wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

WWII in the Pacific Quiz

Total questions: 43

Worksheet time: 43mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The U.S. military strategy in which bombers would pound an island with bombs, but ground troops would pass that island by to attack an island that was less-well defended. The goal was to force the enemy Japanese to retreat to their home islands.

a)

Island Hopping

b)

Atomic Bomb

2.

A type of bomb that uses atomic reactions to create a massive explosion. The U.S. dropped them on Japan to end WWII.

a)

Island Hopping

b)

Atomic Bomb

3.

The war in Europe was fought the same way as the war in the Pacific.

a)

True

b)

False

4.

After General MacArthur left his troops, captured by the Japanese, he feared he would never return back to save them.

a)

True

b)

False

5.

A Japanese admiral was very optimistic about Japanese success in WWII.

a)

True

b)

False

6.

The Battle of the Midway was America’s first victory over Japan.

a)

True

b)

False

7.

The closer America got to Japan, the more Japan started to give up.

a)

True

b)

False

8.

The atomic bomb was given the code name “Atomic Project” to keep other countries from finding out what they were creating.

a)

True

b)

False

9.

President Truman made the hard decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan.

a)

True

b)

False

10.

The first atomic bomb, dropped on August 6, 1945 was nicknamed 'Little Boy' and was dropped on what city in Japan?

a)

Hiroshima

b)

Nagasaki

c)

Tokyo

d)

Kobe

11.

The second atomic bomb, dropped on August 9, 1945 was nicknamed 'Fat Man' and was dropped on what city in Japan?

a)

Hiroshima

b)

Nagasaki

c)

Tokyo

d)

Kobe

12.

After the devastating atomic bombing, Japan surrendered to the Allies on.....

a)

August 6, 1945

b)

August 9, 1945

c)

August 14, 1945

d)

September 2, 1945

13.

V-J Day is known for "Victory Over Japan" is celebrated on which date?

a)

August 6, 1945

b)

August 9, 1945

c)

August 14, 1945

d)

September 2, 1945

14.

Why is the economic cost of the war difficult to determine?

a)

because there was so much property damage

b)

because so many nations participated in the war (directly or indirectly)

c)

because no nation kept track of the economic cost

15.

Which best describes Island Hopping?

a)

Taking the Pacific island-by-island to get closer to Japan

b)

Attacking the Japanese mainland's surrounding islands in quick succession

c)

Attacking and retreating to different islands to distract the Japanese navy

d)

The vacation we all wish we had for spring break

16.

Which of these is NOT a reason the US want to take islands closer to Japan? (Choose the one which is NOT a reason!)

a)

To use island airfields to bomb mainland Japan

b)

To gain control of more of the Pacific Ocean

c)

To force Japanese forces back towards Japan

d)

To turn them into vacation spots for US forces

17.

What was the US strategy in the Pacific?

a)

Attack Japanese mainland head on

b)

Attack Japanese in China

c)

Split the attack, one looks to take the Philippines, the other takes small Pacific islands

d)

All out naval warfare in the Pacific with no ground war

18.

How did the Battle of Midway end?

a)

Decisive win for the Japanese, US would take years to recover

b)

Decisive win for the US, a major turning point in the war

c)

Stalemate, neither side could win

d)

Decisive win for the Japanese, US retreats to Pearl Harbor

19.

What was Admiral Nimitz's plan, having known the attack on Midway was coming?

a)

Have aircraft carriers on standby to ambush the Japanese

b)

Meet the Japanese forces before they could reach Midway

c)

Do nothing, he was unable to prepare for the surprise attack

d)

Send all of his forces away to let the Japanese take an empty base

20.

What major advantage did the US have at the Battle of Midway?

a)

They knew the attack was coming

b)

The Japanese didn't know the Americans were coming

c)

They were still angry after Pearl Harbor

d)

The Japanese had no aircraft

21.

What was the bombing of Tokyo after Pearl Harbor called?

a)

Tokyo Raid

b)

Doolittle Raid

c)

Hiroshima Raid

d)

Pearl Harbor Raid

22.

One strategy the Japanese wanted to do was to attack the US fleet at Midway. What was the other?

a)

Cut off supply lines through the Coral Sea

b)

Attack Alaska to prepare to attack the US mainland

c)

Cut off supply lines in the Indian Ocean

d)

Attack the ports of Los Angeles and San Francisco

23.

Why was the US able to recover so quickly from the Pearl Harbor attacks?

a)

Aircraft Carriers were not at Pearl Harbor

b)

Japan ended the attack early

c)

The attacks on Pearl Harbor didn't affect the US much

24.

What was a major concern of scientists who left Nazi Germany for the United States before World War II?

a)

They feared Germany would pass the US in industrial production.

b)

They feared Germany was trying to develop nuclear weapons.

c)

They did not think Germany wanted to develop nuclear weapons.

d)

They did not think Germany was paying attention to their work.

25.

What was the result of the Trinity Test in 1945?

a)

Japan was convinced to surrender to the Allies.

b)

The US government shut down the Manhattan Project.

c)

Scientists realized how powerful the nuclear bomb was.

d)

Scientists persuaded the US to use the bomb on Germany.

26.

Who was in charge of US forces in Japan following World War II?

a)

the US Congress

b)

President Truman

c)

General Eisenhower

d)

General MacArthur

27.

How did the US change the government of Japan after World War II?

a)

It created a democratic government.

b)

It barred former soldiers from voting.

c)

It put Japan’s military in charge.

d)

It allowed the emperor to gain more power.

28.

What battles in the Pacific are considered "turning point" battles?

a)

Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima

b)

Okinawa, Coral Sea

c)

Guadalcanal, Midway

d)

Midway, Pearl Harbor

29.

What was the role Okinawa played in the decision to use the atomic bomb?

a)

Projected American casualties were too high

b)

The US had spent a lot of money building it

c)

The Japanese were refusing to surrender

d)

The Japanese were using civilians as targets

30.

What made Okinawa different from other amphibious operations in the Pacific?

a)

It took longer to win than expected

b)

Japanese used caves to fight

c)

The Japanese refused to surrender

d)

Civilians were present

31.

Rank the battles, according to American casualties (least to greatest)

a)

Guadalcanal

Iwo Jima

Okinawa

b)

Iwo Jima

Guadalcanal

Okinawa

c)

Okinawa

Iwo Jima

Guadalcanal

d)

Okinawa

Guadalcanal

Iwo Jima

32.

Which detail is NOT correct about the American B-29 bombing of Japan in 1944-45?

a)

They flew from Tinian and Saipan

b)

They used bombs that burned cities

c)

The U.S. intentionally killed civilians in their bombing raids

d)

The U.S. tried high altitude bombing, but it was a failure

33.

What detail is not correct about the B-29 Superfortress?

a)

It was built by Boeing

b)

They had pressurized cabins

c)

They could carry a 20,000 lb load

d)

They had a distance of about 10,000 miles

34.

What type of warfare did the Marines perfect in battles like Guadalcanal?

a)

Jungle fighting

b)

Amphibious warfare

c)

Night warfare

d)

Air-to-ground attacks

35.

Identify the best answer: Why did Japan attack Midway?

a)

To destroy the American fleet

b)

To stop future American raids on Japanese territory

c)

To prepare for an invasion of Hawaii

d)

It was trying to expand its power in the Pacific

36.

How/why did the Amerians ultimately win at Midway

a)

They had better planes

b)

Yamamoto did not anticipate American carrier planes

c)

Americans had more carrier-based planes to attack with

d)

American intel cracked their codes

37.

Midway was important because...

a)

It swung the balance of power to the U.S.

b)

Wiped out much of the Japanese navy

c)

Japan had to start using kamikazes

d)

The Japanese couldn't win

38.

What pivotal naval battle occurred in June 1942?

a)

The Battle of the Coral Sea

b)

The Battle of Midway

c)

The Battle of Guadalcanal

d)

Other

39.

Who became the naval commander, based in Pearl Harbor, immediately after Pearl Harbor?

a)

Admiral Kimmel

b)

Admiral Halsey

c)

Admiral Nimitz

d)

Admiral Smith

40.

Why did Japan PLAN the attack at Pearl Harbor?

a)

The US had put an embargo on oil & fuel

b)

The US was pro-China

c)

Japan anticipated war w/ the US

d)

Japan wanted to eliminate the American threat to their power

41.

The United States stationed its Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii because...

a)

just in case it was needed to get to the US territory of the Philippines

b)

To antagonize the Japanese

c)

To project American power in the Central Pacific

d)

In the hopes that Japan would attack it

42.

What was Japan's goal in the Pacific?

a)

A) To establish naval superiority.

b)

B) To defend instead of taking an offensive position.

c)

C) To establish air superiority.

d)

D) Both A and C.

43.

What was a result of the Manhattan Project?

a)

The U.S. failed to weaponize nuclear energy.

b)

The Atomic Age was ushered in.