- 1. Science and Civilisation in China, authored by Joseph Needham, is a monumental work that explores the rich history of scientific and technological advancements in China, examining how these developments influenced and were influenced by Chinese culture, philosophy, and societal structures. Needham, a British biochemist and historian, embarked on this extensive project in the mid-20th century, driven by his belief that the contributions of Chinese civilization to science had been largely overlooked in Western historiography. The first volume was published in 1954, and the series eventually expanded to several volumes, encompassing various aspects of Chinese innovation ranging from agriculture, astronomy, and mathematics to medicine and engineering. Notably, Needham posed the famous question: "Why did modern science, as we know it, not arise in China?" His analysis combines rigorous scholarship with an appreciation of the unique Chinese worldview, highlighting the interplay between science and philosophy in a society that diverged significantly from the Western experience. Through his work, Needham not only documents the significant achievements of ancient and medieval China but also challenges readers to reconsider the narrative of scientific progress as a linear and exclusively Western phenomenon, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of global advancements in science and technology.
What is the central focus of Joseph Needham's 'Science and Civilisation in China'?
A) Documenting China's scientific and technological achievements
B) Chinese religious and philosophical traditions
C) A biography of famous Chinese emperors
D) The political history of Chinese dynasties
- 2. What is the 'Needham Question' or 'Needham Problem'?
A) The origin of the Chinese writing system
B) Why the Chinese did not develop democracy
C) Why China was overtaken by the West in science and technology
D) How China invented gunpowder
- 3. In which century was the first volume of 'Science and Civilisation in China' published?
A) 19th century
B) 20th century (1954)
C) 18th century
D) 21st century
- 4. What was Joseph Needham's primary academic field before he began his study of China?
A) History
B) Biochemistry
C) Physics
D) Linguistics
- 5. Which Chinese term does Needham use to describe the concept of a law-governed universe, central to Chinese scientific thought?
A) Li
B) Yin and Yang
C) Qi
D) Dao
- 6. Needham's work argues that pre-modern China was often more technologically advanced than Europe in which area?
A) Architectural design
B) Military strategy
C) Hydraulic engineering
D) Theoretical physics
- 7. What is a 'South Pointing Chariot', a device Needham studied?
A) A mechanical directional compass
B) A ancient Chinese war chariot
C) A ceremonial vehicle for emperors
D) A device for measuring earthquakes
- 8. Needham's research significantly altered the historical understanding of the origins of which technology?
A) The wheel
B) Smelting iron
C) The arch
D) Printing
- 9. What does Needham cite as a possible factor in answering his famous 'Question'?
A) Geographic isolation
B) Inferior natural resources
C) A lack of intellectual curiosity
D) The nature of Chinese bureaucratic society
- 10. Which field of study was created largely as a result of Needham's work?
A) Comparative linguistics
B) Chinese economic theory
C) Asian biochemistry
D) The history of Chinese science
- 11. What was the original language of the vast majority of sources Needham used for his research?
A) Sanskrit
B) Classical Chinese
C) Latin
D) English
- 12. Which astronomical achievement of ancient China is detailed by Needham?
A) Detailed records of supernovae
B) The heliocentric model
C) Calculation of the Earth's circumference
D) Discovery of Jupiter's moons
- 13. Which concept, crucial to Chinese medicine, does Needham explore in depth?
A) Germ theory
B) DNA
C) The four humors
D) Qi (vital energy)
- 14. How many volumes did Needham plan for his original work?
A) 7
B) 12
C) 20
D) 3
- 15. What was Needham's professional background before studying Chinese science?
A) Biochemist
B) Physicist
C) Historian
D) Linguist
- 16. What mechanical device did Chinese engineers develop before Europe according to Needham?
A) The internal combustion engine
B) The electric motor
C) The steam engine
D) The escapement mechanism
- 17. What naval technology did China develop early according to Needham?
A) The nuclear submarine
B) The hydrofoil
C) The aircraft carrier
D) The sternpost rudder
- 18. What medical practice does Needham discuss as advanced in China?
A) Organ transplantation
B) Vaccination
C) Antibiotic development
D) Acupuncture
- 19. Which Chinese transportation innovation does Needham document?
A) The automobile
B) The wheelbarrow
C) The bullet train
D) The helicopter
- 20. What material for writing did China develop long before others?
A) Paper
B) Parchment
C) Vellum
D) Papyrus
- 21. Which Chinese military technology does Needham extensively cover?
A) Gunpowder weapons
B) Stealth aircraft
C) Nuclear weapons
D) Drone technology
- 22. What Chinese geographical work does Needham analyze?
A) The Mercator projection
B) The Yu Gong tribute
C) The Google Maps
D) The GPS system
- 23. What Chinese engineering project does Needham highlight?
A) The Grand Canal
B) The Great Wall
C) The Silk Road
D) The Three Gorges Dam
- 24. Which Chinese astronomical instrument does Needham describe?
A) The radio telescope
B) The electron microscope
C) The Hubble telescope
D) The armillary sphere
- 25. Which Chinese mathematical text does Needham analyze?
A) The Principia Mathematica
B) Elements of Geometry
C) The Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art
D) The Art of Computer Programming
- 26. What was the primary language of the original 'Science and Civilisation in China' publications?
A) French
B) Latin
C) Chinese
D) English
- 27. In which decade did the first volume of 'Science and Civilisation in China' appear?
A) 1950s
B) 1920s
C) 1970s
D) 1980s
- 28. Which Chinese device used rising smoke to measure time?
A) Incense clocks
B) Candle clocks
C) Sun dials
D) Water clocks
- 29. What is the ongoing project to continue Needham's work called?
A) The Cambridge China Centre
B) The Sino-Science Foundation
C) The Imperial Archives Project
D) The Needham Research Institute
- 30. Which Chinese dynasty is often cited in Needham's work for its significant technological advancements?
A) Qing Dynasty
B) Qin Dynasty
C) Ming Dynasty
D) Song Dynasty
- 31. Which field of Chinese science did Needham describe as highly advanced, including early recognition of the circulation of blood?
A) Physics
B) Astronomy
C) Chemistry
D) Medicine
- 32. Which Chinese polymath, known for his extensive writings on science, is frequently cited by Needham?
A) Sun Tzu
B) Laozi
C) Confucius
D) Shen Kuo
- 33. Which Chinese practice, involving the burning of herbs, is analyzed in the volume on medicine?
A) Moxibustion
B) Aromatherapy
C) Phlebotomy
D) Homeopathy
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