1. The success of Sumerian irrigation led directly to what major source of conflict between cities?
- A. Disputes over religious beliefs
- B. Competition for control of water
- C. Arguments about establishing trade routes
- D. Disagreements on proper farming techniques
2. What is the correct term for an independent Sumerian city that had its own government and controlled the surrounding farmland?
- A. An empire
- B. A province
- C. A city-state
- D. A farming village
3. In addition to building strong walls from mud bricks, what other defensive feature did Sumerians often create around their cities?
- A. Tall watchtowers made from scarce wood and stone
- B. A system of underground tunnels for citizens to escape
- C. Large ditches filled with water, which were known as moats
- D. A series of smaller forts built in the nearby hills for defense
4. What was the primary function of the high walls built around Sumerian cities?
- A. To provide shade from the hot sun
- B. To protect against rival communities
- C. To prevent the river from flooding the city
- D. To mark boundaries for religious festivals
5. Why were man-made walls so essential for the defense of Sumerian cities on the plains?
- A. The plains lacked natural barriers
- B. They were required by religious law
- C. They helped to control seasonal floods
- D. There was an abundance of mud for bricks
6. In ancient Sumer, what was the main function of the canals that farmers dug?
- A. To guide river water to their fields during dry periods.
- B. To create moats around their cities for protection.
- C. To drain swampland to create more area for building houses.
- D. To raise fish for an additional food source.
7. What is the general term for the system of levees and canals that the Sumerians created to control water for their farms?
- A. A drainage system
- B. An irrigation system
- C. A fortification system
- D. A transportation network
8. To solve the problem of their fields becoming too dry after the flood season, what technology did Sumerian farmers invent to bring water from the rivers?
- A. Waterproof baskets
- B. Dug-out canals
- C. Stone aqueducts
- D. Animal-powered water wheels
9. What was the primary environmental challenge that led Sumerian farmers to develop new technologies for managing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers?
- A. The rivers were too deep to cross safely.
- B. The water supply was unreliable, causing both floods and droughts.
- C. The river water was too salty to use on crops.
- D. The rivers frequently changed their course each year.
10. Sumerians built levees, which were large walls made of earth. What was the main purpose of these structures?
- A. To serve as roads between villages.
- B. To create a barrier to stop invading armies.
- C. To prevent the rivers from overflowing and flooding the fields.
- D. To store grain and other food supplies safely.