Question 1

What was a major consequence of invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine for Russia in 2014?
A)Increased Russian military spending undermined production for the consumer sector.
B)A surge in nationalism in Russia caused industrial production to rise.
C)Western sanctions and falling oil prices sent the economy into recession.
D)Raw materials from the occupied areas fueled a resurgence of Russian manufacturing.
E)Prices fell as the ruble gained value.

Accepted Answer

Western sanctions, combined with a significant drop in oil prices around the same time, had a substantial negative impact on the Russian economy, leading it into a recession.

Question 2

What is the last truly Stalinist regime left in the world?
A)Poland
B)Albania
C)Russia
D)North Korea
E)Venezuela

Accepted Answer

North Korea is widely considered the last truly Stalinist regime in the world, characterized by its totalitarian government, a centrally planned economy, and a strong emphasis on the cult of personality around its leaders, all of which are hallmarks of Stalinism.

Question 3

Of the following, which undermined privatization in Russia immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union?
A)Nostalgia for communism
B)Official inexperience with private business
C)Organized crime and corruption
D)Western subversion
E)Ethnic strife

Accepted Answer

Organized crime and corruption were rampant in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union, and this made it difficult for private businesses to operate.

Question 4

What did Donald Trump say he wanted when it came to relations with Russia?
A)Great relations
B)Confrontation
C)Cautious engagement
D)A return to the Cold War
E)Conflict over Ukraine

Accepted Answer

Donald Trump has expressed a desire for "great relations" with Russia, emphasizing a more cooperative rather than confrontational approach.

Question 5

Of the following, which best describes how Vladimir Putin fits into Russian political traditions and culture?
A)He is a ruthless, strong leader.
B)His personal history is rooted in the Russian Orthodox faith.
C)He combines ruthlessness with an earthy sense of humor.
D)He is charismatic and imaginative.
E)He is a champion for human rights and the dignity of the individual.

Accepted Answer

Vladimir Putin is often seen as a strong, authoritative leader, which aligns with the historical Russian preference for powerful, centralized leadership.

Question 6

Just prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, approximately what proportion of the population were ethnic Russians?
A)Less than one-fourth
B)About one-fourth
C)About one-third
D)A little more than half
E)About three-fourths

Accepted Answer

Just before the breakup of the Soviet Union, ethnic Russians made up a little more than half of the population.

Question 7

Whom of the following is considered a political lackey of Vladimir Putin?
A)Mikhail Khodorkovsky
B)Boris Yeltsin
C)Dmitry Medvedev
D)Garry Kasparov
E)Mikhail Gorbachev

Accepted Answer

Dmitry Medvedev is considered a political lackey of Vladimir Putin, having served as President of Russia from 2008 to 2012, during which time Putin was Prime Minister, and then as Prime Minister under Putin, indicating a close political relationship and alignment.

Question 8

What was one of the chief consequences of the Soviet command economy?
A)Outstanding research and development
B)Inadequate military power
C)Austere lives for most citizens
D)Prosperity for most people of every class
E)Lower standards of living for elites

Accepted Answer

The Soviet command economy often resulted in austere lives for most citizens due to inefficiencies, shortages, and the prioritization of military and heavy industry over consumer goods and services.

Question 9

Of the following, which was the greatest factor in the final decline and fall of the USSR?
A)The "Nationality Question"
B)Political corruption
C)Inflation
D)Religious resurgence
E)Unemployment

Accepted Answer

The "Nationality Question" refers to the challenges the Soviet Union faced due to its diverse ethnic composition and the rising nationalism among its various ethnic groups. This was a significant factor in its decline and fall, as it led to increased demands for autonomy and independence from several Soviet republics, ultimately contributing to the disintegration of the USSR.

Question 10

Which of the following was the president of Russia who stood up to the August 1991 hard-line coup attempt?
A)Boris Yeltsin
B)Mikhail Gorbachev
C)Heydar Aliyev
D)Vladimir Putin
E)Yuri Andropov

Accepted Answer

Boris Yeltsin stood up to the August 1991 hard-line coup attempt, famously making a speech atop a tank outside the Russian parliament building.

Question 11

What rebellious Russian republic did Boris Yeltsin order to be attacked in December 1994?
A)Azerbaijan
B)Armenia
C)Georgia
D)Ukraine
E)Chechnya

Accepted Answer

Boris Yeltsin ordered an attack on Chechnya in December 1994 in an attempt to quell a rebellion, marking the beginning of the First Chechen War.

Question 12

What class of officials ran the Soviet Union?
A)Bourgeoisie
B)Proletariat
C)Perestroika
D)Glasnost
E)Nomenklatura

Accepted Answer

The Nomenklatura were a small, elite class of officials within the Communist Party who held key administrative positions in the government, industry, and agriculture, effectively running the Soviet Union.

Question 13

Which former communist state privatized at a slower rate than others in eastern Europe?
A)Romania
B)Poland
C)Czechoslovakia
D)Hungary
E)East Germany

Accepted Answer

Romania privatized at a slower rate than other former communist states in Eastern Europe due to political instability, economic challenges, and the slow pace of reform processes.

Question 14

What was the region of Ukraine that Vladimir Putin ordered invaded by Russia in 2014?
A)Kuban
B)Pripyat
C)Ruthenia
D)Crimea
E)Karelia

Accepted Answer

In 2014, Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Crimea, a region that was part of Ukraine, leading to its annexation by Russia.

Question 15

What did the Soviet command economy attempt to prohibit?
A)Competition, corruption, and some private ownership
B)Competition, the pursuit of profit, and abuse of the environment
C)Disorder, corruption, and government interference in business
D)Competition, the pursuit of profit, and most private ownership
E)Business collusion, the pursuit of profit, and all private ownership

Accepted Answer

The Soviet command economy aimed to eliminate competition, the pursuit of profit, and most forms of private ownership, as it was based on state ownership of the means of production and central planning.

Question 16

Of the following, which is most clearly a feature of a totalitarian state?
A)Preferential treatment for the wealthy and well born
B)State-sponsored terrorism against foreign countries
C)Central control of the media and the economy
D)Decentralized authority within major industries
E)Multiple political parties

Accepted Answer

Totalitarian states are characterized by centralized control over all aspects of life, including the media and the economy, to maintain power and suppress dissent.

Question 17

Who was the last leader of the Soviet Union?
A)Josef Stalin
B)Mikhail Gorbachev
C)Konstantin Chernenko
D)Yuri Andropov
E)Leonid Brezhnev

Accepted Answer

Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union, serving from 1985 until its dissolution in 1991.

Question 18

Which term best describes the Soviet economy?
A)Efficient
B)Inefficient
C)Fair
D)Prosperous
E)Competitive

Accepted Answer

The Soviet economy is often described as inefficient due to its centralized planning and lack of market mechanisms, which led to widespread resource misallocation and productivity issues.

Question 19

Of the following, which best describes Russia's traditions and political culture regarding individual rights?
A)A strong commitment to individual rights has long been a major component of Russian culture.
B)Communist dictatorship was utterly incompatible with Russian democracy and rights.
C)The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 overturned democracy and rights, flourishing under the czars.
D)Russia's long interaction with western Europe meant that concepts of freedom and rights became rooted in Russian culture.
E)There is little or no traditional support for individual rights.

Accepted Answer

Russia's political culture and history have been characterized more by centralized authority and limited individual freedoms than by a strong tradition of individual rights. Throughout its history, from the era of the czars through the Soviet period and into the present, Russia has not been known for a strong commitment to the principles of individual rights and freedoms that are often emphasized in Western democracies.

Question 20

What were two methods used by the Soviet Union to suppress nationalism among minority nationalities?
A)Accommodation and appeals to class solidarity
B)Brute force and education in the Russian language
C)Violence as a last resort and local-language education
D)Economic privilege and Marxist rhetoric
E)Political empowerment and absorption into Russian culture

Accepted Answer

The Soviet Union used brute force to suppress uprisings and dissent, and promoted education in the Russian language to assimilate minority nationalities and diminish their distinct cultural identities.

Quiz 8: Transition Systems: Yesterday and Today

What was a major consequence of invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine for Russia in 2014?

What is the last truly Stalinist regime left in the world?

Of the following, which undermined privatization in Russia immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union?

What did Donald Trump say he wanted when it came to relations with Russia?

Of the following, which best describes how Vladimir Putin fits into Russian political traditions and culture?

Just prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union, approximately what proportion of the population were ethnic Russians?

Whom of the following is considered a political lackey of Vladimir Putin?

What was one of the chief consequences of the Soviet command economy?

Of the following, which was the greatest factor in the final decline and fall of the USSR?

Which of the following was the president of Russia who stood up to the August 1991 hard-line coup attempt?

What rebellious Russian republic did Boris Yeltsin order to be attacked in December 1994?

What class of officials ran the Soviet Union?

Which former communist state privatized at a slower rate than others in eastern Europe?

What was the region of Ukraine that Vladimir Putin ordered invaded by Russia in 2014?

What did the Soviet command economy attempt to prohibit?

Of the following, which is most clearly a feature of a totalitarian state?

Who was the last leader of the Soviet Union?

Which term best describes the Soviet economy?

Of the following, which best describes Russia's traditions and political culture regarding individual rights?

What were two methods used by the Soviet Union to suppress nationalism among minority nationalities?