Question: The Seven Years' War was fought between 1755 and 1764, the main conflict occurring in the seven-year period from 1756 to 1763. It involved every great power of the time except the Ottoman Empire, and affected Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. Considered a prelude to the two world wars and the greatest European war since the Thirty Years War of the 17th century, it once again split Europe into two coalitions, led by Great Britain on one side and France on the other. For the first time, aiming to curtail Britain and Prussia's ever-growing might, France formed a grand coalition of its own, which ended with failure as Britain rose as the world's predominant power, altering the European balance of power.

Realizing that war was imminent, Prussia preemptively struck Saxony and quickly overran it. The result caused uproar across Europe. Because of Prussia's alliance with Britain, Austria formed an alliance with France, seeing an opportunity to recapture Silesia, which had been lost in a previous war. Reluctantly, by following the imperial diet, most of the states of the empire joined Austria's cause. The Anglo-Prussian alliance was joined by smaller German states (especially Hanover). Sweden, fearing Prussia's expansionist tendencies, went to war in 1757 to protect its Baltic dominions, seeing its chance when virtually all of Europe opposed Prussia. Spain, bound by the Pacte de Famille, intervened on behalf of France and together they launched an utterly unsuccessful invasion of Portugal in 1762. The Russian Empire was originally aligned with Austria, fearing Prussia's ambition on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but switched sides upon the succession of Tsar Peter III in 1762. 1. How long did the Seven Years' War last?
2. When did it start?
3. When did it end?
4. Why was it called the Seven Years' War?
5. Who were the leaders of the two alliances?
6. Who came out ahead?
7. Who fired the first shot?
8. Who did most of the Holy Roman Empire join?
9. Who did Russia join?
10. Who attacked Portugal?
11. Who won?
12. Which major European power stayed neutral?
13. What was this war a prequel of?
14. Why did Austria join?
15. Which state was the first to be defeated?
16. What was India's role?
17. What ruler's rise changed the balance of power significantly?
18. Whom did Prussia have its eye on? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Nine years
2. 1755
3. 1764
4. Because the main part of the conflict happened from 1756-1763.
5. Great Britain and France
6. Great Britain
7. Prussia
8. France
9. Both
10. Spain and France
11. Portugal
12. Ottoman Empire
13. The World Wars
14. To recapture Silesia.
15. Saxony
16. unknown
17. Tsar Peter III
18. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Question: Ibn Sina created an extensive corpus of works during what is commonly known as the Islamic Golden Age, in which the translations of Greco-Roman, Persian, and Indian texts were studied extensively. Greco-Roman (Mid- and Neo-Platonic, and Aristotelian) texts translated by the Kindi school were commented, redacted and developed substantially by Islamic intellectuals, who also built upon Persian and Indian mathematical systems, astronomy, algebra, trigonometry and medicine. The Samanid dynasty in the eastern part of Persia, Greater Khorasan and Central Asia as well as the Buyid dynasty in the western part of Persia and Iraq provided a thriving atmosphere for scholarly and cultural development. Under the Samanids, Bukhara rivaled Baghdad as a cultural capital of the Islamic world.

The study of the Quran and the Hadith thrived in such a scholarly atmosphere. Philosophy, Fiqh and theology (kalaam) were further developed, most noticeably by Avicenna and his opponents. Al-Razi and Al-Farabi had provided methodology and knowledge in medicine and philosophy. Avicenna had access to the great libraries of Balkh, Khwarezm, Gorgan, Rey, Isfahan and Hamadan. Various texts (such as the 'Ahd with Bahmanyar) show that he debated philosophical points with the greatest scholars of the time. Aruzi Samarqandi describes how before Avicenna left Khwarezm he had met Al-Biruni (a famous scientist and astronomer), Abu Nasr Iraqi (a renowned mathematician), Abu Sahl Masihi (a respected philosopher) and Abu al-Khayr Khammar (a great physician). 1. What field of science is Al-Biruni know for?
2. What field is Nasr Iraqi known for?
3. Who is a respected philosopher that is known to have met with Avicenna?
4. Who is a great physician that is known to have met with Avicenna?
5. What dynasty was in in the eastern part of Persia, Greater Khorasan and Central Asia?
6. What dynasty was in the western part of Persia and Iraq?
7. What was one important cultural center of the Islamic world during the Islamic Golden Age?
8. What was another?
9. Was the Quran studied during the Islamic Golden Age?
10. How about the Hadith? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. astronomy
2. mathematics
3. Abu Sahl Masihi
4. Abu al-Khayr Khammar
5. Samanid
6. Buyid
7. Bukhara
8. Baghdad
9. yes
10. yes

Question: "My dear lady," says Holmes. "You're shaking. Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea?" "I'm not cold," the woman replies, "I fear for my life!" "We are here to help you. Don't worry about anything. I don't know you. But I know many things about you. For example, I know how you travel. You came to London by train. You also ride to the train station on a horse-drawn wagon ."[:] "Why, yes. You're right. But how do you know these things?" "I see a return ticket in your glove. I see fresh mud on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem." "My name is Helen Stoner," she states, "My mother and father are dead. I am living with my stepfather , Dr Grimesby Roylott. He comes from a rich family. But they are no longer rich. They have nothing except a small piece of land and a big old house. We are living in the house. Dr Roylott is using my mother's money for expenses . Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages." Holmes is sitting in his chair. His eyes are closed. He is listening carefully to Helen's story. He hears every detail. Helen continues. "My stepfather has no friends. He fights with everyone. He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him." "He has no friends at all?" asks Holmes. "No. He talks to no one except the gypsies . They are poor people who travel from place to place. A band of gypsies is staying on our land right now." "Are you and your sister afraid of the gypsies?" "My dear Mr Holmes. You are making me so sad. My sister is dead. That is why I am standing here in this room." 1. who syas my dear lady ?
2. whos My mother and father are dead ?
3. who is listening carefully to Helen's story ?
4. Does the stepfather have friends ?
5. who fights with everyone ?
6. is everyone afrad of him ?
7. who is staying on the land right now ?
8. who is making her so sad ?
9. how did they get to london ?
10. who travels from place to place ? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. Holmes
2. Helen Stoner
3. Holmes
4. Grimesby Roylott. He comes from a rich family. But they are no longer rich. They have nothing except a small piece of land and
5. stepfather
6. yes
7. A band of gypsies
8. Holmes
9. by train
10. gypsies