Question 1

Because of the ideology of the class struggle of the proletariat, the new elite in the Soviet world was made up exclusively of peasants.

Accepted Answer

The new elite in the Soviet world was made up of former peasants as well as individuals from other social backgrounds such as workers, intellectuals, and members of the party bureaucracy.

Question 2

Leonid Brezhnev

Accepted Answer

Leonid Brezhnev was known for valuing stability above all else, and he was resistant to significant attempts to deal with economic and social problems. He focused on maintaining the status quo and preserving the Soviet system rather than taking bold steps to address the country's challenges.

Question 3

Stalin's economic policy after World War 2 was more successful in providing consumer goods than in promoting the growth of heavy industry.

Accepted Answer

Stalin's post-World War 2 economic policy focused on the rapid growth of heavy industry, often at the expense of consumer goods, which were in short supply.

Question 4

The Russian concept of law and order (poryadok ) was enshrined in the Soviet constitution.

Accepted Answer

The Russian concept of law and order, known as "poryadok," was indeed enshrined in the Soviet constitution.

Question 5

Which of the following occurred when Nikita Khrushchev was in power?

Accepted Answer

The Twentieth National Congress speech was given by Khrushchev in 1956, during his time as the leader of the Soviet Union. The speech marked a significant shift in Soviet policy and opened the way for a period of "de-Stalinization," in which the Stalinist legacy was largely repudiated. The other options either occurred before Khrushchev's time in power or after he was removed from office.

Question 6

As recognition that Marxism-Leninism is losing its appeal in Communist China, Confucianism has regained official approval in recent years.

Accepted Answer

In recent years, Confucianism has regained official approval in Communist China, signaling a shift away from Marxism-Leninism.

Question 7

Which of the following was not characteristic of Soviet society during the Brezhnev years?

Accepted Answer

During the Brezhnev years, the Soviet government maintained a strong emphasis on law and order, with strict enforcement of laws and regulations.

Question 8

Characteristic of Stalin's domestic policies after World War 2 was

Accepted Answer

Stalin's domestic policies after World War II emphasized the growth of heavy industry, through his five-year plans, in order to rebuild the country, increase its military-industrial complex, and catch up with the advanced capitalist countries. This policy led to a prioritization of investment in heavy industry over consumer goods and agriculture, which caused shortages, famine, and low living standards for the population.

Question 9

Chernobyl was the Russian word for "openness."

Accepted Answer

Chernobyl was the name of the Ukrainian town where the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred. It is not related to the Russian word for "openness."

Question 10

At the close of World War 2, the Soviet Union

Accepted Answer

The Soviet Union was heavily damaged by World War II, and despite increasing food production in Siberia and Turkmenistan, its citizens experienced severe hardship. They had to work longer hours, eat less, and were ill-housed and poorly clothed. Stalin prioritized the expansion of heavy industry over providing consumer goods, leading to further struggles for the population. There was no significant reduction in military spending, nor any move towards greater liberalization.

Question 11

After assuming control of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev's policies

Accepted Answer

After assuming control of the Soviet Union, Khrushchev implemented a program of de-Stalinization, which included the removal of Stalin's cult of personality, the release of political prisoners, and a broader intellectual tolerance. He also implemented policies aimed at improving the standard of living for Soviet citizens, which included an emphasis on consumer goods and housing.

Question 12

In the post-war period, women in Soviet Russia did almost 40% of the heavy manual labor.​

Accepted Answer

This is true. Women in Soviet Russia were heavily involved in the industrial workforce and did a significant amount of manual labor, especially after World War II. They were encouraged to work outside the home and were often given opportunities for education and training in various skilled trades.

Question 13

Joseph Stalin

Accepted Answer

Stalin continued to rely on the terror apparatus in maintaining his power, as evidenced by the large number of Soviet citizens held in concentration camps during his reign. The other options are incorrect: A is false as Stalin's Stalingrad speech did not inaugurate a benevolent stage of governmental policy; C is incorrect as Zhdanov died before Stalin and was never named as his successor; D is incorrect as Stalin did not denounce Lenin at the Thirtieth Party Congress; and E is false as Stalin pursued a policy of hostility towards the West, not peaceful coexistence, in 1948.

Question 14

Nikita Khrushchev

Accepted Answer

Khrushchev encouraged more freedom for writers and other artists, which represented a significant change from the harsh censorship policies of Stalin's regime.

Question 15

China's Four Modernizations included industry, technology, national defense, and democracy.

Accepted Answer

China's Four Modernizations included industry, agriculture, science and technology, and national defense. There was no mention of democracy in the plan.

Question 16

The Great Leap Forward resulted in the deaths of perhaps fifteen million people because of starvation.

Accepted Answer

The Great Leap Forward was a disastrous economic and social campaign carried out by the Communist Party of China from 1958 to 1962. As a result of its policies, including the collectivization of agriculture and the promotion of backyard steel furnaces, there was a severe decline in agricultural productivity and a consequent famine that led to the deaths of millions of people. Estimates of the death toll vary, but many historians believe that somewhere between 15 and 45 million people died as a result of the Great Leap Forward, mainly due to starvation.

Question 17

The "queue psychology" illustrates the surplus of consumer goods available in the Soviet Union during the Brezhnev era.

Accepted Answer

The "queue psychology" actually illustrates the scarcity of consumer goods in the Soviet Union during the Brezhnev era, as people would often wait for hours in lines (queues) to purchase basic necessities such as food and clothing.

Question 18

During the late 1960s and the 1970s,

Accepted Answer

During the late 1960s and the 1970s, the Soviet Union experienced economic stagnation and political and administrative gerontocracy under Brezhnev's rule. These issues were effectively ignored, and the government failed to address them. Options A, B, and C are incorrect as they present inaccurate information regarding the Soviet Union during this period. Option E is also incorrect as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was a movement that took place in China under Mao Zedong, not in the Soviet Union.

Question 19

Socialist Realism was an artistic movement that allowed criticism of problems within the Soviet system in the "cultural thaw" of Khrushchev.​

Accepted Answer

Socialist Realism was an artistic movement that promoted the ideals of communism and the Soviet state, often avoiding criticism of the system. The "cultural thaw" under Khrushchev allowed some relaxation of censorship, but Socialist Realism itself did not encourage criticism.

Question 20

The Soviet economy

Accepted Answer

The Soviet economy did grow rapidly in the heavy industry sector during the late 1940s and the early 1950s, with a focus on steel, coal, and machinery production.

Answer: B 
 The Soviet economy was theoretically based on the principles of socialism, with a focus on raising the living standards of the poorest workers, or the "toiling masses." However, in practice, the economy was often geared more towards military production and maintaining the power of the ruling Communist Party.

Answer: C 
 The Soviet economy did not obtain capital for expansion from overseas governments and investors, as the country was largely closed off from international trade and foreign investment.

Answer: D 
 Gosplan was the central planning agency of the Soviet Union, headquartered in Moscow, not Kharkov.

Answer: E 
 Despite some attempts at consumer-focused production, the Soviet economy remained heavily centralized and did not become consumer driven. There was still significant black-market activity as a result of shortages and inefficiencies in the state-controlled economy.

Quiz 27: Brave New World: Communism on Trial