Question 1: Describe the main goals of the United States' policy of containment during the Cold War.

Answer: The policy of containment aimed to prevent the spread of communism beyond its existing borders, particularly by stopping the USSR from expanding its influence in Europe, Asia, and other regions.

Question 2: Explain the significance of the Berlin Blockade of 1948-1949 in the context of Cold War tensions.

Answer: The Berlin Blockade was an attempt by the Soviet Union to force the Allies out of Berlin by cutting off all land access. It heightened Cold War tensions and led to the Berlin Airlift, showing how the superpowers competed for influence.

Question 3: Identify and describe two ways in which the arms race between the USA and USSR affected their relationship during the Cold War.

Answer: The arms race led to the stockpiling of nuclear weapons, increasing mutual suspicion and fear of annihilation. It also caused economic strain as both superpowers invested heavily in military technology.

Question 4: Explain what the Cuban Missile Crisis was and why it was a turning point in Cold War history.

Answer: The Cuban Missile Crisis was a 1962 confrontation when the USSR placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the US. It brought the superpowers to the brink of nuclear war and resulted in improved communication and arms control agreements.

Question 5: Compare the reasons for the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

Answer: NATO was formed in 1949 by Western countries to provide collective security against the USSR and its allies. The Warsaw Pact was created in 1955 by Eastern Bloc countries as a response, to unify their military forces against NATO.

Question 6: Describe the impact of the Vietnam War on Cold War tensions between the superpowers.

Answer: The Vietnam War increased tensions as the USA aimed to prevent the spread of communism, while the USSR supported North Vietnam. It also exposed the limits of US military power and caused widespread protest.

Question 7: Draw a simple timeline showing the sequence of three key Cold War events: the Berlin Blockade, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Answer: A timeline with the Berlin Blockade (1948-1949), the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and the Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) in chronological order, with approximate dates marked.

Question 8: Sketch a diagram illustrating the division of Germany after World War II and label the main zones controlled by the Allies and the USSR.

Answer: A large rectangle divided into four sections, with labels: US, UK, France (West Germany), and USSR (East Germany). West zones are grouped together, with East as a separate section.

Question 9: Explain how the policy of détente changed US-USSR relations in the 1970s.

Answer: Détente was a period of eased tensions, leading to agreements on arms reduction, increased diplomatic communication, and cooperation in some areas, reducing the risk of conflict.

Question 10: Identify two reasons why the Cold War eventually ended in 1991.

Answer: The decline of the Soviet economy and political reforms under Gorbachev, such as glasnost and perestroika, reduced tensions. Additionally, the fall of communist governments in Eastern Europe signaled the end of Cold War conflicts.