The FALL of the SOVIET UNION [AP Euro Review—Unit 9 Topic 7]

What was the prevailing economic situation in the Soviet Union during Leonid Brezhnev's leadership in the late 1960s and 1970s?

• Rapid economic growth and improved living standards.

• A period of stagnation where economic realities contradicted official estimates of progress.

• Transition to a fully free-market economy.

• Significant increase in worker productivity due to new incentives.

Which of the following was a major drawback of the Soviet Union's planned economy?

• Consumers dictated manufacturing decisions, leading to overproduction.

• The government's centralized control led to inefficiency, waste, and declining worker productivity.

• It encouraged innovation and hard work among the labor force.

• It fostered strong competition among state-owned enterprises.

What significant event in 1972 exacerbated the Soviet Union's economic troubles and led to an unusual request for assistance?

• A massive industrial strike that halted production.

• A severe drought across Europe that prevented the Soviet government from feeding its people.

• A sudden drop in global oil prices, impacting Soviet exports.

• A widespread epidemic that reduced the workforce.

What was the primary objective of Mikhail Gorbachev's Glasnost policy?

• To introduce limited free-market elements into the Soviet economy.

• To suppress ethnic tensions and maintain strict government control.

• To encourage openness and allow citizens to freely discuss the problems facing the Soviet Union.

• To increase military spending and strengthen the Soviet Union's global influence.