Passage Based Questions: The End of Bipolarity - 1 | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

The Berlin Wall symbolized the division between the capitalist and communist world. Built in 1961 to separate East Berlin from West Berlin, this more than 150-kilometer-long wall stood for 28 years and was finally broken by the people on 9 November 1989. This marked the unification of Germany and the beginning of the end of the communist bloc.

i. Which year did the Berlin Wall fall?  (1 mark)
(a) 1985
(b) 1989 
(c) 1991
(d) 2000
ii. What was the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall?  (2 marks)
iii. How did the fall of the Berlin Wall influence Eastern Europe?  (1 mark)

Ans: 
i. (b) 1989
ii. The fall of the Berlin Wall was significant because:

• It symbolized the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe.
• It led to the unification of Germany.

iii. It encouraged democratic movements in other communist countries.

Q2: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came into being after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917. Inspired by the ideals of socialism, the Soviet economy abolished private property and implemented state control over industries, agriculture, and infrastructure.

i. What was the key ideology behind the Soviet system? (1 mark)
(a) Capitalism
(b) Socialism
(c) Fascism
(d) Liberalism
ii. How did the Soviet system differ from a capitalist system? (2 marks)
iii. What were the drawbacks of state-controlled economies? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Socialism 
ii. The Soviet system differed from a capitalist system in the following ways:

• The Soviet economy was centrally planned, while capitalist economies relied on free markets.
• In the Soviet system, the state controlled industries, whereas in capitalism, individuals owned businesses.

iii. The drawbacks of state-controlled economies included:

• Bureaucracy that often led to inefficiency.
• A lack of individual economic freedom.

Q3: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

After World War II, East European countries liberated by the Soviet Union adopted communist governments. These countries became part of the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance that countered NATO during the Cold War.

i. Which military alliance was led by the Soviet Union? (1 mark)
(a) NATO
(b) Warsaw Pact
(c) SEATO
(d) CIS
ii. Why was the Warsaw Pact significant during the Cold War? (2 marks)
iii. What led to the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Warsaw Pact
ii. The Warsaw Pact was significant during the Cold War because:

• It ensured Soviet control over Eastern Europe.
• It counterbalanced NATO’s influence.

iii. The fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.

Q4: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party and introduced Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness) to modernize the Soviet economy and society. However, these reforms led to political instability.

i. Which leader introduced Perestroika and Glasnost? (1 mark)
(a) Lenin
(b) Stalin
(c) Khrushchev
(d) Gorbachev
ii. How did Glasnost and Perestroika impact the Soviet Union? (2 marks)
iii. Why did Gorbachev’s reforms contribute to the collapse of the USSR? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (d) Gorbachev
ii. The impacts of Glasnost and Perestroikaon the Soviet Union included:

• Glasnost allowed for free speech and reduced government censorship.
• Perestroika aimed to decentralise the economy, but it resulted in economic turmoil.

iii. Gorbachev's reforms contributed to the collapse of the USSR due to:

• Economic instability and increased political freedom.
• These changes led to rising demands for independence.

Q5: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1991, the Soviet Union disintegrated, leading to the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Cold War ended, and former Soviet republics became independent.

i. Which year did the Soviet Union officially dissolve? (1 mark)
(a) 1985
(b) 1989
(c) 1991 
(d) 1993
ii. What were the reasons behind the disintegration of the USSR? (2 marks)
iii. How did the disintegration of the USSR affect global politics? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (c) 1991
ii. The disintegration of the USSR was caused by:

• Economic stagnation and increasing nationalism.
• Gorbachev's reforms weakened central control.

iii. This disintegration:

• Ended Cold War rivalries.
• Established the US as the sole superpower.

Q6: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

After the Soviet collapse, post-communist states adopted shock therapy, which aimed at a sudden transition to capitalism. However, this led to economic crises, unemployment, and inflation.

i. What was ‘shock therapy’ in post-Soviet states? (1 mark)
(a) Economic reforms
(b) Military policy
(c) Welfare program
(d) Space mission
ii. What were the consequences of shock therapy? (2 marks)
iii. How did shock therapy impact ordinary citizens? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (a) Economic reforms
ii. 

• Rapid privatization led to corruption and economic collapse.
• The Russian ruble lost value, leading to inflation.

iii. Many lost jobs as industries collapsed.

Q7: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Joseph Stalin led the Soviet Union from 1924 to 1953. He implemented rapid industrialization and forced collectivization of agriculture. His policies strengthened the Soviet Union but also led to mass repression and the Great Purge.

i. Which Soviet leader introduced rapid industrialization and collectivization? (1 mark)
(a) Lenin
(b) Stalin
(c) Khrushchev
(d) Brezhnev
ii. What were the key policies implemented by Stalin? (2 marks)
iii. How did Stalin’s rule shape the Soviet Union? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Stalin
ii. 

• Forced collectivization of agriculture led to famines.
• Industrialization strengthened the Soviet Union but came at the cost of political repression.

iii. His policies made the USSR a global superpower but at the cost of human rights abuses.

Q8: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support a communist government. However, Afghan rebels, supported by the United States, resisted the Soviet occupation. The war drained Soviet resources and contributed to economic stagnation.

i. Which year did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan? (1 mark)
(a) 1971
(b) 1975
(c) 1979
(d) 1983
ii. Why did the Soviet Union intervene in Afghanistan? (2 marks)
iii. How did the Afghan War contribute to the fall of the USSR? (1 mark)

Ans:
i.  (c) 1979
ii. 

• To support the communist government against rebels.
• To maintain influence in the region against Western powers.

iii. The war drained Soviet resources, leading to economic and political instability.

Q9: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

Nikita Khrushchev led the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964. He introduced de-Stalinization, promoted peaceful coexistence with the West, and played a major role in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

i. Which Soviet leader introduced de-Stalinization?(1 mark)
(a) Lenin
(b) Khrushchev
(c) Stalin
(d) Brezhnev
ii. What were Khrushchev’s major policies? (2 marks)
iii. How did Khrushchev’s policies impact Soviet relations with the West? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (b) Khrushchev
ii. 

• He reduced political repression and encouraged limited reforms.
• He promoted peaceful coexistence but confronted the US during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

iii. His approach led to temporary diplomatic improvement but also heightened Cold War tensions.

Q10: Read the Passage below and answer the questions that follow:

In 1962, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a confrontation with the United States. The crisis nearly led to nuclear war but was resolved when both sides agreed to remove their missiles.

i. Which year did the Cuban Missile Crisis take place? (1 mark)
(a) 1959
(b) 1962 
(c) 1965
(d) 1971
ii. What were the main events of the Cuban Missile Crisis? (2 marks)
iii. How did the Cuban Missile Crisis impact US-Soviet relations? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. (b) 1962 
ii. 

• The Soviet Union deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba.
• The US responded with a blockade, leading to negotiations and de-escalation.