Question 1

The Olympics and Olympic victory was very important in USSR and could gain victors special treatment.

Accepted Answer

The Soviet Union placed a high value on Olympic success as a demonstration of national strength and superiority, often rewarding athletes with privileges and recognition.

Question 2

According to the textbook, the best explanation for the end of the Cold War was the success of American military resistance.

Accepted Answer

The end of the Cold War is attributed to a combination of factors, including internal economic issues in the Soviet Union, political reforms by leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev, and diplomatic efforts, rather than solely American military resistance.

Question 3

Following its promises to "roll back" communism, in 1956 the Eisenhower administration provided military and economic assistance to Hungarian rebels in their successful uprising against Soviet troops.

Accepted Answer

The Eisenhower administration did not provide military assistance to the Hungarian rebels during the 1956 uprising against Soviet troops. The U.S. offered rhetorical support but did not intervene militarily.

Question 4

Although living standards in the Soviet bloc lagged far behind the West, there was considerable improvement in educational opportunity and social mobility in the East.

Accepted Answer

The Soviet bloc invested heavily in education and social programs, leading to improved educational opportunities and social mobility despite economic challenges.

Question 5

In the economically chaotic and corrupt 1990s, Russians jokingly said "We know now that everything they [former Soviet officials] told us about communism was false. And everything they told us about capitalism was true."

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects the disillusionment many Russians felt during the 1990s, as the transition from communism to capitalism led to economic instability and corruption, contrasting with the promises of prosperity.

Question 6

In the Soviet Union and in its satellite states of Eastern Europe, spectator sports during the Cold War years were not only a large industry but also highly politicized.

Accepted Answer

Spectator sports in the Soviet Union and its satellite states were used as a tool for political propaganda, showcasing the superiority of the socialist system and promoting national pride during the Cold War.

Question 7

Gorbachev's policies of perestroika and glasnost were partially inspired by his trip to Canada in 1983, when, after observing the agricultural accomplishments of Canadian farmers, he commented "We'll never have this for fifty years."

Accepted Answer

Gorbachev's visit to Canada in 1983 exposed him to Western agricultural practices and economic systems, which influenced his thinking and contributed to his later policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) aimed at reforming the Soviet Union.

Question 8

In 1969, Alexander Dubcek led a successful anti-communist uprising in Czechoslovakia and the permanent expulsion of Soviet bloc military forces.

Accepted Answer

Alexander Dubcek led the Prague Spring in 1968, which was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia. However, it was not successful in permanently expelling Soviet forces, as the movement was crushed by a Warsaw Pact invasion.

Quiz 9: Brave New World: the Rise and Fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe