Social Studies: Interim Sample Questions

Front

Which of the following statements explains why so many countries in the United Nations feel it was right to create the State of Israel in 1948?
Options:
There was no one else living on the land at the time.
Arab countries in the area supported the creation of a homeland for the Jews in Palestine.
Many felt the Jews deserved help due to their suffering in the Holocaust.
All national groups in the former Ottoman Empire were being given homelands at the same time.

Back

Many felt the Jews deserved help due to their suffering in the Holocaust.

Front

Which of the following BEST explains the concept of Zionism? Options: The belief that Jews deserved to return to a homeland in Zion where they have lived in Biblical times., The hope that all governments will be based on religious principles., The plan to let Arabs and Jews share the land in Palestine equally., The idea that all religious groups should have their own states

Back

The belief that Jews deserved to return to a homeland in Zion where they have lived in Biblical times.

Front

Why were Jewish people often persecuted, and what was the goal of Zionists?

Back

Jewish people were often persecuted, in part, because they were a minority population in many countries. Zionists worked to create a Jewish state where Jewish people would be the majority.

Front

After the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, why did European partitioning lead to regional conflict in Southwest Asia (Middle East)?

Back

New political boundaries were formed without considering the cultural differences of the people.

Front

Which would be discussed under the headline: “Tribal Revolts in Iraq: Kurds Targeted in North, Shia in the South”?

Back

the conflicts caused by French and British imperialism in Southwest Asia

Front

Why did the change in boundaries between 1914 and 1923 lead to conflict?

Back

They ignored traditional religious and ethnic groups and regions.

Front

describe how land and religion play a role in continuing conflicts in the Middle East (i.e., the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and Kurdish nationalism). Which of the following statements BEST describe the cause of Kurdish nationalism? The Kurds are separated into separate countries by artificial political borders. The Kurds want to rejoin the British imperialists. After the break-up of the Ottoman Empire, the Kurds established their own country. After WWI, the Kurds became the largest ethnic group in Southwest Asia.

Back

The Kurds are separated into separate countries by artificial political borders.

Front

How might the split and conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims have been avoided?

Back

if any of Muhammad’s sons had survived to adulthood to succeed him

Front

Which statement BEST describes how the Middle East’s large supply of oil has affected the history of the region since the 1950s?

Back

It has encouraged foreigners to compete for influence in the region.

Front

The newspaper headlines describe which event in Southwest Asia (Middle East)?

“Iraqi Soldiers March into Kuwait”
“Liberation of Kuwait Begins”
“Iraqi Army Burns Oil Wells During Retreat”

Back

Persian Gulf War