AnswersUnited States HistoryThe Arms Race and the Space Race

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1
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In October of 1957, the Soviet Union shocked the United States by

A
refusing to build missiles.
B
testing the first hydrogen bomb.
C
increasing their defense spending.
D
launching the satellite Sputnik I.
2
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The arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union began when

A
the Soviet Union developed its own atomic bomb.
B
NASA created the Mercury program.
C
the US first launched a nuclear missile.
D
the Soviet Union launched its first satellite.
3

What was the link between the launch of Sputnik I and the National Defense Educational Act?

A
The launch of Sputnik I meant the US no longer needed the funds provided by the National Defense Education Act.
B
The National Defense Education Act was created in response to the launch of Sputnik I.
C
The development of Sputnik I came about because of information generated by the National Defense Education Act.
D
The National Defense Education Act created the funds necessary to develop and launch Sputnik I.
4

Why did the US suffer a loss of confidence following the launch of Sputnik I?

A
The US assumed that they would be first into space, before the Soviets.
B
The US knew that they would not be able to build a satellite like Sputnik I.
C
The space race had ended and the United States had lost.
D
Sputnik I was a better satellite than the ones the US had launched.
5

Which of these is the best definition of the term nuclear deterrence?

A
the idea that the threat of nuclear war was enough to stop an attack
B
the idea that no nuclear weapon was as strong as armed forces
C
the competition to acquire more and deadlier weapons
D
the belief that a nuclear war would have no winner
6

In 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union signed a treaty stating that

A
all nuclear testing would be held underground.
B
only the US and the USSR could have nuclear weapons.
C
all nuclear testing would be halted.
D
the use of nuclear weapons would be banned.
7

How does the concept of competition relate to the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War?

A
The two nations wanted to best one another in the development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons, which drove the competition between them.
B
The two nations were not concerned about one another or their nuclear capabilities, so there was no competition between them.
C
The two nations were interested in working together to produce nuclear weaponry, which extinguished any competition between them.
D
The two nations felt that face-to-face battles would be more effective than nuclear weapons, which led to a violent competition between them.
8

After the success of the Sputnik launch in 1957, the US feared that

A
any future satellites would not be as successful.
B
the USSR had used technology developed by the US.
C
the Soviets had superior nuclear capabilities.
D
it would never be able to launch its own satellite.
9

Which of these was a consequence of testing the H-bomb?

A
fusion reaction
B
missile gap
C
radiation sickness
D
fission reaction
10

How did the concept of mutually assured destruction influence the Cold War?

A
It prohibited the US from developing missiles to deliver the bombs.
B
It showed that the Soviets were unable to develop a nuclear weapon.
C
It proved that there was no safe place to test nuclear weapons.
D
It reminded people that a nuclear war would be devastating for everyone.

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