Question 1

Since the early 2000s, the so-called BRIC countries, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, and China, as well as Turkey and _______, have been added to the first tier of global economic powers.

Accepted Answer

The correct acronym is BRIC, which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, and China. The question incorrectly lists Indonesia instead of India. Mexico, along with Turkey, has been recognized for its significant economic potential and growth, positioning it alongside the BRIC nations in discussions about emerging global economic powers.

Question 2

Only two centuries after its beginnings, the pattern of capitalist modernity characterized by market exchange and consumerism encompassed roughly _______% of the world's population.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Only two centuries after its beginnings, the...

Question 3

By the 1990s, the United States' economy had become an even deeper "sinkhole", this time for textiles, toys, and simple electrical and electronic devices made in _____.

Accepted Answer

By the 1990s, China had become a major exporter of textiles, toys, and simple electrical and electronic devices to the United States, reflecting the shift in global manufacturing and trade patterns.

Question 4

During the 1990s, the United States economy experienced all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

During the 1990s, the United States economy did not experience a sharp rise in the rate of inflation. In fact, the period was marked by relatively low inflation rates, contributing to the era's economic prosperity. The other options (reduction in unemployment, dominance in high-tech industries, and a balanced budget) were characteristics of the 1990s U.S. economy.

Question 5

In recent decades, speculative instruments called "derivatives":

Accepted Answer

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on the price movements of an underlying asset, such as stocks or bonds. They are indeed complex and can be used to speculate on the future prices of these assets, making choice D correct. They are not specifically designed to protect domestic markets, provide access to the stock market, or considered too risky for Wall Street investors, which makes the other options incorrect.

Question 6

In March 2003, President George W. Bush ordered a preemptive invasion of Iraq:

Accepted Answer

The invasion was initiated without the explicit backing of the UN Security Council, which had not passed a resolution authorizing military action against Iraq.

Question 7

Although US troops invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, searching for Osama bin Laden, he was assassinated in May _______.

Accepted Answer

Osama bin Laden was assassinated in May 2011, during a raid conducted by the United States Navy SEALs in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Question 8

Two years after its independence, South Sudan:

Accepted Answer

Two years after gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan descended into a civil war in 2013 due to political conflict between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president Riek Machar, leading to widespread violence and humanitarian crises.

Question 9

In the past decade, Vladimir Putin has done all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the past decade, Vladimir Putin has...

Question 10

Into the early 2000s, the Chinese government touted itself as a "harmonious society", _____.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "harmonious society" contrasts with the government's intolerance for "disruptive elements," such as those advocating for independence among ethnic and religious minorities, highlighting the government's efforts to maintain social stability even at the cost of suppressing dissent.

Question 11

The global recession began in 2008 with a(n):

Accepted Answer

The global recession in 2008 was primarily triggered by a crisis in the housing market, where the collapse of mortgage-backed securities led to a broader financial crisis, affecting credit markets worldwide.

Question 12

The two main perpetrators of the Bosnian "ethnic cleansing" lived more or less openly in _______ until their arrest in 2008 and 2011.

Accepted Answer

The two main perpetrators of the Bosnian "ethnic cleansing" lived more or less openly in Serbia until their arrest in 2008 and 2011. Serbia was heavily involved in the Yugoslav Wars, and its government faced international pressure to arrest and extradite individuals accused of war crimes, including those responsible for ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

Question 13

Israel began building a border fence in 2002 along ________, supplemented in places by a wall of concrete slabs, and it was completed in 2013.

Accepted Answer

Israel began constructing the barrier along the West Bank in 2002, which includes both a fence and concrete wall sections, primarily as a security measure. The construction was declared complete in various phases, with significant portions finished by 2013, although some areas have seen ongoing work and modifications.

Question 14

The election of Hasan Rouhani as president of Iran in 2013 led to:

Accepted Answer

Rouhani's election led to a more moderate approach in Iran's foreign policy, including negotiations with the West that resulted in limitations on Iran's nuclear program to lift economic sanctions.

Question 15

The rise of ISIS in the summer of 2014 resulted in all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The rise of ISIS did lead to discussions and debates about the US's role in the region, but it did not result in a renewed American occupation with "boots on the ground" in the same manner as the earlier Iraq War. The US did conduct airstrikes and sent advisors and special forces, but this was not the same as a full-scale occupation.

Question 16

The Nigerian government has, in recent years, proved incompetent against the rapidly expanding Islamist movement Boko Haram, which means "________".

Accepted Answer

Boko Haram translates to "Western education is sin" in the Hausa language, reflecting the group's opposition to Western education and values.

Question 17

If projections of the effects of climate change hold true, the globe will experience all of the following conditions except:

Accepted Answer

The effects of climate change are expected to decrease biodiversity, not increase it. Rising sea levels and changing climates are more likely to threaten existing species than to generate new ones.

Question 18

The most extreme example of a nation going against the grain of the twenty-first century, North Korea forces adults to subsist on ____ calories daily, as compared to 2000-2500 among Europeans.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most extreme example of a nation...

Question 19

Among signs of a major retreat from post-Cold War internationalist political, economic, and diplomatic trends is ________.

Accepted Answer

Brexit represents a significant shift away from internationalist trends, as it involves the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, a major international institution.

Question 20

In the summer of 2015, roughly 890,000 refugees from _________ entered Germany.

Accepted Answer

The refugees who entered Germany in the summer of 2015 were primarily fleeing the conflict in Syria.

Quiz 31: A Fragile Capitalist-Democratic World Order, 1991-2014