China after 1949: the People's Republic, the Cultural Revolution and later reforms
Grade 10 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Use this
Cards A to D. Card A (World Bank working paper by Douglas Zeng, 2011; our summary): Deng Xiaoping launched economic reform in 1978. In November 1978 farmers in Xiaogang village, Anhui, adopted a contract responsibility system. The Open Door policy followed the next month. By August 1980 Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou, and in October 1980 Xiamen, had been designated special economic zones. Card B (Columbia, Asia for Educators; our summary): After 1976 communes were dismantled and replaced by the Household Responsibility System, and farmers were encouraged to start private businesses. Card C (World Bank paper; our summary): From 1980 to 1984 Shenzhen grew about 58 percent a year, while the national average was about 10 percent a year. Card D, two readings written for this sheet, not by historians: Reading X: Reform was a clean break with Mao-era economic policy, set by leaders in Beijing. Reading Y: Reform spread from local trials, such as village contracts and the zones, which leaders then approved and extended.
Reading Y says leaders approved and extended local trials. Which pair of facts from cards A to C fits that, in order, Bo asks?
- Deng's launch of reform in 1978, then the Open Door policy a month later
- The Open Door policy in December 1978, then the contract at Xiaogang
- Communes dismantled after 1976, then Shenzhen's growth of 58 percent a year
- A village contract at Xiaogang in 1978, then zones designated in 1980
A student says Reading X must be false because Reading Y is true. How do cards A to D answer, Esme asks?
- Y is better, since card A names a village and X names no one
- Both cannot be true, since they disagree about who started reform, so one must be mistaken
- X is better, since it explains the zones and Y does not
- Both can use true facts, since one stresses leaders and the other local trials
Which fact from cards A to C would a supporter of Reading X most want, Jun asks?
- That Shenzhen grew about 58 percent a year from 1980 to 1984, far above the national rate
- That Deng launched reform in 1978 and the Open Door policy followed the next month
- That four zones had been designated by October 1980
- That Xiaogang farmers signed contracts in November 1978
Card B says communes were dismantled and farmers encouraged to start private businesses. Which reading does it favor, Luz asks?
- Reading X, since 'dismantled' suggests an order that came from the leaders above
- Both equally, since both readings mention reform
- Reading Y, since private businesses start with local people
- Neither alone, since it describes a result and not who began it
Use this
Cards A to D, summaries in our words, written today. Card A (Office of the Historian): In 1979 the United States and the People's Republic set up formal diplomatic relations. Card B (Office of the Historian): Democracy demonstrations began in Beijing on April 15, 1989. Martial law came on May 20. On the night of June 3 and 4 the army cleared Tiananmen Square by force. The Chinese government said that over 200 people lost their lives. Western sources most often cite hundreds or even thousands. Card C (Encyclopaedia Britannica): The government's official death toll was 241, though other estimates are significantly higher. Card D (World Bank paper): Deng launched economic reform in 1978, and by 1980 four special economic zones had been designated.
A student says: 'After 1978 China's economy opened and its politics opened too.' What do cards A, B and D support, Milo asks?
- The political half alone, since demonstrations began in Beijing on April 15, 1989 and went on for weeks
- The economic half, but card B shows protests cleared by force, which does not show political opening
- Both halves, since the 1989 protests show that people were free to ask for political change
- Neither half, since the army cleared the Square in 1989
A student writes: 'Reform ended when the army cleared the Square.' What can cards A to D show, Noah asks?
- Nothing, since the cards stop at June 1989 and say nothing about what followed
- That reform continued, since card D dates it to 1978
- That reform did not matter to the events of 1989, since cards B and C do not mention it
- That reform ended, since martial law was declared on May 20
A student writes: 'The government said over 200 and Britannica said 241, so the sources agree.' How do cards B and C answer, Pia asks?
- They disagree, since 241 is far above 200
- They agree on an official count of 200 or more, and both say other estimates are higher
- They agree on 241 as the toll, since over 200 includes 241
- They cannot be compared, since one comes from a government and the other from an encyclopedia
Use this
Cards A to D. Card A (World Bank working paper by Douglas Zeng, 2011; our summary): Deng Xiaoping launched economic reform in 1978. In November 1978 farmers in Xiaogang village, Anhui, adopted a contract responsibility system. The Open Door policy followed the next month. By August 1980 Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou, and in October 1980 Xiamen, had been designated special economic zones. Card B (Columbia, Asia for Educators; our summary): After 1976 communes were dismantled and replaced by the Household Responsibility System, and farmers were encouraged to start private businesses. Card C (World Bank paper; our summary): From 1980 to 1984 Shenzhen grew about 58 percent a year, while the national average was about 10 percent a year. Card D, two readings written for this sheet, not by historians: Reading X: Reform was a clean break with Mao-era economic policy, set by leaders in Beijing. Reading Y: Reform spread from local trials, such as village contracts and the zones, which leaders then approved and extended.
Card C says Shenzhen grew about 58 percent a year against 10 percent nationally. What does that show, Ren asks?
- That the zones caused the whole gap, since the zone was one of the changes
- That Shenzhen grew faster, but not how large its economy was in 1980
- That Shenzhen became about six times larger than the national average, since 58 is about six times 10
- That Shenzhen's economy was 58 percent larger than China's by 1984
Suppose Shenzhen grew 58 percent a year for four years, 1980 to 1984. About how many times its 1980 size would it be, Tala asks?
- About 2.9 times, since the gap over the national 10 percent is 48 percent a year, four times
- About 6 times, since each year multiplies by 1.58 and 1.58 four times is about 6.2
- About 1.6 times, since 58 percent is the growth over the period
- About 3.3 times, since four years of 58 percent adds up to 232 percent more
Use this
Cards A to D, summaries in our words, written today. Card A (Office of the Historian): In 1979 the United States and the People's Republic set up formal diplomatic relations. Card B (Office of the Historian): Democracy demonstrations began in Beijing on April 15, 1989. Martial law came on May 20. On the night of June 3 and 4 the army cleared Tiananmen Square by force. The Chinese government said that over 200 people lost their lives. Western sources most often cite hundreds or even thousands. Card C (Encyclopaedia Britannica): The government's official death toll was 241, though other estimates are significantly higher. Card D (World Bank paper): Deng launched economic reform in 1978, and by 1980 four special economic zones had been designated.
Which description of the 1989 toll fits cards B and C together, Zee asks?
- A confirmed toll of 241, which Western sources also accept as the full count
- An official count of 241, 'over 200' in another, and higher estimates of hundreds or thousands
- A toll between 200 and 241, since the two sources agree on it and so fix the truth between those numbers
- A toll of thousands, which the government's own count also accepts as correct