China

Directions:  Read the following NY Times Upfront article on The China Challenge. When you have finished the article, please click on Watch the Video  in the lower left hand corner of page 12. Then, answer the following questions:

 1.  Explain the relationship between the United States and China, both historic and present.

2.  What American president re-established diplomatic relations with China in 1972?

3.  Explain the major differences between China and the United States.

4.  What leader led a communist revolution and took control of China in 1949?

5.  How did the economy fair under his leadership?

6.  What changed under Deng Xiaoping in 1978 that transformed China’s economy?

7.  Explain how China can have the world’s second largest GDP, and be growing at a rate three times that of the US, yet still have a per capita GDP of nearly $40,000 less than America.

8.  Why do American colleges continue to admit Chinese students?

9.  How does the growing Chinese economy and number of students coming to college in America affect you and other Americans of your generation?

10.  How does cheap labor in China impact America?

11.  Why is the relationship between the United States and China still rocky?

12.  What happened in China in 1989 that drew international condemnation and American economic sanctions?

13.   What problems come with the increased urbanization in China?

14. How has China’s growing economy impacted the rest of the world?

15. Vice President Biden believes the United States will rise to the “China Challenge”.  What reasons does he give?

16.  Based on what you know, where would you rather live, America or China?  Explain. Do you believe your answer will be the same in 20 years?  Explain.