Question 1

Which Muslim terrorist group is believed to be responsible for the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?

Accepted Answer

The terrorist group responsible for the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon is al-Qaida.

Question 2

Which country is the largest oil producing state in the Middle East?

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer in the Middle East and the second-largest oil producer in the world after the United States.

Question 3

Which of the following was true of the Balfour Declaration?

Accepted Answer

The Balfour Declaration, issued by the British government in 1917, promised support for the establishment of a "Jewish national homeland" in Palestine. This did not necessarily mean complete Jewish control and did not mention Arabs specifically.

Question 4

In terms of population, what is the largest Muslim country in the world?

Accepted Answer

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world, with over 229 million people, making up approximately 12.7% of the world's Muslim population.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the term Zionists ?

Accepted Answer

Zionists are Jewish nationalists who sought to establish a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine. They represented European and American Jews who believed that they needed a national identity and a territory of their own. Their ideology was the foundation of the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.

Question 6

Who led the anti-colonial forces during Indonesian decolonization?

Accepted Answer

Sukarno was the leading figure in the anti-colonial forces during Indonesian decolonization. He served as the first President of Indonesia from 1945 to 1967 and played a pivotal role in the country's independence from Dutch colonial rule.

Question 7

The last Shah of Iran did all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, actually encouraged Westernization in Iran. He saw it as a way to modernize the country and make it more competitive on the world stage. However, this policy also created cultural tensions and resentment among more traditional Iranians.

Question 8

What was the purpose of the McMahon Letter?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the McMahon Letter was to establish an agreement between the British and the Arabs regarding the disposition of Ottoman land. Specifically, it promised the Arabs British support in establishing an independent Arab state in the region between Iraq and Egypt in exchange for helping the British during World War I.

Question 9

What was the immediate cause of the First Persian Gulf War?

Accepted Answer

The immediate cause of the First Persian Gulf War was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator, claimed that Kuwait was historically a part of Iraq and accused Kuwait of stealing Iraqi oil by drilling across the border. The United States and its allies responded by launching a military operation to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Question 10

By the start of World War II, what part of the population of Palestine was Jewish?

Accepted Answer

By the start of World War II, the Jewish population of Palestine was around 30 percent.

Question 11

Beginning in the 1880s, and continuing for the following years, what led to increasing Jewish immigration into Palestine?

Accepted Answer

The founding of the international Zionist movement by Theodor Herzl in the late 19th century significantly contributed to increasing Jewish immigration into Palestine. Herzl's movement aimed at establishing a national homeland for Jews in Palestine, which motivated many Jews to migrate there.

Question 12

Who is considered the father of modern Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Mustafa Kemal, also known as Atatürk, is widely considered the father of modern Turkey. He served as the country's first president from 1923 until his death in 1938 and led sweeping political, social, and cultural reforms aimed at modernizing Turkey and transforming it into a secular, democratic, and Western-oriented nation. His legacy remains highly influential in Turkey to this day.

Question 13

After the Yom Kippur War, OPEC imposed an oil embargo, which produced all of the following consequences EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The oil embargo led to a rise in the price of crude oil, double-digit inflation, a business recession, and a shortage of crude oil worldwide. However, it did not result in a shortage of available laborers.

Question 14

Which secularist head of state is INCORRECTLY matched with his country?

Accepted Answer

Gamal Abdel Nasser was the head of state of Egypt, not Yemen.

Question 15

What was the purpose of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)?

Accepted Answer

The purpose of the Palestine Liberation Organization was to work towards the destruction of the state of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state in its place. This was done through armed struggle and political means.

Question 16

What was the status of the Near Eastern Arab lands after World War I?

Accepted Answer

After World War I, the Near Eastern Arab lands were divided and placed under the control of the French and British as mandates, under the authority of the League of Nations. The idea was for the mandates to help the populations become self-governed and independent, but in reality, it led to continued foreign control and intervention.

Question 17

After World War I, what became of Anatolia in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

After World War I, Anatolia in Turkey became part of the Republic of Turkey, which was established as an independent state. This followed the Turkish War of Independence led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk against occupying Allied powers.

Question 18

What was the result of the  Ayatollah Khomeini c oming to power after the Iranian Revolution of 1979?

Accepted Answer

Ayatollah Khomeini came to power after the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and imposed strict anti-Western, anti-secular policies. He established an Islamic Republic in Iran and declared the country a theocracy, with himself as the Supreme Leader. He was opposed to the Western influence in Iran and called for a return to traditional Islamic values.

Question 19

What is the unique aspect of Islam among the major religions of the world?

Accepted Answer

Unlike many other major religions, Islamic law (Sharia) recognizes no separation between religious belief and civil laws. This means that Islamic beliefs are central to matters of governance and civil law in Muslim-majority countries.

Question 20

What was meant by the concept of a mandate in geopolitical terms?

Accepted Answer

The concept of a mandate in geopolitical terms referred to territories that were essentially controlled and governed by a foreign power, rather than being recognized as official colonies. Mandates were established after World War I and were often former Ottoman territories that were carved up and placed under the control of Britain or France. The idea was that these territories would eventually gain independence, but in the meantime, they were essentially occupied territories under the control of a foreign power.

Quiz 30: The Reemergence of the Muslim World