². So: 2x + y = 5.

Question 34: The energy stored in an inductor with inductance L = 0.5 H carrying a current of 4 A is:

4 J (Correct answer)
8 J
16 J
2 J

Correct answer: 4 J

U = ½LI² = ½ × 0.5 × 16 = 4 J.

Question 35: The Long March (长征, 1934-1935) was undertaken by the Chinese Red Army primarily to:

Establish direct contact with Soviet military advisors along the northern border
Launch a surprise counteroffensive against Japanese forces occupying Manchuria
Escape Nationalist encirclement campaigns and relocate to a new revolutionary base in the northwest (Correct answer)
Negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government

Correct answer: Escape Nationalist encirclement campaigns and relocate to a new revolutionary base in the northwest

The Long March was a strategic military retreat to escape the Nationalist 'encirclement and suppression campaigns' (围剿). The Red Army traveled roughly 9,000 km from Jiangxi Province to Yan'an in Shaanxi, where it rebuilt as a revolutionary base — a survival that proved decisive for the CCP's future.

Question 36: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Mangrove forests grow along tropical coastlines and provide a range of ecosystem services. Their tangled root systems trap sediment and reduce coastal erosion. They serve as nurseries for fish and other marine species. During storms, mangroves absorb wave energy, protecting inland communities. Despite their value, large areas of mangrove forest have been cleared for shrimp farming and coastal development. Which word best replaces 'nurseries' in context?

schools
hospitals
farms
shelters and breeding grounds (Correct answer)

Correct answer: shelters and breeding grounds

In ecological context, 'nurseries' refers to areas where young fish grow up, i.e., shelters and breeding grounds.

Question 37: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Dark matter is one of the greatest mysteries in astrophysics. Although it cannot be seen or directly detected, scientists infer its existence from its gravitational effects on visible matter. Galaxies rotate faster than the visible mass alone can explain — an observation that suggests a large amount of unseen mass is present. Dark matter is estimated to make up about 27% of the universe's total mass-energy content. How do scientists know dark matter exists, according to the passage?

They infer it from unexplained gravitational effects on visible matter. (Correct answer)
They have observed it directly through powerful telescopes.
They calculated it using the known mass of stars and galaxies.
They have captured dark matter particles in laboratory experiments.

Correct answer: They infer it from unexplained gravitational effects on visible matter.

The passage states scientists infer dark matter's existence from its gravitational effects — not direct observation.

Question 38: In a normal distribution, approximately what percentage of data falls within one standard deviation of the mean?

95%
68% (Correct answer)
50%
99.7%

Correct answer: 68%

The empirical (68-95-99.7) rule states that ~68% of data lies within ±1 standard deviation of the mean.

Question 39: A 500 g ball traveling at 4 m/s is acted on by a constant net force for 2 seconds, accelerating it to 8 m/s in the same direction. What is the magnitude of the net force?

1 N (Correct answer)
4 N
0.5 N
2 N

Correct answer: 1 N

Mass m = 0.5 kg. Change in velocity Δv = 8 − 4 = 4 m/s over t = 2 s, so a = 4/2 = 2 m/s². By Newton's Second Law, F = ma = 0.5 × 2 = 1 N.

Question 40: The equation of an ellipse is x²/25 + y²/16 = 1. What is the distance between its two foci?

8
10
6 (Correct answer)
3

Correct answer: 6

For x²/a² + y²/b² = 1 with a > b, c² = a² - b² = 25 - 16 = 9, so c = 3. The distance between foci is 2c = 6.

Question 41: The Treaty of Nanking (1842), which concluded the First Opium War, is considered a major turning point in Chinese history because it:

Caused the Taiping Rebellion to break out.
Marked the beginning of the erosion of China's sovereignty. (Correct answer)
Established formal diplomatic relations between China and Britain on an equal footing.
Led to the immediate legalization of the opium trade.

Correct answer: Marked the beginning of the erosion of China's sovereignty.

The Treaty of Nanking was the first of the 'unequal treaties' imposed on China by Western powers. By forcing the cession of Hong Kong, the opening of treaty ports, and the payment of indemnities, it began the erosion of Chinese sovereignty and marked the start of China's semi-colonial, semi-feudal period.

Question 42: The Chinese history curriculum identifies the Opium Wars as a turning point because:

They led to China's immediate modernization and industrialization
They were the first time China traded with foreign nations
They resulted in China gaining new territories
They marked China's forced entry into the modern world and the beginning of a 'century of humiliation' (Correct answer)

Correct answer: They marked China's forced entry into the modern world and the beginning of a 'century of humiliation'

The First Opium War (1839-42) and the resulting Treaty of Nanjing began China's 'semi-colonial, semi-feudal' era and the so-called 'century of humiliation' (百年屈辱), a key periodization in the Chinese history curriculum.

Question 43: In the reformed Gaokao system (新高考, implemented in most provinces from 2021), students in '3+1+2' provinces choose their elective subjects as:

3 required + 3 freely chosen from all subjects
3 required + 1 foreign language + 2 science subjects
3 required subjects (Chinese, Math, English) + 1 required choice (Physics or History) + 2 electives from remaining 4 subjects (Correct answer)
All 9 subjects with no choice

Correct answer: 3 required subjects (Chinese, Math, English) + 1 required choice (Physics or History) + 2 electives from remaining 4 subjects

'3+1+2' means: 3 required (语数英) + 1 mandatory choice (Physics or History, graded on absolute score) + 2 freely chosen from Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Politics (graded on rank-conversion score).

Question 44: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank were both established at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. What is the primary distinction between their roles?

The IMF regulates international currency exchange rates by fixing them, while the World Bank prints a global reserve currency
The IMF promotes military stability while the World Bank funds peacekeeping operations
The IMF exclusively serves developed nations while the World Bank serves only the poorest countries
The IMF provides short-term balance-of-payments assistance to member countries, while the World Bank focuses on long-term development financing for developing nations (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The IMF provides short-term balance-of-payments assistance to member countries, while the World Bank focuses on long-term development financing for developing nations

The IMF's core mandate is to ensure international monetary system stability and provide short-term financing to members facing balance-of-payments crises. The World Bank's mandate is long-term economic development and poverty reduction through project loans and grants to developing countries. Though both emerged from Bretton Woods, they serve complementary but distinct functions.

Question 45: Which process produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the normal chromosome number?

Binary fission
Mitosis
Budding
Meiosis (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Meiosis

Meiosis is a two-stage cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing haploid gametes.

Question 46: What is the significance of '高考状元' (Gaokao champion/top scorer) in Chinese educational culture?

They are exempt from university admission procedures
They automatically receive full government scholarships without applying
Provincial or national top scorers receive intense media attention and symbolize both educational achievement and the pressure of the exam culture (Correct answer)
They are given government official positions directly

Correct answer: Provincial or national top scorers receive intense media attention and symbolize both educational achievement and the pressure of the exam culture

'高考状元' (the top scorer in a province or the nation) is a highly celebrated figure in Chinese media, connecting to the historical tradition of 科举 (imperial examination) where the top scorer (状元) held supreme prestige.

Question 47: Read the passage and answer the question. Passage: Volunteering offers individuals more than just a chance to help others. Studies show that people who volunteer regularly report higher levels of life satisfaction, lower rates of depression, and even improved physical health. Researchers attribute these benefits to the sense of purpose, social connection, and structured activity that volunteering provides. Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in this passage?

To argue that volunteering should be made compulsory.
To compare different types of volunteering activities.
To inform readers about the personal benefits of volunteering. (Correct answer)
To criticize people who do not volunteer.

Correct answer: To inform readers about the personal benefits of volunteering.

The passage presents research about benefits without making normative demands, so its purpose is informational — explaining personal benefits.

Question 48: The dihedral angle between two adjacent faces of a regular tetrahedron is approximately:

120°
arccos(1/3) ≈ 70.5° (Correct answer)
90°
60°

Correct answer: arccos(1/3) ≈ 70.5°

The dihedral angle of a regular tetrahedron is arccos(1/3) ≈ 70.53°. This can be derived by finding the angle between two face normal vectors.

Question 49: The Hundred Days' Reform (百日维新, 1898) failed primarily because:

The reformers ran out of funding
Empress Dowager Cixi and conservative Qing officials launched a coup (戊戌政变) overthrowing the reformers (Correct answer)
The reform lacked popular support among ordinary Chinese
Western powers intervened to stop modernization

Correct answer: Empress Dowager Cixi and conservative Qing officials launched a coup (戊戌政变) overthrowing the reformers

After 103 days of reform edicts by Emperor Guangxu, Empress Dowager Cixi staged the Wuxu Coup (September 1898), arrested the Emperor, executed six leading reformers (戊戌六君子), and reversed most reforms.

Question 50: In solid geometry, the 'three perpendicular lines theorem' (三垂线定理) states: If a line (OA) in a plane (α) is the projection of an oblique line (PA) (where P is outside α), and OA ⊥ l (where l is any line in α through O), then:

PA ⊥ the plane α
OA ⊥ PA
PA is parallel to l
PA ⊥ l (Correct answer)

Correct answer: PA ⊥ l

The three perpendicular lines theorem: If PO ⊥ α (perpendicular from P to plane), OA is the foot's projection in α, OA ⊥ l (line in α), then PA ⊥ l. The key result is that the oblique line PA is also perpendicular to l.

Gaokao - National College Entrance Exam

The Gaokao is China's national university entrance examination testing Chinese language, mathematics, English, and elective subjects including physics, chemistry, biology, and history.

Questions

150 min

Time Limit

60%

To Pass

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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

sdxc.gov.cn — Time limit · verified Oct 2026
moe.gov.cn — Test delivery, score release, passing score · verified Oct 2026
zzjy.zhengzhou.gov.cn — Fees · verified Oct 2026
sdzk.cn — Fees · verified Oct 2026
gaokao.chsi.com.cn — Eligibility · verified Oct 2026