Tutoring: World War II and the Onset of the Cold War
1. Which summary BEST describes the role of the United States during World War II?
A The United States maintained neutrality until the last year of the war when the use of the
atomic bomb brought a quick conclusion to fighting.
B Though unwilling and not completely prepared, the United States entered the war and quickly
transformed its economy to become a major war power that was crucial in the defeat of the Axis
powers.
C The United States was the first to declare war on the Axis powers after spending a decade
stockpiling resources and building American military might that brought about a quick end to
fighting.
D After being persuaded by Britain and the Soviet Union, the United States willingly entered the
war and supplied critical military hardware and technology to defeat the Axis powers after many
years of costly battles.
2. How did World War II alter the position of the United States among nations of the world?
F The United States became the first superpower and the most powerful nation in the world.
G The United States became isolated from other nations as the economy recovered from the
costs of war.
H The United States became an empire by claiming lands in Europe, Africa, the Middle East,
and Asia.
J The United States gained support from friendly nations to form an international organization of
democratic states.
3. Why is the Battle of Midway considered a turning point in World War II?
F The battle forced the surrender of Japan.
G The Soviet Union entered the war against Germany and Japan.
H The Japanese navy lost four large aircraft carriers, that stopped their Pacific advance.
J The defeat of German tank divisions in North Africa limited any further advances by Nazi
forces.
4. Which geographic challenge contributed to Germany's defeat and limited the speed of the
Allies to achieve an end to World War II?
A mountainous terrain
B limited access to iron ore
C a lack of experience with bad weather
D battles on multiple fronts across the globe
5. Which major battle of World War II involved the invasion of Utah and Omaha beaches?
F Siege of Stalingrad
G Battle of the Bulge
H Battle of Leyte Gulf
J D-Day invasion of Normandy
6. Why would the actions of the Flying Tigers during World War II be considered patriotic?
F They were drafted pilots who flew numerous successful missions over Europe.
G They were pilots who volunteered with the British Air Force to defend against German attacks
during the Battle of Britain.
H They were a group of African-American aviators who heroically served in Europe during a
time of racial segregation in the armed forces.
J They were former pilots of the U.S. armed services who voluntarily flew with the Chinese Air
Force to resist Japanese aggression.
7. The practice of encrypting is to convert communication into nonsense so anyone else
intercepting it does not understand the message. The study of encrypted communications is
called cryptography. Which cryptographic technique of the United States military remained
unbroken by the Axis powers during World War II?
A use of an encryption based on a complex form of Morse code
B use of Enigma machines to create encrypted messages
C use of an encryption based on the mathematical concept of pi
D use of American Indian languages to create encrypted messages
8. Which reason best explains why certain nations suffered higher rates of human loss than
others during the war?
F Countries close to the Axis powers suffered the most with deaths to both military and civilian
personnel at the hands of the German and Japanese armies.
G Allied powers suffered fewer civilian losses because an ocean separated them from the Axis
powers and their civilian populations.
H The number of Japanese civilian deaths is due to the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945.
J All of the above are correct.
9. Which reason best explains why India and Czechoslovakia had a lower rate of human loss
than many other nations during the war?
A They were not directly attacked by the armies of the Axis.
B Their militaries were weak and quickly overwhelmed.
C Their militaries were included in the numbers for the Soviet Union.
D They were not participants in the war.
10. 416,800 American soldiers died fighting in World War II. Which reason best explains why
the rate of human losses suffered by the United States was a lower percentage than other nations
in the war?
A The U.S population overall is smaller than the other countries added together.
B The U.S. military was larger than the other countries.
C The U.S. population overall is much larger than most of the countries on the graph.
D The U.S. figures were divided between the Pacific and European fronts.
11. Which motto corresponds to the list below?
Found on U.S. coins since the 1860s
Found on paper currency since 1956
Official motto of the United States
A E Pluribus Unum
B Liberty and Independence
C United We Stand, Divided We Fall
D In God We Trust
12. A major Cold War impact on American education priorities was a shift in the school
curriculum to a concentration on learning —
A patriotism
B math and science
C physical education
D social skills
13. Which U.S. government action provided education funding for returning World War II
soldiers in order to create a better educated and more productive workforce?
A passage of the G.I. Bill
B establishment of the Peace Corps
C passage of the National Defense Education Act
D establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs
14. Which of the following BEST summarizes events in the fifteen years after the end of World
War II?
A Racial tensions led to the assassination of several prominent civil rights advocates.
B Rivalry with the Soviet Union promoted American fears of communism.
C Social and economic reforms aimed to create jobs in urban areas.
D Technological improvements like the assembly line led to worldwide prosperity.
15. Why did the United States conduct the Berlin Airlift?
F to transport supplies to a blockaded West Berlin
G to evacuate wounded soldiers from East Berlin
H to send East German refugees to other countries
J to provide supplies to all of West Germany
16. Rapid growth of which of the following was the MOST visible effect of the prosperity of the
1950s?
F suburbs
G military
H cities
J railroads
17. Which military alliance of North American and Western European nations pledged in 1949
that all member nations would come to the aid of any member attacked by an outside enemy?
A United Nations
B Warsaw Pact
C North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
D Marshall Plan
18. How did the United States resist communism and build the economic strength of free-market
nations in Europe after World War II?
F NASA enacted a space program to protect European nations from Soviet attack.
G The Berlin Airlift brought food, fuel, and money to democratic nations across Europe.
H The Marshall Plan extended financial aid to friendly European nations rebuilding after the
destruction of the war.
J The Roosevelt Corollary proclaimed the United States the chief protector of democracy and
guaranteed American protection of European democratic nations.
19. How did Joseph McCarthy MOST contribute to Cold War tensions?
A He angered Chinese communists for refusing to follow Truman's orders during the Korean
War.
B He led a Congressional committee investigating suspected communists.
C He was a strong advocate of increased military spending.
D He abused his power by helping Castro in Cuba.
20. Which event initiated the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union?
F U.S. test pilot Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in the X1.
G The Soviet Union placed rockets in Cuba.
H President Kennedy announced U.S. plans to land on the Moon.
J The Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik 1.
21. Sputnik: _________::__________: 1958
Which pair of terms best completes the
graphic organizer?
A U.S.S.R...Apollo Spacecraft
B 1957...Apollo Spacecraft
C 1957...NASA Established
D NASA Established...John F. Kennedy Elected
23. Which action was a direct response of the United States to growing communist threats in
Greece and Turkey in the years following World War II?
A implementing the Marshall Plan
B proclaiming the Truman Doctrine
C establishing the NATO military alliance
D creating the United Nations