34. China’s judicial system:
a. is modeled after the British and American judicial systems.
b. has a supreme court and appellate courts.
c. has no system for judicial review.
d. is independent from Communist party oversight.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: China
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
35. The National People’s Congress has:
a. policy-making authority and operates within the Communist Party.
b. little power and does not meet often.
c. bicameral chambers and members that are directly elected.
d. the same function as the National Party Congress.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: China
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
36. The change in China’s Gini Index from 33 in the late 1970s to 45 in 2005 indicates that
income distribution has become __________ and that China __________ income
distributions in Asia.
a. more equal, still has one of the most equal
b. less equal, still has one of the most equal
c. less equal, has one of the most unequal
d. only minimally different, still has one of the most equal
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: China
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
311
37. Among the surprising findings from a 2011 study about the Chinese political culture was
the discovery that a very high percentage of Chinese agreed __________ and that they
were __________.
a. that corruption is not a big problem, satisfied with local governments
b. that corruption is not a big problem, not satisfied with local governments
c. with their leaders’ one-child policy, glad to have strong leadership
d. that their form of government was best, satisfied with the way democracy worked in
China
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: China
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
38. In a comparison of capabilities between Russia and China, Russia has a better _________
record, and China has a better _________ record.
a. homicide; literacy
b. infant mortality; literacy
c. literacy; homicide
d. democracy; infant mortality
Topic: Comparing capabilities between Russia and China
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
39. In recent decades, leaders of China’s Communist Party have focused on winning the
support of:
a. workers, peasants and poor Chinese.
b. peasants, ethnic minorities, and entrepreneurs.
c. entrepreneurs, professionals, and ethnic minorities.
d. entrepreneurs, professionals, and the middle class.
Topic: Comparing capabilities between Russia and China
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
312
40. Russia’s homicide rate is slightly over 11 per 100,000, while China’s is a little over 1 per
100,000. Which sequence of comparative methods would be most helpful in discovering
the causes of the difference and whether the causes are unique to Russia or shared by
many countries?
a. quantitative, comparative cases, and case study
b. case study, comparative cases, and quantitative
c. comparative cases, quantitative, and case study
d. case study, quantitative, and comparative cases
Topic: Comparing capabilities between Russia and China
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Short Answer Questions
41. Identify three ways in which Karl Marx distinguished socialism from communism and
explain whether Karl Marx would describe China today as a socialist society or a
communist one.
the 20th century and explain the flaws of centrally planned economies based on state-
owned firms.
society, political culture, and political economy of Russia.
Topic: Russia/The State
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
43. Explain how “socialism with Chinese characteristics” differs from the economic policies
followed by the Chinese Communist Party during the first decades of the Party’s rule.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Essay Questions
44. Describe the two main features shared by communist regimes for most of the twentieth
century and explain why state-owned and centrally planned economies were good at
extensive growth but not intensive growth.
the 20th century and explain the flaws of centrally planned economies based on state-
owned firms.
Topic: The Institutional Basis of Communist Regimes
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
45. Describe Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost, perestroika, and demokratizatsiia and
explain how his attempts to implement them led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
society, political culture, and political economy of Russia.
Topic: Russia/The State
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
47. Explain the concept of “authoritarian control” and analyze three strategies President Putin
employs to control society, using a specific example to illustrate each strategy.
society, political culture, and political economy of Russia.
Topic: Russia
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
48. Analyze which particular varieties of Russian nationalism and features of Russian
political culture President Putin has employed to justify his system of personal rule.
Topic: Political Culture
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
314
49. Explain how President Putin achieved so much economic growth in Russia between 2000
and 2010, why the Russian economy is now facing increasing difficulties, and which
political obstacles make improving economic performance so difficult.
society, political culture, and political economy of Russia.
Topic: Russia/Political Economy
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
50. Explain why Mao Zedong launched the Great Leap Forward and the Great Proletarian
Cultural Revolution, why neither achieved his goals, and why they resulted in great
human suffering.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: Russia/Political Economy
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
51. Identify the two main factions at the top level of Chinese politics and explain how the
new general secretary of the party, Xi Jinping, has managed the problem of authoritarian
power sharing between the two factions in the Politburo.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: China/The State
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
52. Explain two main techniques the Chinese Communist Party uses to control the Chinese
state to ensure state officials implement party policies as intended. Be sure to discuss
specific party and state organizations and to use the titles of the leaders at the head of
these organizations.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: China/The State
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
53. Explain three main strategies used by the Chinese Communist Party to maintain
authoritarian control of society, using specific examples of which groups in society the
strategies target.
society, political culture, and political economy of China.
Topic: China/State and Society
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
315
54. Describe one main political problem and three social problems caused by China’s
economic growth strategy of recent decades, explain the political obstacles to reforming
this growth strategy, and evaluate whether Chinese leaders will be able to implement
proposed reforms or not. Using the capabilities approach, analyze how Russia could
improve its approach to providing civil services and improve the manner in which it
implements policies.
Topic: Comparing Capabilities Between Russia and China
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
55. China ranks below Russia and most other countries in the world in measures of
democracy. Despite its very low ranking, a large majority of Chinese say they are
satisfied with the way democracy works in China. Explain why so many Chinese believe
they have a democratic political system, and evaluate whether it is appropriate for
supporters of the capability approach to criticize China’s low democracy ranking when so
many Chinese are satisfied with their version of democracy.
Topic: Comparing Capabilities Between Russia and China
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
316