Life in the Early Middle Ages Answers

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Read this excerpt from a book that describes clothing in medieval Europe.Nobles, including lords and ladies, often were dressed in rich-colored clothing, sometimes even with golden thread. Dyeing clothes was very expensive at the time; therefore, only the wealthy could afford to have clothing made with vibrant colors. Peasants wore un-dyed clothes in browns and grays mostly for two reasons: they were inexpensive, and because peasants worked the land, dirt was less predominant and the clothes were easier to clean.On the basis of this excerpt, what can a reader conclude about noble women and peasant women?

A
Peasant women had no interest in fine clothing.
B
It was easy to distinguish between noble and peasant women at a glance.
C
Noble women were concerned only with their wealth and status.
D
It was unlikely that a peasant woman could ever become a noble woman.
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Which correctly identifies the connection between peasants and serfs?

A
Most peasants were also serfs.
B
Serfs were always above peasants in the medieval hierarchy.
C
Serfs worked in the manor house, and peasants worked on the land.
D
Serfs had more freedom than peasants.
3

How could serfs move up from the bottom of the social hierarchy?

A
They could prove themselves in battle.
B
They had to serve as a serf for a certain number of years.
C
They had to be freed by their lord.
D
They could marry into a higher level of the hierarchy.
4

A manor house was useful because it was a

A
place where tenants of the manor could stay.
B
center for the administration of the community.
C
place for peasants and vassals to gather for meals.
D
center for learning for the surrounding areas.
5

What brought an end to the system of serf labor?

A
Lords found cheaper workers for their lands.
B
Peasants replaced serfs in the fields.
C
Workers were in short supply.
D
Lords decided serf labor was unfair.
6

What made a knight most valuable to a lord?

A
the knight’s skills as a warrior
B
the knight’s power to influence the king
C
the knight’s ability to farm the land
D
the knight’s loyalty to the church
7

Which best describes the homes in which peasants lived?

A
The homes were close to the manor village.
B
The homes were well built and safe.
C
The homes provided shelter and plenty of privacy.
D
The homes housed both people and animals.
8

Read the excerpt from The Life of a Polish Peasant.Every farmer had first to do his dues at the manor house, whether with his team or on foot. Only then could he work his own land, sowing and reaping at night. No excuse as to pressing needs at home was of any use. If one did not appear as ordered, at once the overseer would come. If he found the wife busy cooking he would throw a pail of water on the fire.On the basis of the excerpt, why would an overseer throw water on a fire?

A
He wanted to help the peasants get their work done more quickly.
B
He thought the fire was a potential hazard to the manor.
C
He believed everyone should eat only at the manor house.
D
He disapproved of the peasants spending time on their own needs.

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