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AP Modern World History Practice Quiz: End of the Cold War

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 7 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 7

According to the provided text, which of the following was a direct cause of the end of the Cold War?

All Questions (7)

According to the provided text, which of the following was a direct cause of the end of the Cold War?

A) The success of Soviet economic reforms

B) The Soviet Union's costly and failed invasion of Afghanistan

C) A decrease in U.S. military spending

D) The establishment of new communist states in Africa

Correct Answer: B

The text explicitly states that 'the Soviet Union’s costly and ultimately failed invasion of Afghanistan' was one of the key factors that led to the end of the Cold War.

The text suggests that 'advances in U.S. military and technological development' contributed to the Soviet collapse primarily by:

A) forcing the Soviet Union into a costly arms race it could not sustain.

B) leading to direct military victories over Soviet forces.

C) providing economic aid to countries resisting communism.

D) persuading Soviet citizens to emigrate to the United States.

Correct Answer: A

The text links U.S. technological advances with Soviet 'economic weakness.' This implies that the U.S. developments created pressure on the Soviet Union to compete, which strained its already weak economy and contributed to its collapse.

Which of the following statements best synthesizes the causes for the end of the Cold War as described in the passage?

A) The Soviet Union's collapse was caused exclusively by internal problems such as public discontent.

B) The Cold War ended because of a single, decisive military action by the United States.

C) A combination of external pressures and internal frailties led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

D) Economic strength in communist countries failed to translate into military superiority.

Correct Answer: C

The text attributes the end of the Cold War to multiple factors, including external pressures (U.S. military/tech development, the Afghanistan war) and internal frailties (public discontent, economic weakness). This option correctly combines both categories.

In addition to military challenges, the text identifies which internal conditions within communist countries as a cause for the Cold War's conclusion?

A) Political stability and popular leadership

B) Rapid industrial growth and innovation

C) Religious revival and cultural renaissance

D) Public discontent and economic weakness

Correct Answer: D

The provided content explicitly mentions 'public discontent and economic weakness in communist countries' as key reasons for the end of the Cold War.

A historian could best use the information in the passage to argue that the Soviet system failed because it:

A) lacked the ability to manage both internal societal needs and external military competition.

B) was betrayed by its allies in the Warsaw Pact.

C) underestimated the military strength of Afghanistan.

D) prioritized economic development over technological advancement.

Correct Answer: A

The passage highlights the combination of 'economic weakness' and 'public discontent' (internal needs) with the pressures from 'U.S. military and technological development' and the 'costly' Afghanistan invasion (external competition). This supports the argument that the system could not handle both simultaneously.

The various causes for the end of the Cold War mentioned in the text can be broadly grouped into which two categories?

A) Diplomatic and Cultural

B) Environmental and Ideological

C) Military and Socio-economic

D) Political and Religious

Correct Answer: C

The factors listed fall into two main groups: Military ('U.S. military and technological development,' 'invasion of Afghanistan') and Socio-economic ('public discontent and economic weakness').

Based on the passage, the 'costly and ultimately failed invasion of Afghanistan' most likely exacerbated which other factor contributing to the Soviet collapse?

A) Advances in U.S. military technology

B) Economic weakness and public discontent

C) The success of communist parties in Western Europe

D) The effectiveness of Soviet intelligence agencies

Correct Answer: B

A 'costly' war would drain financial and material resources, worsening the existing 'economic weakness.' A 'failed' war, with its human and political costs, would fuel 'public discontent' with the government's leadership and policies.