Multiple Choice Clusters

Description: These questions are from the unit exam on the enlightenment and changes in Europe
unit for a 10th grade modern world history class. This is the third unit within the course and it
explores topics as diverse as the scientific revolution, different absolutist monarchs and finally
the enlightenment philosophers as a whole. Because this unit was taught around the election
time, there was also a focus on how these concepts are expressed in modern times. In addition,
several of the class activities were focused on developing skills such as effective note taking,
rhetorical strategies along with deductive and inductive reasoning. Students also used a variety of
media in acquiring the knowledge so as to provide something for every type of learner.
1st Cluster:
The student will be able to distinguish between Thomas Hobbes and John Lockes beliefs on the
relationship between individuals and society.

1. According to John Locke, Humans are born with

a. Civil Rights
b. Human Rights
c. Natural Rights
d. Political Rights
2. Which statement based on the table above best represents Hobbes views on the purpose
of government
a. Security is more important than liberty
b. Peoples rights are secondary to the needs of society

c. The wickedness of man requires people to relinquish their rights in order to

receive protection
d. An absolute monarch is the most efficient form of government
3. Which of the following constitutional amendments is based on Lockes guarantee of
Liberty to all?
a. The 15th amendments guarantee of voting rights for freed slaves
b. The 14th amendment which promises equal protection under the law
c. The 13th amendment which abolished slavery
d. The 6th amendments right to a fair and speedy trial
4. Which head of state represents Hobbes ideal type of ruler
a. Joseph Stalin
b. King Louis XIV
c. Queen Elizabeth II
d. Barack Obama

Cluster 2
The Student will be able to connect Montesquieus writings on the separation of powers to
specific institutions within American democracy
The political liberty of the subject is a tranquility of mind arising from the opinion each person
has of his safety. In order to have this liberty, it is requisite the government be so constituted as
one man need not be afraid of another. When the legislative and executive powers are united in
the same person, or in the same body of magistrates, there can be no liberty; because
apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to
execute them in a tyrannical manner. Again, there is no liberty, if the judiciary power be not
separated from the legislative and executive. Were it joined with the legislative, the life and
liberty of the subject would be exposed to arbitrary control; for the judge would be then the
legislator. Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with violence and
oppression.
Baron Montesquieu by the Spirt of the Laws
1. Montesquieu wrote that this type of ruler allowed for civil rights such as freedom of
religion and assembly while still maintaining total control of the government.
a. Despot
b. Prince
c. President
d. Grand Poobah

2. Montesquieu argued that the judiciary as only being responsible for ensuring fairness
disputes amongst individuals and/or institutions without enforcing it themselves. Which
government institution represents this enforcement role.
a. A state legislator who makes laws
b. The governor who is in charge of the state as a whole
c. A public defender
d. The police
3. Besides Judicial Review which allows the Supreme court to examine laws to ensure their
constitutional, which constitutional principle represents a check on the other branch
a. The House of Representatives looks after local voters while the senate is
responsible to entire states voters
b. Only the senate votes on treaties
c. The presidents ability to veto or overrule legislation
d. The presidents position as commander in chief
4. The primary difference between a monarchy and a despot is
a. Monarchs have the divine right to rule
b. Despots place communities ahead of the individual
c. Monarchs have restraints established through law
d. Monarchs rule through fear
Cluster 3
The student will be able to recognize how the conflict between Geocentrism and Heliocentrism
was regarded as heretical even though it was a correct theory.
Use the following fictional conversation to answer questions 1-4
Scientist A: Would you look at that! What a beautiful sunrise.
Scientist B: Indeed, thats gorgeous. And so the Earth moves around the sun another day.
A: ...What do you mean exactly?
B: One more day of flying around the sun on this rock we call Earth.
A: Thats not how it works According to the Bible and my own observations, the sun is, in fact, the
one moving around the Earth. We are the center of Creation.
B: You cant always trust your eyes or even your own interpretations of the Bible, although I know
the church doesnt like it when I say that I have recently come to other conclusions with my
instruments and mathematics. I think the Earth is going around the sun.
A: Youre wrong. Im telling the Pope.

1. What is the name of the theory expressed by Scientist A?

A. Heliocentrism
B. Geocentrism
C. Plate tectonics
D. Creationism.
2. What is the name of the theory expressed by Scientist B?
A. Heliocentrism
B. Geocentrism
C. Plate tectonics
D. Creationism
17. Who may Scientist B be?
a. Galileo or Copernicus
b. Kepler
c. Newton
d. Ptolemy
18. Which statement by Scientist B best represents how he was a heretic.
a. One more day flying around the sun
b. even your own interpretations of the bible
c. Indeed, that's gorgeous
d. I have come to other conclusions

Cluster 4
Objective: The student will be able to compare 3 absolute monarchs of this time on their seat of
government, methods used and legacy to determine their overall effectiveness.
Monarch

Seat of Government

Elizabeth I

London

Peter the Great

St. Petersburg

Louis XIV

Versailles

1. Prior to 1703 the capital of Russia was

a. St Petersburg
b. London
c. Moscow
d. Stalingrad

Way of Consolidating
Power
Minimized conflict
between Catholics and
Protestants
Encouraged cultural
embrace of European
ideas which required
power to be
centralized
Required nobles to be
present at Versailles to
curry favor which
restricted their ability
to plot against him

Legacy
Navigated England
through a turbulent era
which set them up to
become a major power
Made Russia a part of
Europe

Exemplified Absolute
monarchy but his
aggressive fiscal and
foreign policy was
unsustainable.

2. Which statement best exemplifies the way Elizabeth minimized conflict between the
Catholics and protestants
a. Returned lands seized from Catholics by her father Henry VIII
b. Encouraged Huguenot settlement in England after the edict of Nantes
c. Allied with catholic France to prevent catholic Spain from taking control of Europe
d. Removed laws favoring Catholics but otherwise did not encourage a radical catholic
ideology
3. Louis XIV was able to maintain tight control of France through all but which of these
methods
a. Executing those who disobeyed him
b. The mythology of him as the sun king caused him to be seen as the light of the people
c. His court at Versailles played nobles against each other so they would only be loyal to
him
d. Bribing local officials to implement his policies
4. The only seat of government that existed prior to these monarchs was
a. Paris
b. London
c. Versailles
d. St. Petersburg

Rubric
1. According to John Locke, Humans are born with
a. Civil Rights
b. Human Rights
c. Natural Rights
d. Political Rights
2. Which statement based on the table above best represents Hobbes views on the purpose
of government
a. Security is more important than liberty
b. Peoples rights are secondary to the needs of society
c. The wickedness of man requires people to relinquish their rights in order to
receive protection
d. An absolute monarch is the most efficient form of government
3. Which of the following constitutional amendments is based on Lockes guarantee of
Liberty to all?
a. The 15th amendments guarantee of voting rights for freed slaves
b. The 14th amendment which promises equal protection under the law
c. The 13th amendment which abolished slavery
d. The 6th amendments right to a fair and speedy trial
4. Which head of state represents Hobbes ideal type of ruler

a.
b.
c.
d.

Joseph Stalin
King Louis XIV
Queen Elizabeth II
Barack Obama

5. Montesquieu wrote that this type of ruler allowed for civil rights such as freedom of
religion and assembly while still maintaining total control of the government.
a. Despot
b. Prince
c. President
d. Grand Poobah
6. Montesquieu argued that the judiciary as only being responsible for ensuring fairness
disputes amongst individuals and/or institutions without enforcing it themselves. Which
government institution represents this enforcement role.
a. A state legislator who makes laws
b. The governor who is in charge of the state as a whole
c. A public defender
d. The police
7. Besides Judicial Review which allows the Supreme court to examine laws to ensure their
constitutional, which constitutional principle represents a check on the other branch
a. The House of Representatives looks after local voters while the senate is
responsible to entire states voters
b. Only the senate votes on treaties
c. The presidents ability to veto or overrule legislation
d. The presidents position as commander in chief
8. The primary difference between a monarchy and a despot is
a. Monarchs have the divine right to rule
b. Despots place communities ahead of the individual
c. Monarchs have restraints established through law
d. Monarchs rule through fear
1. What is the name of the theory expressed by Scientist A?
E. Heliocentrism
F. Geocentrism
G. Plate tectonics
H. Creationism.
3. What is the name of the theory expressed by Scientist B?
A. Heliocentrism
B. Geocentrism
C. Plate tectonics
D. Creationism
19. Who may Scientist B be?
a. Galileo or Copernicus
b. Kepler

c. Newton
d. Ptolemy
20. Which statement by Scientist B best represents how he was a heretic.
a. One more day flying around the sun
b. even your own interpretations of the bible
c. Indeed, that's gorgeous
d. I have come to other conclusions
5. Prior to 1703 the capital of Russia was
a. St Petersburg
b. London
c. Moscow
d. Stalingrad
6. Which statement best exemplifies the way Elizabeth minimized conflict between the
Catholics and protestants
a. Returned lands seized from Catholics by her father Henry VIII
b. Encouraged Huguenot settlement in England after the edict of Nantes
c. Allied with catholic France to prevent catholic Spain from taking control of Europe
d. Removed laws favoring Catholics but otherwise did not encourage a radical catholic
ideology
7. Louis XIV was able to maintain tight control of France through all but which of these
methods
a. Executing those who disobeyed him
b. The mythology of him as the sun king caused him to be seen as the light of the people
c. His court at Versailles played nobles against each other so they would only be loyal to
him
d. Bribing local officials to implement his policies
8. The only seat of government that existed prior to these monarchs was
a. Paris
b. London
c. Versailles
d. St. Petersburg