Question 1

In order to finance arms to Iran to secure the release of American hostages in Lebanon, President Ronald Reagan illicitly sold arms to the Contras and financed the war against the:

Accepted Answer

President Ronald Reagan illicitly sold arms to Iran to secure the release of American hostages in Lebanon, and he used the funds obtained from the weapons sale to finance the Contras in Nicaragua. The Contras were a U.S.-backed paramilitary group that fought against the Sandinistas, a leftist government in Nicaragua. Therefore, the correct answer is B, the Sandinistas. The other answer choices are not related to the Iran-Contra affair.

Question 2

Neo-liberalism in Latin America eroded due to

Accepted Answer

Political scandals and a slowing world economy played a significant role in eroding the dominance of neo-liberalism in Latin America. The economic policies promoted by neo-liberalism, such as privatization, free trade, and deregulation, were seen as favoring the elites and exacerbating income inequality. The economic slowdown and political scandals further eroded public trust in these policies, leading to a shift towards more left-leaning governments that were skeptical of neoliberalism.

Question 3

Under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, China

Accepted Answer

Under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, China implemented economic reforms that included decentralizing control of industries, allowing for private enterprise and foreign investment, and modernizing agriculture. This led to significant economic growth and a shift away from the state-run system. Option B is incorrect as Deng Xiaoping actually encouraged foreign investment as part of his economic reforms. Option C, endorsing the first Clean Air and Clean Water Act in the world, is not true, and option D is incorrect as Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms were a move away from doctrinaire communism.

Question 4

Which United States president worked to reestablish Panamanian sovereignty over the U.S. built and controlled Canal Zone?

Accepted Answer

Jimmy Carter worked to reestablish Panamanian sovereignty over the U.S. built and controlled Canal Zone. In 1977, he signed the Torrijos-Carter Treaty, which set a timetable for the transfer of control of the Canal Zone to Panama by 1999.

Question 5

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led an Iranian revolt in 1979 against the former shah and then implemented

Accepted Answer

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which resulted in the establishment of an Islamic Republic. This new government was characterized by a parliamentary system under the strict control of religious officials, with Khomeini himself holding ultimate authority.

Question 6

Salvador Allende sought to implement socialist reforms in what country?

Accepted Answer

Salvador Allende was the President of Chile from 1970 until 1973, during which time he sought to implement socialist reforms, including nationalizing industries and improving social welfare programs.

Question 7

The policy of restructuring called perestroika in the Soviet Union was authorized by

Accepted Answer

Perestroika was authorized by Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. The policy aimed at reforming the Soviet economy, political system, and society.

Question 8

Crucial to the success of the Japanese economy in the 1970s and 1980s was:

Accepted Answer

Tariffs and import regulations restricting foreign competition were crucial to the success of the Japanese economy in the 1970s and 1980s as it allowed Japanese industries to protect their domestic market and develop their own technology and production methods. This policy, known as "Japan Inc.", was implemented by the government and helped Japanese companies dominate industries like electronics, automobiles, and steel.

Question 9

The keiretsu were

Accepted Answer

Keiretsu refers to the alliance of corporations and banks that dominated and controlled the Japanese economy, starting in the post-war era. They worked together closely, often through cross-shareholding, to ensure mutual success and stability in the marketplace.

Question 10

Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, the The Shah of Iran, was supported strongly by

Accepted Answer

Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, was strongly supported by the United States, which saw him as a key ally in the Middle East during the Cold War.

Question 11

"Dirty war" was so deemed because it was characterized by

Accepted Answer

"Dirty war" refers to a period of violence and state terrorism in countries such as Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, where government forces and paramilitary groups targeted leftist and communist individuals and groups. The tactics used included torture, disappearances, and extrajudicial executions. The term "dirty" referred to the brutal and unethical methods employed by the military and other groups involved in the conflict.

Question 12

One of the reasons for the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq war was

Accepted Answer

Saddam Hussein feared that the Islamic Revolution in Iran would incite Iraq's Shi'ites to revolt against his Sunni-dominated regime. Additionally, there were territorial disputes between the two countries over the Shatt al-Arab waterway and the border region, both of which contributed to the outbreak of the war.

Question 13

As a response to the protests that culminated in hundreds of thousands protesting in Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government

Accepted Answer

The Chinese government responded to the protests with force, deploying military troops and tanks to clear out Tiananmen Square, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of protesters and the arrest of thousands more.

Question 14

The "Contras" were

Accepted Answer

The "Contras" were counterrevolutionaries who were financed by the Reagan administration to oppose the leftist Sandinistas in Nicaragua during the 1980s.

Question 15

Which of the following is one of the "Asian Tigers"?

Accepted Answer

All of the above mentioned countries are considered as the Asian Tigers because of their rapid economic growth and development in the late 20th century.

Question 16

The "Brazilian Solution" refers to

Accepted Answer

The Brazilian Solution refers to the combination of dictatorship, repression, and government promotion of industrialization in Brazil during the military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985. It is characterized by the state-led development of large infrastructure projects and the exploitation of natural resources, often at the expense of human rights and environmental concerns.

Question 17

The first Latin American nation to experience conservative reaction to the Cuban revolution by the army overthrowing their constitutional government in 1964 was

Accepted Answer

Brazil was the first Latin American nation to experience conservative reaction to the Cuban revolution by the army overthrowing their constitutional government in 1964.

Question 18

Which country was engaged in an "unwinnable war" with Afghanistan in the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

The USSR (Soviet Union) was engaged in an "unwinnable war" with Afghanistan in the 1980s. The war lasted for 9 years, from 1979 to 1989, and resulted in thousands of casualties and immense damage in Afghanistan. The Soviet Union eventually withdrew its troops without achieving any significant gains, leading many to view the conflict as a costly and futile endeavor.

Question 19

The "Dirty War" fought between the military and leftist groups was in

Accepted Answer

The "Dirty War" was fought in Argentina between 1976 and 1983, during which the military government waged a campaign of violence and repression against leftist guerrilla groups and anyone suspected of supporting them. Tens of thousands of people were abducted, tortured, and murdered, and many more went missing.

Question 20

Which is most true of the communist states by the 1980s and 1990s?

Accepted Answer

By the 1980s and 1990s, deep divisions had appeared among communist states. This was evident in the Sino-Soviet split, as well as tensions between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The collapse of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact states was not widely foreseen and predicted in the 1980s, but came as a surprise to many. Communist states were also not uniform in character, as each had its own unique political, economic, and cultural characteristics. While many communist states were aligned with the USSR, they were not subservient and often had their own independent foreign policies. Finally, there were armed conflicts between communist states, such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Vietnam War.

Quiz 32: The End of the Cold War and the Challenge of Economic Development and Immigration