Question 1

All of the following is characteristic of the United States in the 1950s except

Accepted Answer

The 1950s in the United States were marked by an economic boom, confidence in the American way of life, and an intensification of the "Red Scare." Labor unions did not collapse during this period; in fact, they were quite strong, although they faced challenges. The New Deal traditions continued to influence policies, but the collapse of labor unions is not characteristic of this era.

Question 2

All of the following statements regarding women in the post-war era are correct except

Accepted Answer

Working women did not receive equal pay with men by the 1960s; the gender pay gap persisted despite increased female workforce participation.

Question 3

Following World War II, the country that dominated the art world was

Accepted Answer

After World War II, many European artists moved to the United States, which became the center of the art world. The abstract expressionist movement, led by artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, also emerged in the United States and gained international recognition.

Question 4

The social structure of the postwar European society has been greatly affected by a dramatic increase in the number of

Accepted Answer

The postwar European society saw a shift from a predominantly agrarian economy to an industrialized and service-based economy. This led to a significant increase in the number of white-collar management and administrative personnel, who occupied key roles in the expanding service sectors, government agencies, and multinational corporations driving economic growth. The number of industrial workers also increased but not as dramatically as the number of white-collar workers. Hence, Option E, white-collar management and administrative personnel, is the best choice.

Question 5

Postwar Italian politics was characterized by

Accepted Answer

The Christian Democrats enjoyed hegemony in postwar Italian politics with the backing of the Catholic Church. This was evident in the fact that the party held power for most of the period from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, even though coalition governments were common. The Communist party, while influential, never gained enough support to dominate Italian politics. Military coups were not a significant feature of postwar Italian politics.

Question 6

The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s included all of the following except

Accepted Answer

The answer of The civil rights movement of the 1950s...

Question 7

The philosophical doctrine of existentialism, with its emphasis on God as a fiction, no preordained human destiny, and the human creation of all values

Accepted Answer

The statement clearly mentions the French writers Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre as the ones who best expressed the philosophical doctrine of existentialism. Therefore, option D is the correct choice. The other options are incorrect because they either present irrelevant information (A, B, E) or contradict the statement (C).

Question 8

The American artist Jackson Pollock was most noted for

Accepted Answer

Jackson Pollock is most known for being a leading figure of the Abstract Expressionist movement in the 1940s and 1950s. His famous "drip paintings" were created through a unique process of pouring and dripping paint onto canvases, resulting in dynamic and spontaneous compositions.

Question 9

The Common Market was

Accepted Answer

The Common Market, also known as the European Economic Community, was primarily founded for economic reasons, specifically to promote free trade among member nations. Its main goal was to increase economic cooperation and stimulate growth within Europe.

Question 10

Television did not become readily available until

Accepted Answer

The answer of Television did not become readily available until
...

Question 11

The Cold War spread from Europe with the establishment of a Communist regime in China in 1949.

Accepted Answer

The spread of Communism to China was a significant event in the Cold War as it increased tensions between the Communist bloc and the Western powers. It also led to the Korean War and heightened U.S. involvement in the region.

Question 12

In her path-breaking text, The Second Sex , the influential French feminist author Simone de Beauvoir argued that

Accepted Answer

Simone de Beauvoir argued that women were defined by their differences from men and seen as second-class beings, which she critiqued in "The Second Sex."

Question 13

American motion pictures in the postwar years have

Accepted Answer

American motion pictures in the postwar years have been very successful in diffusing American popular culture throughout the world. Hollywood dominated the global market and its films were widely popular in many countries.

Question 14

The Berlin Air Lift was initiated by the Soviet Union to provide provisions to East Berlin after a blockade by the United States, Great Britain, and France.

Accepted Answer

The Berlin Air Lift was initiated by the United States, Great Britain, and France to provide provisions to West Berlin after a blockade by the Soviet Union.

Question 15

One country that was not an original member of the European Coal and Steel Community was

Accepted Answer

Britain was not an original member of the European Coal and Steel Community.

Question 16

Which of the following statements concerning postwar Great Britain is false ?

Accepted Answer

The Conservative party did not revoke the welfare legislation passed by the Labour party in the 1940s; instead, they largely accepted and maintained the welfare state framework.

Question 17

In the postwar world, Canada

Accepted Answer

Canada experienced many of the same developments as the United States, including economic growth, suburbanization, and increased consumerism. Canada also joined NATO and NORAD as part of its defense strategy. While there were concerns about being overshadowed by the United States, Canada maintained a close relationship with its southern neighbor.

Question 18

The horrors of two world wars, the Cold War, and attendant socio-cultural upheavals have also stimulated a late twentieth-century religious revival exemplified in the works of Karl Barth, who has argued

Accepted Answer

Karl Barth emphasized the importance of religious revelation and argued that humans can only know religious truth through the grace of God, rather than reason. He believed in the sinful and imperfect nature of humans, which requires divine revelation for salvation and consolation.

Question 19

Existentialism stressed

Accepted Answer

Existentialism emphasizes the importance of individuals creating their own values and purpose in life rather than relying on external sources such as religion or societal norms. It encourages people to take responsibility for their own lives and find meaning in their existence.

Question 20

Eastern Europe was the first area of disagreement between the United States and the Soviet Union after the end of World War II.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The Soviet Union aimed to spread communism in Eastern Europe and the United States opposed this expansion. This led to the formation of the Iron Curtain and the beginning of the Cold War.

Quiz 28: Cold War and a New Western World, 1945-1965