View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What word would best complete the following quote? "No action is taken against a powerful adversary in a _____________" (96).
(a) Nuclear world.
(b) War.
(c) Vacuum.
(d) Benign manner.

2. Who handles all international problems for the U.S.?
(a) The CIA.
(b) The Chief of Staff.
(c) The Secretary of State.
(d) The ambassadors.

3. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, what role did Congress play?
(a) They helped formulate ideas.
(b) Some were members of Ex Comm.
(c) They were informed.
(d) They declared war.

4. How many passengers were on the East German Passenger ship that approached the blockade?
(a) One hundered.
(b) Fifteen hundered.
(c) One thousand.
(d) Fifty.

5. In a conversation between JFK and Robert, how far did JFK say that he wanted to push the Russians?
(a) To the precipice of no turning back.
(b) Not one inch farther than required.
(c) He did not want to push them at all.
(d) To the brink of war.

6. What is the crisis a microcosm for according to the authors of the Afterword?
(a) The inevitability of nuclear war.
(b) The workings of democracy.
(c) Problems of the modern American Presidency.
(d) Problems of the nuclear age.

7. What does Robert claim can "best be judged by conflict, by debate" (86)?
(a) Life.
(b) Leaders.
(c) Business.
(d) Opinion.

8. Who said "war is impossible . . . there is no alternative to peace" (104)?
(a) Dwight D. Eisenhower.
(b) Thomas Schelling.
(c) Robert McNamara.
(d) Theodore Sorensen.

9. What does the change in attitude from the letter received on the 26th and the letter received on the 27th suggest?
(a) Soviet confusion.
(b) Desire for war.
(c) Translation mistakes.
(d) Deception.

10. Which two countries in Africa did JFK seek support from during the missile crisis?
(a) Canary Islands and South Africa.
(b) Algeria and Kenya.
(c) Egypt and Ethiopia.
(d) Guinea and Senegal.

11. What hit the U-2 plane that was flying reconnaissance over Cuba?
(a) Bullets.
(b) Torpedo.
(c) SAM.
(d) Starbursts.

12. Who said "we are now in an entirely new ball game" (74)?
(a) JFK.
(b) Robert Kennedy.
(c) Anderson.
(d) McNamara.

13. What did the Joint Chief of Staff suggest the U.S. do to respond to the letter sent October 27th?
(a) Military action.
(b) Strengthen the blockade.
(c) Meet with Khrushchev personally.
(d) Refuse any negotiations in a letter.

14. What does Robert believe had a "major psychological and practical effect on the Russians and changed our position . . . into a country acting in accordance with twenty allies legally protecting their position" (92)?
(a) The African countries voicing support.
(b) Congressional approval.
(c) Support from the OAS.
(d) A declaration of war.

15. According to all of the discussions of removing missiles from Cuba, who would oversee the removal to be sure it was done?
(a) The OAS
(b) The U.S.
(c) Britain.
(d) The U.N.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who would analyze Khrushchev's personal letter and make recommendations on October 27th?

2. According to Khrushchev, who are the only people who would provoke war in today's nuclear world?

3. Why does Khrushchev claim the Soviet Union has placed missiles in Cuba?

4. Why did JFK originally want to remove the missiles from Turkey?

5. Who said, "I have participated in two wars and know that war ends when it has rolled through cities and villages, everywhere sowing death and destruction" (67)?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 559 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample