Manhasset High SchoolSS 9 Pre AP World History

Placement Assessment

This placement assessment replicates the first set of homework assignments for chapter 1 of the SS 9 Pre-AP World History course. It is intended for two purposes. First, to introduce potential students to the level of rigor and time investment required in this course. Second, to evaluate students’ analysis and writing skills as part of the recommendation process.

A sample response to the first set of questions (section A) will be provided as an exemplar. Read Ch. 1 in its entirety and submit your original written responses for only sections B, C and D. Do not collaborate with other students or any other individuals. All work must be your own. Any violation of the academic integrity policy will result in an automatic denial of admission to this program.

Ch. 1. Before History: Achieving an understanding of early human history is difficult. But even though prehistoric peoples did not have a written language, they left evidence of how they lived in their bones and in their artifacts. By burying their dead with jewelry and religious tokens they left clues for modern historians to decipher about what they considered valuable.

The reading for this assessment can be found on Mr. Brown’s teacher webpage. If you are unable to get the download, email Mrs. Steindam at: mara_steindam@manhasset.manhassetschools.org Questions about the assignment can be sent to Mr. Brown at: Kentis_Brown@manhassetschools.orgDue: Friday, Jan. 19, 2018. Submit to your SS8 teacher.

A. Read pages 5-11 and answer the following questions: 1. What was the significance of the discovery of “Lucy”?2. According to Richard Leakey, what are three characteristics that make homo sapiens sapiens a distinct species?3. What methods have scholars used to study Paleolithic hunter gatherer societies? B. Read pages 12-17 and answer the following questions:1. Discuss the social relationships of hunter-gatherer peoples in the Paleolithic era.2. How did big game hunting show evidence of higher intelligence among Paleolithic peoples?3. What evidence suggests that culture existed among the hunter-gatherer peoples?4. What information can historians gather from Paleolithic cave paintings?

C. Read pages 17-22 and answer the following questions:1. What challenges drove hunter-gatherers to experiment and adopt agriculture?2. Why do the authors argue that the term agricultural revolution is misleading?3. What areas of the world did agriculture first develop? Why do you think it developed independently in different areas of the world?4. How did early knowledge of agriculture begin to spread throughout the world?

D. Read pages 22-26 and answer the following questions:1. What were the most significant positive and negative effects of the development of agriculture? (You may create a chart)2. What early industries arose in early towns and villages? How did they benefit those living in towns and villages?3. This chapter points to the increasing complexity of human life and culture from the Paleolithic to Neolithic periods. 4. What strategies did early peoples create to help with this increasing complexity?