Multiple choice questions. Choose the best answer.
- Which one of the following political terms best describes Russia prior to 1914?
a) theocracy
b) military junta
c) autocracy
d) social democracy
- Which one of the following best reflects the cooperative ideals of "internationalism" in the late 1800's and early 1900's?
a) the Hague Conference (1899)
b) the Boxer Protocol (1901)
c) the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902)
d) the Portsmouth Treaty (1905)
- The international spread of communism was the objective of
a) the Cheka.
b) the Comintern.
c) the Comencon.
d) the Gosplan.
- The objective of the "comintern" is best described as
a) socialism in one country.
b) the spread of world revolution.
c) the development of industry in Russia.
d) the elimination of political dissidents.
- In the ten years before World War One, repressive pogroms continued in
a) Britain under King George V.
b) Russia under Czar Nicholas II.
c) Belgium under King Leopold.
d) Prussia under Emperor Whilhem.
- Which of the following phrases best describes Nicholas II of Russia?
a) A far-sighted political leader
b) A stern but benevolent leader
c) An autocratic and unlimited monarch
d) A leader bound by constitution
- The most violent of the Pre-Revolutionary parties in Russia was
a) the Social Revolutionaries.
b) the Constitutional Democrats.
c) the Liberals.
d) the Social Democrats.
- The St Petersburg Soviet which was formed in 1905
a) called for an end to the Czarist regime.
b) shared power with the Duma until 1917.
c) was dominated by the Bolsheviks.
d) demanded an immediate end to the war with Germany.
- An immediate result of the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War was
a) the Bolshevik takeover.
b) Bloody Sunday.
c) the abdication of Czar Nicholas II.
d) the formation of a provisional government.
- Which of the following was partly a result of the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War?
a) Soviets and Duma
b) Bolsheviks and Mensheviks
c) Zemstvos and Praesidium
d) Red Army and White Army
- Czar Nicholas II survived the 1905 Revolution because
a) he agreed to introduce a number of reforms.
b) he was able to crush all opposition to his rule.
c) foreign countries provided him with military aid.
d) foreign countries invaded Russia to help him.
- Following the 1905 Revolution, the "Russian Parliament" was called
a) the Soviet.
b) the Zemstovos.
c) the Duma.
d) the Provisional Government.
- Which of the following best describes Nicolas' relationship with the Duma?
a) He cooperated willingly with the Duma on all matters.
b) He dismissed the Duma whenever it refused to act submissively.
c) He rigged the Duma elections to favour the Proletariat.
d) He claimed the Duma was illegal and had no authority.
- Which one of the following Romanov czars was ruling Russia in 1914?
a) Nicholas I
b) Nicholas II
c) Alexander I
d) Alexander II
- Which one of the following was NOT a source of discontent in Russia prior to 1914?
a) the Peace of Brest-Litovsk
b) the massacre on Bloody Sunday
c) working conditions in the factories
d) Czarist refusal to share political power
- The greatest threat to the stability of Europe prior to World War One proved to be
a) the Comintern.
b) the Alliance System.
c) the Social Revolutionary movement.
d) the International Court of Justice.
- In 1914, Czar Nicholas II declared "An unjust war has been declared on a weak country. The anger in Russia, shared fully by me, is enormous." The "unjust war" Nicholas referred to had been declared by
a) Turkey on Bosnia.
b) Germany on France.
c) Rumania on Moldovia.
d) Austria-Hungary on Serbia.
- A Russian complaint regarding the seaport of Odessa is that
a) the harbour is ice-bound most of the year.
b) the harbour is too shallow.
c) ocean-access is too close to Finland.
d) ocean-access is through the Turkish-controlled Dardanelles.
- A major cause of Russia's unsuccessful war effort in World War One was
a) the Kornilov conspiracy.
b) the lack of support from Russia's allies.
c) the heavy losses suffered by the navy.
d) the army was poorly lead and supplied.
- Which one of the following contributed to the mass desertions of Russian troops in World War One?
a) Czar Nicholas decided to abdicate.
b) Allied powers favoured a withdrawal of Russian troops.
c) Tolstoy organized a revolt in the army.
d) Soldiers were discouraged by their defeats.
- During World War One, the unpopularity of the Russian monarchy increased for all of the following reasons EXCEPT
a) military failures on the Eastern Front.
b) food shortages among the civilian population.
c) the role of Rasputin in the government.
d) support for Serbia in the face of Austrian demands.
- The largest social class of people in Russia in 1917 was the
a) peasantry.
b) middle class.
c) industrial working class.
d) bourgeoisie.
- The Russian revolutions of 1917 were a response to all of the following EXCEPT
a) ethnic rivalry.
b) an unpopular war.
c) government incompetence.
d) massive economic problems.
- In February 1917, Czar Nicholas II ordered that the "disorders in Petrograd, intolerable during these difficult times of war with Germany and Austria, be ended." The immediate consequence of the "disorders in Petrograd" was the
a) creation of the Duma.
b) abdication of the Czar.
c) rise to power of the Bolsheviks.
d) ending of the war with Germany and Austria.
- Before the 1917 revolutions in Russia
a) the Bolsheviks controlled the Duma.
b) industrialization was increasing rapidly.
c) Nicholas II had disbanded the secret police.
d) peasants had been given ownership of their land.
- At the time of the 1917 revolutions, the Petrograd Soviet was dominated by
a) Mensheviks.
b) Kadets.
c) Social Revolutionaries.
d) Bolsheviks.
- In September 1917, an attempted military coup against the Provisional Government in Russia was led by
a) Lenin.
b) Brusilov.
c) Kornilov.
d) Kerensky.
- In November 1917, the leader of the Bolsheviks was
a) Lenin.
b) Trotsky.
c) Kornilov.
d) Kerensky.
- In 1917, Trotsky proclaimed "The soldiers, workers and peasants of Russia did not overthrow the governments of the Tsar and Kerensky merely to become cannon fodder for the allied imperialists." A result of the ideas expressed in the quotation was the
a) Kornilov affair.
b) Treaty of Versailles.
c) Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
d) creation of the Comintern.
- In 1918, Lenin declared "The Revolution has to be safeguarded no matter what the price." The "price" Lenin paid was
a) signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
b) withdrawal from the League of Nations.
c) continuation of the war against Germany.
d) acceptance of terms imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.
- Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in order to
a) overthrow the Provisional Government.
b) aquire control of Port Arthur.
c) settle the Polish Question.
d) end the war with the Central Powers.
- Lenin negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk because
a) War Communism had failed.
b) the Red Army had defeated the Germans.
c) he could make significant territorial gains.
d) he wanted to establish Communism in Russia.
- One major purpose of "War Communism" was to
a) implement Marxist principles.
b) overthrow the Provisional Government.
c) establish Russian control over the Baltic states.
d) re-organize the army in order to defeat Germany.
- The Western Allies intervened in Russia's Civil War in support of the
a) Reds.
b) Kadets.
c) Whites.
d) Tsarists.
- Who is generally regarded as the creator of the Red Army?
a) Kerensky.
b) Stalin.
c) Kornilov.
d) Trotsky.
- Which of the following represents a change in Soviet foreign policy after 1917?
a) Communism would be confined to eastern Europe
b) Communism would adopt capitalist policies
c) Communism would be centred in Russia
d) Communism would be international
- Marxist theories of a "classless society" have been most corrupted in
a) Japan.
b) Russia.
c) China.
d) India.
- Which one of the following was a policy of Lenin's April Theses in 1917?
a) expropriation of all landed estates
b) cooperation with the Provisional Government
c) defense of Mother Russia
d) gradual introduction of capitalism
- Which one of the following was put into practice by Lenin and was contrary to Marxist theory?
a) Socialism in one country
b) New Economic Policy
c) War Communism
d) Five Year Plans
- The first Russian Five Year Plan was LEAST concerned with
a) raising the standard of living.
b) increasing industrial production.
c) increasing the acreage of collective farms.
d) building railways and canals.
- The New Economic Policy was introduced because
a) Marxist theory was against capitalism.
b) successive wars had ruined Russian production.
c) Lenin needed foreign support to win the Civil War.
d) Stalin's ambitions had weakened Lenin's leadership.
- Which Soviet economic policy permitted private ownership of small businesses?
a) War Communism
b) Five Year Plans
c) Collectivization
d) New Economic Policy
- In 1922, Russia signed the Treaty of Rapallo with
a) Germany.
b) France and Italy.
c) France and Great Britain.
d) Italy and Germany.
- In 1924, the Russian city of Petrograd was renamed
a) Leningrad.
b) St. Petersburg.
c) Stalingrad.
d) Volgagrad.
- Which nation was a member of the League of Nations during its entire existence?
a) Russia
b) France
c) Japan
d) Germany
Answer key 1. _ 6. _ 11. _ 2. _ 7. _ 12. _ 3. _ 8. _ 13. _ 4. _ 9. _ 14. _ 5. _ 10. _ 15. _
Compiling such a data bank is an ongoing process. Comments and contributions are appreciated by those persons who use this resource.
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