tHE oTHER hALF
Why did the United States most likely offer economic aid to Russia and Eastern Europe during the 1990s?
A. to encourage them to break away from the Soviet Union
B. to politically dominate new governments in the region
C. to help stable, democratic governments emerge in the region
D. to encourage nations to quickly join NATO
What term would best describe the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians?
A. friendly
B. prosperous
C. hostile
D. distant
Which U.S. policy would Palestinian supporters of the Palestinian Liberation Organization have most likely preferred?
A. continued U.S. support for Israel
B. support for a peace treaty between Israel, Egypt, and Palestine
C. military aid to Yasir Arafat for the fight against Israel
D. support for the overthrow of Yasir Arafat in favor of a democratic government
How did glasnost contribute to the break-up of the Soviet Union?
A. Restructuring the economy led to a change in the political structure.
B. By allowing citizens more freedom to travel, people could see what they were missing.
C. Due to cuts in military spending, people were not afraid the army would stop their demonstrations.
D. By allowing citizens to speak openly, people could express their frustrations.
How did Congressional political gridlock during President Obama's administration affect government?
A. It gave lobbyists and interest groups increased influence to swing votes.
B. It prevented budget deficits, since no new spending could be implemented.
C. It forced the government to cut spending, since Congress would not approve any new spending.
D. It made passing laws extremely difficult by discouraging compromise.
In the text, you read this about the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States:
Within two hours of the attack, the twin towers of the World Trade Center had collapsed. The September 11 attacks killed nearly 2,800 people and stunned Americans. President George W. Bush quickly blamed Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
In response, the Bush administration launched what it called a global war on terrorism, far different from other wars America had fought. The enemy, less clearly defined, included terrorist groups that threatened the United States and its allies.
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which of the following statements best reflects the challenge the United States faces in its global war on terrorism?
A. The primary U.S. target is an individual, unknown aggressor.
B. The war involves two opposing countries and the allies of each.
C. The primary U.S. targets are anonymous groups rather than a specific national enemy.
D. The United States is alone as a target of its terrorist opponents.
Which of the following is a positive effect of biotechnology on agriculture?
A. It helps create more efficient harvest machinery.
B. It helps produce hardier plants.
C. It results in agriculture that requires more farm labor, increasing employment.
D. It allows computerized planting and harvesting of crops.
“Government is not the solution to our problems, government is the problem”
--Ronald Reagan, inaugural address, 1981
Use the passage to answer the question.
Based on the quotation, which of the following best reflects Ronald Reagan’s political views?
A. He wanted American citizens to return to traditional values.
B. He believed that many problems we face could not be solved.
C. He wanted the government to focus on expanding its relief program.
D. He believed that the government had gained too much power and did not use it well.
What was the main reason the Soviet Union crumbled in the 1980s?
A. Glasnost led to rebellion against communist rule around the world.
B. The Soviet economy could not match U.S. military spending while meeting citizens’ demand for consumer goods.
C. Policies introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev resulted in the Soviet Union losing its main source of income.
D. The United States convinced Soviet leaders to abandon communist economic policies.
The following excerpt is from a Supreme Court decision:
This requires the Court to hold, as it now does, that DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act] is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the liberty of the person protected by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution. The liberty protected by the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause contains within it the prohibition against denying to any person equal protection of the laws….DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled to recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty. It imposes a disability on the class by refusing to acknowledge a status the state finds dignified and proper.
—United States v. Windsor, 2013
Use the passage to answer the question.
Based on this decision, what is the federal government required to do?
A. provide equal pay for equal work
B. recognize same-sex marriage
C. enforce affirmative action programs
D. provide health insurance to all
How was the reaction to the wave of immigrants coming to America in the 2000s similar to the reaction to immigration in the 1920s?
A. Immigrants were welcomed for their labor and contributions to tax revenues and the economy.
B. There was pressure on immigrants to become American citizens to prove their loyalty.
C. In both eras, the American people feared the unknown of what it would be to have immigrants coming to America.
D. In the 2000s and the 1920s, the American people feared that Latin American countries would invade the United States.
"...the urgent question of our time is whether we can make change our friend and not our enemy … when most people are working harder for less; when others cannot work at all; when the cost of health care devastates families and threatens to bankrupt our enterprises, great and small; when the fear of crime robs law-abiding citizens of their freedom; and when millions of poor children cannot even imagine the lives we are calling them to lead, we have not made change our friend."
--Bill Clinton inaugural address, January 20, 1993
Use the quote to answer the question.
Based on the excerpt, what was Bill Clinton’s opinion of the state of affairs in the United States when he was elected president in 1992?
A. Clinton thought that healthcare reform and other changes were necessary in the United States.
B. Clinton thought that poverty was less of a problem than the standard of living in the middle class.
C. Clinton thought that the people of the United States should prepare for hard times and mutual sacrifice.
D. Clinton thought that the United States would continue its years of prosperity and economic well-being.
In the text, you read this about globalization and international public health:
Globalization increased the impact and reach of illnesses and infectious diseases. The frequency of travel intensified the rate at which diseases could be transmitted throughout the world. This increased rate of transmission led to increased concern about health security.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked with governments around the world to address this concern. The CDC helped other countries learn how to detect and prevent the spread of potential disease epidemics.
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which conclusion can be drawn from the text?
A. Travel reduces the risk of disease transmission.
B. The movement of people is a major concern in the control of infectious disease.
C. Biotechnology can eliminate the risk of epidemics.
D. Healthcare professionals are against globalization.
What was the significance of the Moral Majority and the “Contract with America”?
A. They both called for an end to all forms of discrimination.
B. They led to increased budget deficits.
C. They triggered more tension over race issues.
D. They were part of a conservative resurgence.
Only two camps exist. There can be no middle ground in an apocalyptic [violent and final] showdown between Islam and “the forces of evil,” defined not merely as “the West” but also Muslims that do not share al-Qaida’s vision of “true Islam.”
Violence by Muslims in the defense of Islam is the only solution. Peaceful existence with the West is a dangerous illusion…
Muslim governments that cooperate with the West and that have not imposed Sharia law are religiously unacceptable and must be violently overthrown.
— U.S. Department of State, “The Spread of a Poisonous Worldview: Elements of Al-Qa-ida’s Ideology”
Use the quote to answer the question.
Which of the following groups best fits this description of terrorist enemies provided by the U.S. State Department?
A. internal jihadists
B. external jihadists
C. the Northern Alliance
D. political isolationists
What impact did the Arab-Israeli Wars have on the United States in the 1970s?
A. Support for Israel fell in the United States.
B. Closure of the Red Sea shipping lanes hurt American business.
C. OPEC nations stopped oil shipments to the United States.
D. The United States sent military forces to help Israel.
What was a common thread in the fall of communist regimes throughout Eastern Europe?
A. a decline in education and health care
B. poor economies and demands for more rights
C. a lack of strong leaders in communist governments
D. support for military alliance with the United States
PLEASE HELP
To answer the questions:
1. Why did the United States most likely offer economic aid to Russia and Eastern Europe during the 1990s?
To determine the answer, we should consider the context of the 1990s when the Soviet Union had collapsed and Eastern European countries were transitioning towards democracy and market economies. The aim of the United States' economic aid was to help stable, democratic governments emerge in the region. Therefore, the correct answer is C. (to help stable, democratic governments emerge in the region).
To answer this question, you would need knowledge of the historical context of the 1990s and an understanding of the motives behind the United States' actions.
2. What term would best describe the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians?
To determine the answer, we should consider the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The relationship between Israelis and Palestinians has been characterized by hostility due to the ongoing conflict and disputes over land and political control. Therefore, the correct answer is C. (hostile).
To answer this question, you would need knowledge of the historical conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and an understanding of the current state of the relationship between the two parties.
3. Which U.S. policy would Palestinian supporters of the Palestinian Liberation Organization have most likely preferred?
To determine the answer, we should consider the goals and objectives of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and its supporters. The PLO has historically sought the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the end of Israeli occupation. Therefore, Palestinian supporters of the PLO would most likely prefer a policy that supports a peace treaty between Israel, Egypt, and Palestine, as it would contribute to the realization of their goals. Therefore, the correct answer is B. (support for a peace treaty between Israel, Egypt, and Palestine).
To answer this question, you would need knowledge of the goals and objectives of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and an understanding of the various U.S. policies related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
4. How did glasnost contribute to the break-up of the Soviet Union?
To determine the answer, we should consider the impact of glasnost (meaning openness or transparency) on the Soviet Union. Glasnost, introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, allowed citizens to speak openly and express their frustrations. This led to increased criticism of the Soviet regime and the dissemination of ideas of independence among various Soviet republics. Therefore, glasnost contributed to the break-up of the Soviet Union by allowing citizens to challenge the established political order and express their desire for independence. Therefore, the correct answer is D. (By allowing citizens to speak openly, people could express their frustrations).
To answer this question, you would need knowledge of the policies introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev and an understanding of the role of glasnost in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
5. How did Congressional political gridlock during President Obama's administration affect the government?
To determine the answer, we should consider the impact of political gridlock on the functioning of the government. Political gridlock refers to a situation where there is a lack of cooperation and compromise between different political parties, making it difficult to pass legislation. In the case of President Obama's administration, political gridlock in Congress made passing laws extremely difficult by discouraging compromise. Therefore, the correct answer is D. (It made passing laws extremely difficult by discouraging compromise).
To answer this question, you would need knowledge of the politics and legislative process during President Obama's administration and an understanding of the effects of political gridlock.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.