1.
When was the Soviet Union dissolved?
Correct Answer
C. December 26, 1991
Explanation
The correct answer is December 26, 1991. This is the date when the Soviet Union officially dissolved. After years of political and economic turmoil, the leaders of the Soviet republics agreed to dissolve the Union and form the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This marked the end of the Soviet Union as a centralized communist state and the beginning of a new era for the former Soviet republics.
2.
Who was the final leader of the Soviet Union?
Correct Answer
B. Mikhail Gorbachev
Explanation
Mikhail Gorbachev was the final leader of the Soviet Union. He served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. Gorbachev implemented several reforms, such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), which aimed to modernize the Soviet Union's political and economic systems. However, these reforms ultimately led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Gorbachev is widely recognized for his role in bringing about significant changes in the Soviet Union and paving the way for a new era in Russian history.
3.
Who was the president of Russia when the Union fell?
Correct Answer
B. Boris Yeltsin
Explanation
Boris Yeltsin was the president of Russia when the Union fell. This is because Yeltsin served as the first President of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1999. During his presidency, the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, leading to the formation of the Russian Federation. Yeltsin played a crucial role in the transition from a communist state to a democratic one, making him the correct answer to the question.
4.
Which of these was not part of the Soviet Union?
Correct Answer
D. Lithuania
Explanation
Lithuania was not part of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was composed of 15 republics, including Latvia, Moldova, and Georgia, but Lithuania was not one of them.
5.
When did the cold war occur?
Correct Answer
C. 1989
Explanation
The Cold War occurred from 1947 to 1991, with the main period of tension and conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union lasting from the late 1940s to the early 1990s. The year 1989 marks a significant event in the Cold War as it was the year when the Berlin Wall fell, symbolizing the end of the division between East and West Germany and the beginning of the end of the Cold War. This event led to a series of political changes and ultimately the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
6.
When was Mikhail Gorbachev elected the secretary general of the Union?
Correct Answer
B. March 11, 1985
Explanation
Mikhail Gorbachev was elected the secretary general of the Union on March 11, 1985. This date marks the beginning of Gorbachev's tenure as the leader of the Soviet Union, during which he implemented significant political and economic reforms known as perestroika and glasnost. These reforms aimed to modernize and open up the Soviet Union, but ultimately led to its dissolution in 1991. Gorbachev's election as secretary general in 1985 was a turning point in Soviet history and had a profound impact on global politics.
7.
When was Yegor Ligachev and Nikolai Ryzhkov brought two protéges into the Politburo?
Correct Answer
D. April 23, 1985
Explanation
Yegor Ligachev and Nikolai Ryzhkov brought two protégés into the Politburo on April 23, 1985.
8.
What economic system was practiced while the Soviet Union existed?
Correct Answer
A. Socialism
Explanation
The economic system practiced while the Soviet Union existed was socialism. This means that the means of production, distribution, and exchange were owned and controlled by the state, rather than by private individuals or corporations. In a socialist system, resources are allocated based on the needs of the society as a whole, rather than for profit. This is in contrast to capitalism, where resources are privately owned and allocated based on market forces, and fascism, which combines a totalitarian government with a capitalist economy. A mixed economy, on the other hand, combines elements of both socialism and capitalism.
9.
What year saw the beginning of the Soviet Union?
Correct Answer
D. 1922
Explanation
The correct answer is 1922. In 1922, the Soviet Union was officially established as a federal socialist state, following the Russian Revolution and the subsequent dissolution of the Russian Empire. The Soviet Union, also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), lasted until its dissolution in 1991.
10.
Which of these places was the capital of the Soviet Union?
Correct Answer
A. Moscow
Explanation
Moscow was the capital of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991, and Moscow served as its political and administrative center throughout its existence. It was in Moscow that the Soviet government was headquartered, and it was also where important decisions regarding the country's governance and policies were made. Therefore, Moscow is the correct answer to the question.