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The Western Experience, 8/e

Mortimer Chambers, University of California - Los Angeles
Barbara Hanawalt, Ohio State University
Theodore Rabb, Princeton University
Isser Woloch, Columbia University
Raymond Grew, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Culture and Society in the Age of the Scientific Revolution

Multiple Choice


1	All of the following helped set the scientific revolution in motion EXCEPT
		A)	inaccuracies in and inconsistencies among ancient authorities.
		B)	magical beliefs that emphasized simple, comprehensive keys to nature.
		C)	belief in the importance of observation and development of instruments.
		D)	changes in Christianity that focused on its metaphorical rather than literal truth.


2	Which of the following was NOT one of the important scientific breakthroughs in the sixteenth century?
		A)	Vesalius' anatomical studies.
		B)	Copernicus' astronomy.
		C)	Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
		D)	Tycho Brahe's observations of the heavens.


3	Which of the following were NOT critical developments in astronomy and physics?
		A)	Galileo's concept of inertia and his observations of the moons of Jupiter.
		B)	Kepler's laws of planetary motion and his synthesis of them with terrestrial physics.
		C)	Descartes development of analytic geometry and distinction between weight and mass.
		D)	Newton's development of calculus and his three laws of motion.


4	Newton's work was the culmination of the scientific revolution because
		A)	it resolved the outstanding problems in both physics and astronomy.
		B)	it refuted Descartes' theoretical approach to scientific knowledge.
		C)	it reconciled science with Christianity as it was then understood.
		D)	it made further work unnecessary for the next 150 years.


5	The new epistemology of science involved all of the following EXCEPT
		A)	reliance on experience and reason rather than authority.
		B)	testing of an hypothesis by observation, generalization, and experimentation.
		C)	rejection of Occam's theory that the simplest explanation is best.
		D)	use of numerical data to develop mathematical laws.


6	Wider acceptance of scientific thought came when the educated public
		A)	became convinced that science offered certainty.
		B)	accepted that science cannot promise certainty.
		C)	made the effort to follow the intricacies of scientific debate.
		D)	became enamored of the charismatic figures of science.


7	Bacon and Descartes complemented each other because
		A)	they had long been ardent admirers of each other.
		B)	Bacon emphasized experiment and inductive reasoning while Descartes emphasized deductive analysis.
		C)	Bacon was able to influence his fellow Englishmen, while Descartes worked on the French.
		D)	they both were able to refute Newton's work by approaching it from opposite points of view.


8	Blaise Pascal is important because
		A)	he promoted a reconciliation of Catholic faith with the new science.
		B)	he kept European civilization from accepting the mechanical world view.
		C)	he was the first accomplished scientist to focus on the limitations of science.
		D)	he was able to undercut some of the extreme claims of science on a scientific basis.


9	All of the following were examples of popular enthusiasm for science in the late seventeenth century EXCEPT
		A)	royal patronage of scientific societies.
		B)	the use of science as an aristocratic amusement.
		C)	popular attendance at autopsies.
		D)	the widespread practice of charivaris.


10	The primary impulse behind Mannerism was
		A)	distortion.
		B)	escapism.
		C)	mysticism.
		D)	singularity.


11	Michel de Montagne created the literary form known as the
		A)	essay.
		B)	novel.
		C)	reflections.
		D)	epigram.


12	Cervantes and Shakespeare had in common that they both
		A)	were Englishmen.
		B)	had essentially optimistic outlooks.
		C)	reflected the stresses of their times.
		D)	rejected the hierarchy of society.


13	The Baroque style was found particularly in Catholic countries because
		A)	it supported the Counter Reformation.
		B)	only they had the wealth to support it.
		C)	Protestants preferred more flamboyant styles.
		D)	only there were artists with necessary skills found.


14	The Classical style was differentiated from the Baroque because
		A)	it was characterized by restraint and discipline.
		B)	it aimed at grandiose effects.
		C)	it was found mainly in Protestant countries.
		D)	it included art forms beyond painting.


15	The number of Europeans rose only slightly in the seventeenth century for all the following reasons EXCEPT
		A)	economic pressures caused people to marry late, which reduced the number of babies they could have.
		B)	the Thirty Years' War killed millions of Germans and disrupted the European economy.
		C)	plagues drove the number of Spaniards down from 10 million in 1600 to 6 million in 1700.
		D)	the English and Dutch populations only recovered after 1680, accounting for the little increase there was.


16	Seventeenth century society was characterized by
		A)	impenetrable class barriers.
		B)	relative egalitarianism.
		C)	significant mobility.
		D)	decreasing stratification.


17	Life was generally becoming harder for the peasantry for all of the following reasons EXCEPT
		A)	taxes were rising.
		B)	rents and other dues were increasing.
		C)	food prices were stabilizing.
		D)	there was no escape from the farm.


18	All of the following changes were taking place in traditional villages EXCEPT
		A)	differences in wealth among the peasants were increasing.
		B)	government officials were eroding village self-government.
		C)	government welfare programs were enticing peasants off the land.
		D)	noble landlords were ceasing to pay attention to their villagers' lives.


19	In contrast to the villages, life in the cities was
		A)	secure.
		B)	impersonal.
		C)	dull.
		D)	fragile.


20	All of the following first became common in cities in the late seventeenth century EXCEPT
		A)	weekly newspapers.
		B)	coffeehouses.
		C)	actresses.
		D)	books.


21	Urban and rural culture were distinguished by all of the following EXCEPT
		A)	literacy rates.
		B)	magical beliefs.
		C)	types of recreation.
		D)	visibility of religiosity.


22	The witch craze was caused by all of the following EXCEPT
		A)	an intention to persecute innocent people.
		B)	popular fears that bad effects can be willed.
		C)	an official desires to root out agents of evil.
		D)	a fear of women who seemed too potent.


23	The decline of witch-hunting occurred for all of the following reasons EXCEPT
		A)	official recognition that it was disruptive and dangerous.
		B)	the rising cultural weight of cities, where events are more subject to rational human control.
		C)	religious changes that de-emphasized magic and disapproved of passionate popular activities.
		D)	the rapid spread of the scientific world view to all classes of society.

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