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10.8 Recent World Conflicts and Contemporary Issues

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 29mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Many conflicts in the Middle East during the post–World War II period have directly resulted from

a)

the dissolution of the Arab League

b)

border clashes between Iran and China

c)

disputes related to Palestine

d)

the partition of Egypt

2.

A major source of the dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians is that each side

a)

wants to control oil resources in the area

b)

has historic ties to the same land

c)

believes in different interpretations of the same religion

d)

has close military alliances with neighboring countries

3.

The movement started by journalist Theodor Herzl to promote an independent Jewish state in Palestine is referred to as

a)

the Reconquista

b)

the Diaspora

c)

Utopianism

d)

Zionism

4.

"His majesty's government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national homeland for the Jewish people . . . it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the religious and civil rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine. " — Lord Balfour, 1917

Which historical movement is most directly related to Lord Balfour's statement?

a)

International Zionism

b)

Organization for African Unity

c)

Pan Slavism

d)

Pan Slavism

5.

A major cause of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 was the concern by Islamic leaders that

a)

traditional values were being undermined

by Western ideas

b)

women were being denied political rights

c)

Israel had lost its influence in the Middle

East

d)

religious leaders were becoming too

powerful

6.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran was a reaction to the failure of Shah Reza Pahlevi to

a)

modernize the nation's economy

b)

meet the social and political needs of the

people

c)

establish political ties with Western

nations

d)

supply the military with advanced

weapons technology

7.

"We advocate a government based on legal principles established in the Koran (Qur'an)."

Which political event would most likely be associated with this statement?

a)

Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949

b)

unification of Germany in 1990

c)

election of Nelson Mandela as President

of South Africa in 1994

d)

overthrow of the Shah of Iran in 1979

8.

The Sepoy Mutiny in India, the Boxer Rebellion in China, and the Islamic Revolution in Iran were similar in that they

a)

restored power to the hereditary

monarchies

b)

attempted to reject the traditional cultures

in these countries

c)

resisted foreign influence in these

countries

d)

reestablished the power of religious

leaders

9.

In the 1970s, when Iran was ruled by the Shah, the Ayatollah Khomeini's major criticism was of the

a)

shah's friendship with the Soviet Union

b)

non-Islamic influences on the culture and

economy

c)

return to traditional Islamic law

d)

lack of political and social rights for

women

10.

Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin, and Slobodan Milosevic were similar in that each leader supported actions that

a)

modernized their economies

b)

introduced democratic ideas

c)

supported minority rights

d)

violated human rights

11.

A study of Spain during the late 1400s, the Balkan States during the early 1900s, Rwanda during the 1990s, and Central Asia today shows that

a)

ethnic conflicts have been a recurring issue in history

b)

civil disobedience is an effective way to bring about change

c)

people have been encouraged to question tradition

d)

colonial rule has a lasting legacy

12.

A major factor that continues to contribute to terrorist activities in the Middle East is

a)

a decrease in crude oil prices on the world market

b)

the Palestinian effort to establish a homeland

c)

the presence of United Nations forces in Syria

d)

the worldwide rejection of violence as a means to end conflict

13.

In 2003, the United States and Great Britain invaded Iraq. At the time, which two reasons did these allies give for this invasion?

a)

Iraq was threatening war with Saudi Arabia.

Iraq had not had free elections for a number of years.

b)

Iraq had oil needed by the United States and Great Britain.

Iraq was threatening to cut off oil supplies to both countries.

c)

Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that threatened nations around the world.

Iraq sponsored world terrorism.

d)

Iraq’s leader was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Iraq’s army held Americans hostage for almost a year

14.

What is the main idea of this 2001 cartoon?

a)

The main task in fighting terrorism is to eliminate nuclear weapons

b)

The battle against terrorism will be long and difficult

c)

New equipment is needed to eliminate terrorism

d)

The methods of dealing with

global terrorism have created consensus

15.

What is one explanation for the great change in the world population between 1950 and 2000?

a)

Family planning was successful.

b)

There was an absence of war and conflict.

c)

New medicines and technology were discovered and applied.

d)

Famine and other natural disasters increased.