AccelePrep for the ACT Test 2nd Edition Student Text

C HAPTER 3 | T RY I T O UT ! E NGLISH P RACTICE • 65

Tradition Preservation During Meiji Restoration Instead of casting aside traditional values during the Meiji Restoration of 1888, those who strove to dismantle feudalism and to modernize the country chose to preserve three traditions as the foundations on which they could build a modern Japan upon. 16 16 The oldest tradition and basis of the entire Japanese value system was respect for and even worshipping the emperor. During the early centuries 17 17 Being later subordinated to imported Buddhism and Confucianism, Shintoism was perpetuated in Ise and Izumo, the great shrines of the Imperial family, until the Meiji modernizers established it as a quasi-state religion to unify the people and restore the emperor as the symbol of national unity and the object of loyalty to the Japanese. Another tradition was the hierarchical system of social relations based on feudalism. Confucianism 19 20 of Japanese history, the Shinto cult, in which the Imperial family traced its ancestry to the Sun Goddess, became the people’s sustaining faith. 18 18 18

16. F. NO CHANGE G. on which they could be building a modern Japan upon H. upon which they could build a modern Japan J. upon which they someday could probably build a modern Japan 17. A. NO CHANGE B. respecting and even worshipping C. respect for and even worship of D. respect and even worship 18. F. NO CHANGE G. the Imperial family got its ancestry traced back to the Sun Goddess H. the Imperial family’s ancestry was traced back to the Sun Goddess J. the Sun Goddess was considered to be the ancestor of the Imperial family 19. A. NO CHANGE B. Later subordinated C. Later subordinated, D. Subordinated later,

20. F. NO CHANGE G. the Japanese had H. by the Japanese J. for the Japanese