wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

The Cold War Exam 2021

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which two countries were allied during World War II but NOT after the war?

a)

United States, Great Britain

b)

Italy, France

c)

France, Great Britain

d)

United States, Soviet Union

2.

Which statement describes a major challenge faced by Ronald Reagan when he took office in 1981?

a)

The Great Depression had left more than half of Americans unemployed.

b)

The United States and the Soviet Union had been involved in the Cold War for about four decades.

c)

World War II had just begun, and America was at war with Germany and its allies.

d)

Schools had recently become integrated and racial tensions were high in the U.S.

3.

Which line stated in a 1987 speech reflects America's stance on Cold War issues during that time?

a)

“An iron curtain has descended across the continent.” (Winston Churchill)

b)

"The EU is the old Soviet Union dressed in Western clothes." (Mikhail Gorbachev)

c)

“Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” (Ronald Reagan)

d)

“Republicans are men of narrow vision, who are afraid of the future." (Jimmy Carter)

4.

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 came to an end when

a)

the Soviet Union agreed to withdraw its nuclear missiles from Cuba.

b)

CIA-backed rebels were defeated by the Cuban army at the Bay of Pigs.

c)

the United Nations allowed the US to install nuclear missiles in Key West.

d)

a nuclear disarmament plan for the US and the Soviet Union was agreed upon.

5.

How did the domino theory influence the United States' role in the Vietnam War?

a)

It convinced the government to become involved in the war.

b)

It forced the United States to support the Vietcong.

c)

The United States adopted a position of neutrality.

d)

Vietnamization became the new U.S. foreign policy.

6.

Which event took place LAST?

a)

Warsaw Pact ends

b)

Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine

c)

Soviet forces withdraw from Afghanistan

d)

Gorbachev becomes President of Soviet Union

7.

Although Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of "perestroika" was intended to restructure the economy it helped to bring about the end of the Cold War because

a)

the U.S. and the Soviet Union signed a trade agreement that resulted in a truce between the two nations.

b)

allowing free market trade caused the communist economic system to collapse and left elites controlling the wealth.

c)

the military refused to support capitalism and assassinated Gorbachev.

d)

supporters of the reforms began to dismantle the military and sell off weapons to Cuba.

8.

Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, communism flourished in what country?

a)

China

b)

North Korea

c)

South Korea

d)

Vietnam

9.

In order to break the Soviet blockade against West Berlin in 1948, the United States and Great Britain

a)

blockaded Cuba in retaliation to Soviet actions.

b)

broke off all diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.

c)

instituted an economic boycott of all imported Soviet goods.

d)

began an airlift designed to keep West Berlin supplied with goods.

10.

The first man-made satellite to be placed into orbit was

a)

a military spy satellite launched by China.

b)

a telecommunications satellite from France

c)

the Soviet Union\'s Sputnik I in 1957.

d)

the United States\' Explorer I in 1958.

11.

The Domino Theory during the post-World War II era that

a)

the youth of the United States were quickly losing their moral foundation

b)

if one country falls to communism, countries around it would soon fall to communism.

c)

once humans established a base on the moon, exploration of the planets would quickly follow

d)

if one southern state would repeal its segregation laws, states around it would do the same

12.

"I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.


I believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own way.


I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes."


- President Harry S Truman, March 12, 1947


This speech by President Truman represents which Cold War policy of the United States?

a)

containment

b)

brinkmanship

c)

nuclear disarmament

d)

mutually assured destruction

13.

Which political organization was MOST associated with the "iron curtain" countries?

a)

OPEC

b)

NATO

c)

Warsaw Pact

d)

United Nations

14.

All of these were associated with the Cold War EXCEPT

a)

the sinking of the Lusitania

b)

the nuclear arms race

c)

the Berlin Airlift

d)

the space race

15.

After the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I in 1957, the United States responded by

a)

blockading East Berlin

b)

buying their rocket technology

c)

attempting to shoot down its missiles

d)

increase funding to its own space porgram

16.

Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

- Ronald Reagan, 1987


In this Reagan quote, the "wall" to which the President refers is located in the city of

a)

Berlin

b)

France

c)

Korea

d)

Moscow

17.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of decades of _______________ rule in the nation.

a)

communist

b)

socialist

c)

capitalist

d)

fascist

18.

In order to break the Soviet blockade against West Berlin in 1948, the United States and Great Britain

a)

blockaded Cuba in retaliation to Soviet actions

b)

began an airlift designed to keep West Berlin supplied with goods

c)

instituted an economic boycott of all imported Soviet goods

d)

broke off all diplomatic relations

19.

After the fighting in the Korean War ended in 1953,

a)

Communists controlled all of Korea

b)

Communists lost all of control of Korea

c)

the North remained in control by Communists

d)

the South remained in control by Communists

20.

The so-called "Truman Doctrine" was specifically designed to aid

a)

people who were in poverty

b)

states trying to integrate their schools

c)

countries trying to resist the spread of communism

d)

countries who help the U.S. in Vietnam

21.

The original purpose of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was to

a)

prevent another world war

b)

create free trade to all nations

c)

limit pollution and exploitation of natural resources

d)

provide for a defense pact against Soviet agression

22.

The Marshall Plan was important because it

a)

checked Soviet power in Cuba

b)

secured allies for the United States

c)

was never ratified by the U.S. Congress

d)

helped Communists countries rebuild after the war

23.

Which of these was the most noticeable symbol of the "Iron Curtain"?

a)

Great Wall

b)

Berlin Wall

c)

38th Parallel

d)

17th Parallel

24.
  • Poland
  • Hungary
  • East Germany
  • Czechoslavakia


Which of these was a common theme amongst the countries listed following World War II?

a)

They all joined NATO

b)

They all came under Soviet control

c)

They refused to make peace with Germany

d)

They refused to make peace with the Soviets.

25.

In a video with Tom Brokaw, what were the people's actions after the Berlin Wall was brought down"

a)

They went back into their homes because the fear of East German soldiers

b)

They were dancing and celebrating the end of communist rule

c)

They were killing communist soldiers as the wall was being torn down

d)

The people were crying because no one looked

26.

"It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union."


Which president found himself in a "showdown" with Nikita Khrushchev over the issue of Soviet missile bases in Cuba?

a)

John F. Kennedy

b)

George HW Bush

c)

Barack H. Obama

d)

Ronald Reagan

27.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. President ____ and Soviet leader ____ almost took the world into a nuclear war.

a)

Carter, Brezhnev

b)

Reagan, Gorbachev

c)

Johnson, Krushchev

d)

Kennedy, Krushchev

28.

Which group was created during the Cold War to unify all of the member countries against communist aggression?

a)

Warsaw Pact

b)

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

c)

United Nations

d)

League of Nations

29.

Which of these countries was a member of the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War?

a)

Hungary

b)

Denmark

c)

Norway

d)

Finland

30.

The United States’ policy of "containment" during the Cold War held that it was of vital importance to keep Communism from spreading.


In which conflict was containment successful?

a)

The Korean War

b)

The Communist Revolution

c)

The Cuban Missile Crisis

d)

The Vietnam War

31.

Which country’s leaders would be more likely to agree with this statement?

“From each according to his ability to each according to his need is a good principle of economics.”

a)

USSR

b)

USA

c)

East Germany

d)

Italy

32.

During the Cold War, which nation's political and economic ideologies were communism and socialism?

a)

USSR

b)

Italy

c)

USA

d)

France

33.

"They should be given the chance to select their own government – government made by the people. Democracy will prevent further wars." Which Cold War leader would be in agreement with this argument?

a)

Mao Ze-dong

b)

Adolf Hitler

c)

Harry S. Truman

d)

Joseph Stalin

34.

The US, Britain and France created West Germany out of their occupation zones with a ______________ govt.

a)

Communist

b)

Fascist

c)

Absolute Monarchy

d)

Democratic

35.

At the ___________ ______________, the allies were in disagreement over Germany. Roosevelt and Churchill wanted countries that were freed from Nazi rule to set up their own democratic and capitalistic governments. Stalin countries freed by the Soviet Union from Nazi rule to be communist countries.

a)

Berlin Conference

b)

Palace of Versailles

c)

Nuremberg Trials

d)

Yalta Conference

36.

The US, Britain and France flew supplies into West Berlin (1948-1949) to support anti-communist groups. This was known as the ___________ ____________.

a)

Berlin Blockade

b)

Naval attacks

c)

Berlin Airlift

d)

Bombing by sophisticated Air Force

37.

What was the purpose of the United Nations at its founding?

a)

to protect international trade and the global economy

b)

to aid the rebuilding of Europe

c)

to prevent the spread of communism

d)

to prevent future wars and settle global conflicts

38.

How did the US, Britain, and France respond to a blockade of West Berlin by the Soviet Union?

a)

They declared war on the Soviet Union.

b)

They backed down and allowed the Soviets to seize control of all of Berlin.

c)

They started a bombing campaign against the Soviet Union.

d)

They flew supplies from their occupation zones of Germany to West Berlin.

39.

The darkly colored nations on this map represent the members of what organization?

a)

Warsaw Pact

b)

North American Treaty Organization (NATO)

c)

SEATCO

d)

CENTO

40.

The darkly colored nations represent what Cold War organization?

a)

Warsaw Pact

b)

NATO

c)

Berlin-Axis Alliance

d)

CENTO

41.

What were Poland, Bulgaria, Albania, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia to the Soviet Union during the Cold War?

a)

The nations that helped start the NASA Space Program

b)

Enemies of the Communist Party

c)

New members of the United Nations

d)

Satellite States

42.

The idea of one nation falling into communism then its neighboring countries will fall into communism as well is known as the ____________ ____________.

a)

Warsaw Pact

b)

Domino Theory

c)

United Nations

d)

Nuremberg Laws

43.

How did the Soviet Union attempt to spread communism in areas like Africa, Asia and Latin America?

a)

It prevented nations from joining and receiving aid from the United Nations.

b)

It offered economic and military support in areas already going through revolutions.

c)

It invaded nations that bordered the Soviet Union and its satellite states.

d)

It created communist universities that slowly influenced policies in many nations.

44.

How did the Yalta Conference directly impact Germany after World War II?

a)

It was decided that Germany would be divided into occupied zones.

b)

It was decided that Germany would be allowed to remain independent.

c)

It was decided that Germany would be dissolved.

d)

It was decided that Germany would be occupied by the Soviet Union.

45.

Fidel Castro, dictator of Cuba, with the aid of the Soviet Union, tried to spread communism into _______________.

a)

Africa

b)

Asia

c)

Latin America

d)

South Pacific

46.

Which is the CORRECT interpretation of this Cold War political cartoon?

a)

The tense negotiations between the Cold War superpowers over the missile crisis.

b)

The annual war games between the US and the USSR.

c)

The stare down between the US and USSR over the Olympic Games Boycott.

d)

The United Nations first negotiations after it became the new organization for worldwide peace.

47.

What is the best interpretation of this political cartoon?

a)

The USSR threatening the world that it will blow up countries unless there is a satisfactory peace agreement.

b)

The UN watching over peace negotiations.

c)

The presence of nuclear weapons is the motivation for worldwide peace negotiations.

d)

No matter what, the nuclear war threat will be present.

48.

What does this image depict in relation to the Cold War?

a)

Arms Race

b)

Space Race

c)

End of Cold War

d)

Beginning of the Cold War

49.

What did Winston Churchill mean when he described Eastern Europe as being behind the "Iron Curtain"?

a)

The countries in Eastern Europe were made stronger due to the communist influence

b)

The communist countries built a physical wall between Eastern and Western Europe

c)

The areas under communist control thrived due to a strong military presence in Eastern Europe

d)

The areas under communist control had significantly worse living conditions than those in Western Europe

50.

How did the Vietnam War end?

a)

The United States withdrew, and Vietnam was united under communist rule

b)

The United States defeated the North Vietnamese, and Vietnam was unified under democratic rule

c)

The two sides fought to a stalemate, leaving North and south Vietnam divided

d)

The Vietnam War ended in a peace treaty, and the two countries are allies today