Signs from Heaven
Question:
A drought has lasted for two years. Crops are failing and people are starving. According to the Mandate of Heaven, what might this mean?
A. The emperor should raise taxes
B. The people have stopped working hard
C. The emperor may have lost Heaven’s favor
C. The emperor may have lost Heaven’s favor ✅
Question:
A new emperor gives grain to the poor during a famine. What does this decision show?
A. He is trying to prove he deserves Heaven’s support
B. He is worried about running out of food
C. He wants to weaken the nobles
A. He is trying to prove he deserves Heaven’s support ✅
Question:
According to the Mandate of Heaven, who can become emperor?
A. Only someone born into a royal family
B. Only nobles chosen by priests
C. Anyone Heaven supports, even a peasant leader
C. Anyone Heaven supports, even a peasant leader ✅
Question:
There have been three earthquakes in one month, and bandits are attacking villages. What would many people in ancient China likely believe?
A. The gods are testing the emperor’s strength
B. The emperor’s dynasty is losing the Mandate
C. Earthquakes are just natural events
B. The emperor’s dynasty is losing the Mandate ✅
Question:
An emperor builds a golden palace and raises taxes to pay for it. What effect might this have on the Mandate?
A. The people will admire his wealth
B. He may seem corrupt and lose the Mandate
C. The gods will be honored
B. He may seem corrupt and lose the Mandate ✅
Question:
Why would people support a rebellion under the Mandate of Heaven?
A. Rebellion was always encouraged
B. It proved the rebels were criminals
C. A successful rebellion showed Heaven favored new leadership
C. A successful rebellion showed Heaven favored new leadership ✅
Question:
If Heaven is showing disapproval of a ruler, which of the following is MOST likely to happen next?
A. A new dynasty is automatically chosen
B. The emperor retires peacefully
C. The people might support a rebellion
C. The people might support a rebellion ✅
Question:
After a disaster, the emperor blames Heaven and refuses to act. What might this tell the people?
A. He is honest about the situation
B. He believes Heaven has a plan
C. He is no longer fit to rule
C. He is no longer fit to rule ✅
Question:
A rebel leader defeats the emperor after years of famine and unrest. What would the people most likely believe?
A. The rebellion broke tradition
B. Heaven punished the wrong people
C. Heaven transferred the Mandate to the new leader
C. Heaven transferred the Mandate to the new leader ✅
Question:
Which of the following does NOT signal that a ruler might be losing the Mandate of Heaven?
A. Foreign invasion
B. Disease and famine
C. A military victory
C. A military victory ✅
Question:
An emperor listens to the complaints of farmers and lowers their taxes. Why might this strengthen his Mandate?
A. He is giving up power
B. He is acting like a fair and virtuous ruler
C. He is afraid of rebellion
B. He is acting like a fair and virtuous ruler ✅
Question:
Why did the Mandate of Heaven help explain natural disasters like floods and famines?
A. People believed disasters were random
B. Disasters showed Heaven’s anger at the ruler
C. Disasters were caused by foreign enemies
B. Disasters showed Heaven’s anger at the ruler ✅
🧨 500 Points – DOUBLE OR NOTHING
Question:
The emperor has raised taxes, ignored disaster warnings, and allowed nobles to abuse their power. Then a peasant rebellion rises and quickly gains support. What would this most likely mean under the Mandate of Heaven?
A. The rebellion is a crime against tradition
B. The emperor needs to pray for forgiveness
C. The rebellion shows the gods chose a new ruler
C. The rebellion shows the gods chose a new ruler ✅
Question:
The emperor ignores peasant rebellions, continues war with neighboring states, and builds statues of himself. According to the Mandate of Heaven, which of the following is the best claim?
A. His strong military will protect his rule
B. His actions may prove he is unfit to rule
C. The gods reward bold emperors
B. His actions may prove he is unfit to rule ✅
Question:
A former peasant leads a successful rebellion, restores order, lowers taxes, and ends corruption. Why would people accept him as emperor?
A. He was secretly from a noble family
B. He ruled through fear
C. His success showed Heaven approved of his rule
C. His success showed Heaven approved of his rule ✅