Chapter 27 homework

Chapter 27, Section 1

1. The people of China have a long, rich cultural heritage with influences that included Confucianism, Buddhism, and communism.

2. Most people in China speak the Mandarin dialect of the Han Chinese language.


Creative Writing:
In the past, only the wealthiest Chinese learned to read and write, but China’s communist government pushed efforts to increase literacy. During the Cultural Revolution literacy suffered a setback. But government again emphasized education, and literacy rose. Communist governments generally pay for medical treatment, but economic reforms mean fewer promised services. The Chinese Communist government discourages all religious practices and many people identify themselves as atheists.

Chapter 27, Section 2

1. Most of Japan’s people and urban areas are concentrated in the relatively small lowland areas on seacoasts and in valleys and plains.

2. After World War I, in which Japan fought with the victorious Allies, the country had experienced record prosperity. Through Japan steered toward a democracy, military leaders gained influence over the government. After its surrender to the Allies in 1945, Japan became a democracy. Stripped of its overseas territories and military might, Japan rebuilt its shattered economy and society.

Creative Writing:
Although the Japanese language developed in isolation, expert believe it may be distantly related to Korean and Mongolian, Over the centuries, Japanese borrowed words and writing systems from Chinese, Western languages, especially English, have also influenced Japanese. Religion in Japan tends to be a blend of different practices from various faiths.

Chapter 27, Section 3

1. Western countries approached Korea through a unified police called “gunboat diplomacy”. Korea responded by adopting a closed-door, isolationist policy to keep pit foreign powers.

2. The Korean way of life is largely based on Confucianism.

Creative Writing:
Education has improved in South Korea since World War II. Most students attend middle and high school, and university attendance is increasing. In North Korea education serves primarily to teach ideology. The United Nations helped South Korea rebuild its health-care system after the war. Today it is a successful, modern system. North Korea provides health care to its citizens, but its people still suffer from inadequate food, water, and heating supplies.