1Which of the following statements best describes Russia's geography?
- It has few neighboring countries and is surrounded mostly by water.
- It has the largest population of any country in the world.
- It is much larger, though less populated, than the United States, Brazil, or China.
- It lacks natural resources.
2During much of the twentieth century, Russia operated under what type of government?
- Communism
- liberal democracy
- military authoritarianism
- theocracy
3How did glasnost and perestroika hasten the end of the Soviet Union?
- They unleashed political and economic forces the state could not control.
- They proved unpopular and led to demonstrations and rebellions.
- They were ignored by the public, dooming reform efforts.
- They were militarily opposed by the United States, leading to military conflict.
4In today's Russian political regime, power is concentrated in the hands of
- Vladimir Putin.
- the Constitutional Court.
- the prime minister.
- the Duma.
5There have been several changes to Russia's electoral system in the past several decades. These changes have been driven by
- the Duma's desire for more independent authority.
- Constitutional Court rulings.
- a desire by Vladimir Putin to consolidate political power.
- several rounds of reform commissions suggesting new arrangements.
6Which of the following best characterizes political parties in Russia?
- Political parties exist to support the political aspirations of specific elites.
- Political parties are primarily arranged along ideological lines.
- Political parties can run for seats in the Duma but are not allowed to run candidates for local offices due to asymmetric federalism.
- Political parties are illegal under the current regime.
7When it comes to ideology, Russia has seen a rise in in recent years.
- liberalism
- religious fundamentalism
- nationalism
- democratic socialism
8Russia's economy is currently heavily reliant on which of these industries?
- financial services
- agricultural production and export
- natural resource extraction, such as oil and gas
- software and hardware development
9Russia has felt growing external pressure from expansion by which two organizations?
- the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- the Commonwealth of Independent States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- the European Union and the United Nations
- the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Federation Council
10Which of the following statements best describes Russia's geography?
- It is much larger, though less populated, than the United States.
- It has few neighboring countries and is surrounded mostly by water.
- It lacks natural resources.
- It has a population larger than that of the European Union or the United States.
11Historically, Russia's international identity can be described as
- strongly influenced by Confucianism's spread from China.
- uncertain as to whether it was truly a part of Europe.
- strongly influenced by Sufi Islam and Turkish culture.
- uncertain as to whether it was part of Asia or the Mediterranean.
12After Stalin's death in 1953, the Soviet leadership made which of the following changes?
- Economic control was taken away from the central planning bureaucracy.
- The nomenklatura lost their authority over the daily life of citizens.
- Use of centralized power was reduced.
- Power was taken away from the Politburo.
13Gorbachev's reforms in the 1980s relied on the policies of glasnost and perestroika, or
- political openness and economic restructuring.
- demilitarization and federalism.
- economic reform and increased competition with the West.
- multiparty elections and constitutional reform.
14Which of the following was the ultimate result of Gorbachev's attempt at reform?
- The breakup of the Soviet Union.
- Increased economic growth.
- Democratic elections by which the Communists were returned to power.
- Membership in the European Union.
15Civil society in Russia
- has been repressed under Putin.
- was weak under Soviet rule but has grown dramatically since then.
- has built and supports a vibrant and diverse media.
- remains strong as a legacy of Soviet rule.
16In which of the following ways has the Russian government sought to combat its demographic problems?
- Offering cash payments to Westerners who immigrate to Russia.
- Offering cash bonuses to women who have more than two children.
- Barring all immigration from Asian countries.
- Increasing taxes on immigrants who have more than two children.
17The Commonwealth of Independent States is
- the coordinating body that manages relations between the European Union and Russia.
- the post-Soviet military alliance of Russia, Cuba, North Korea, and Vietnam.
- a body used by Russia to retain influence over former Soviet republics.
- the name for the European Union before it took in Russia as a full member.
18Settlers from France first populated which of the following areas of modern Canada?
- Along the Columbia River.
- Along the coast of Hudson Bay.
- Along the St. Lawrence River.
- Along the Churchill River.
19Which of the following was not an effect of the American War of Independence on Canada?
- Large numbers of English-speaking loyalist settlers moved from what became the United States into what is now the province of Ontario.
- Canada was given immediate self-government by a cabinet chosen by its own elected assembly.
- Québec was split into two parts, Upper and Lower Canada.
- The southern portion of Québec, from the Great Lakes south to the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, was ceded to the United States to form what became known as the Northwest Territory.
20Which of the following was not one of the four founding provinces of Canada in 1867?
- Nova Scotia
- Alberta
- Québec
- Ontario
21Compared to the United States, federalism in Canada
- was initially designed to produce a very decentralized government but has produced a very centralized one in practice today.
- assigns all responsibility for criminal law to the provinces.
- does not allow the provinces to levy their own taxes.
- was initially designed to produce a more powerful national government but, in practice, today Canadian provinces have more independent authority than American states.
22The functions of the head of state of Canada are carried out by
- the actual head of state (king or queen) if present, or by the governor-general of Canada if the king or queen is absent.
- the prime minister of Canada.
- the king or queen of Canada at all times.
- the governor-general of Canada at all times.
23Compared to the U.S. Senate, the Canadian Senate is
- more powerful.
- elected to shorter terms.
- less powerful.
- chosen by provincial legislators.
24The prime minister of Canada from November 2015 to March 2025 was
- Justin Trudeau
- Pierre Poilievre.
- Elizabeth May.
- Jagmeet Singh.
25The most left-wing of Canada's major national political parties is
- the New Democratic Party.
- the Liberal Party.
- the Conservative Party.
- the Bloc Québecois.
26The most distinct of Canada's ten provinces, in terms of its politics and culture, is
- Québec.
- British Columbia.
- Ontario.
- New Brunswick.
27The most defining feature of U.S.–Canadian relations today is
- ongoing heated disputes over the location of the northern border between the western United States and Canada, characterized by the slogan "54-50 or bust."
- debate over whether the United States and Canada should have a single currency.
- pressure by Canada to force Americans to consume Canadian cultural content like music by artists such as Drake, The Weeknd, Céline Dion, and Avril Lavigne.
- an asymmetric relationship in which the relationship with the United States is much more central and critical to Canadian interests than the relationship with Canada is to the interests of the United States.
28Which of the following statements about Mexico's geography and demography is NOT true?
- Mexico has one of the largest populations in the Americas.
- Most Mexicans live in urban environments.
- Mexico's population is ethnically and racially fairly homogenous.
- Mexico has a diverse geography, spanning from rainforests to mountains to farmlands.
29Twentieth-century Mexican politics was dominated by which political party?
- the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI)
- the Partido Accion Nacional (PAN)
- the Mexican Green Ecologist Party (PVEM)
- the Partido de la Revolucion Democråtica (PRD)
30Which of the following best describes the political trend during Mexico's first century of independence?
- The country suffered through multiple regimes and dictatorships.
- The country became a Catholic theocracy.
- The country developed a robust multiparty democratic regime.
- The country rapidly settled on a one-party authoritarian regime.
31Which of the following best describes Mexico's political regime?
- a parliamentary regime that uses proportional representation
- a parliamentary regime that uses a mixed electoral system
- a presidential regime that uses proportional representation
- a presidential regime that uses a mixed electoral system
32Over time, the Mexican presidency
- has become more powerful.
- has become less powerful.
- has stayed at about the same level of power.
- lost power over the course of the PRI's dominance but is once again becoming a more powerful force.
33The Partido Revolucionario Institucional was able to keep power for so long in part due to ______, or informal networks of personal loyalty
- caciques
- criollos
- caudillos
- camarillas
34Which of the following statements about Mexican political culture is accurate?
- Mexico has consistently had voter turnout below 50 percent in national elections.
- Mexico has the highest levels of participation in politics and political activism among Latin American states.
- Mexican political culture is marked by a deep distrust of the state and the government.
- Mexican political culture is marked by low levels of individuality and strong class-based identities.
35Which of the following best describes Mexico's economic shift in the past 50 years?
- economic liberalism to import substitution industrialization (ISI)
- import substitution industrialization (ISI) to economic liberalism
- social democracy to communism
- communism to social democracy
36Mexican foreign relations have been most powerfully shaped by the country's complex relationship with
- the United Nations.
- the European Union.
- the United States.
- the Soviet Union (and later Russia) .
37The dominant political party in twentieth-century Mexico was the
- Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI, Institutional Revolutionary Party).
- Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM, Ecological Green Party of Mexico).
- Partido Acción Nacional (PAN, National Action Party).
- Partido de la Revolucíon Democrática (PRD, Party of the Democratic Revolution).
38For Mexico, what was a drawback of the "Mexican miracle"?
- Declining oil prices.
- Major dependence on the U.S. economy.
- Greater reliance on exports to the south.
- Reduced manufacturing.
39The conquistadores defeated which indigenous Mexican group?
40Both the PAN and the PRD are part of the traditional opposition to the PRI. How have PAN policies differed from those of the PRD?
- The PAN has been less willing to stand against corruption.
- The PAN has drawn more power at the state level and has been a bigger supporter of states' rights.
- The PAN has been more secular, advocating a reduction of church power.
- The PAN has become less business-friendly than the PRD during the last few decades.
41Mexican presidents are elected for
- up to 3 six-year terms.
- up to 2 six-year terms.
- a single six-year term.
- up to 2 four-year terms.
42Most Mexicans today are
- Protestant
- Amerindian
- Mestizo
- of solely european descent
43What are maquiladoras?
- Large state-backed agriculture corporations.
- Factories that import materials to make goods for export.
- Corrupt politicians.
- Indigenous communities in southern Mexico.
44The current president of Mexico, who took office in October 2024, is
- Claudia Sheinbaum
- Enrique Pena Nieto
- Ricardo Anayta Cortes
- Carlos Slim Helu
45Elections to the lower house of the Mexican Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, use
- closed list proportional representation for all 500 seats.
- single-member district elections for all 500 seats.
- 100 five-member seats elected using the single transferable vote method.
- 300 single-member districts and five 40-member seats elected proportionally, in parallel.
46"Subcomandante Marcos" is the pseudonym used by the leader of the
- PVEM political party.
- Mexican Senate
- Zetas drug cartel
- Zapatista rebellion in Southern Mexico
47Nigeria's history as an independent country
- has been marked by alternating military coups and democratic regimes.
- began with a peaceful transition to a stable democratic regime.
- has featured a theocratic authoritarian regime until fairly recent democratic reforms.
- is among the longest in Africa, having gained independence in the 1800s.
48Which group tried to secede from Nigeria in 1967, setting off a civil war?
- Sokoto Caliphate
- Boko Haram
- Republic of Biafra
- Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)
49What is Nigeria's political regime?
- federal parliamentary regime
- federal presidential regime
- unitary parliamentary regime
- unitary presidential regime
50What is one unique aspect of Nigeria's presidential election system?
- president must win a majority of votes, and run-offs are held, eliminating one
candidate at a time, until someone does. - The runner-up is automatically invited to serve in the winning candidate's cabinet.
- The use of a distribution requirement stating that a candidate must win at least 25
- Presidents can serve an unlimited number of terms, provided they win more votes in
each election than the one before.
51What are the two major parties in Nigeria?
- the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP)
- the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP)
- the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD)
- the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All People's Party (APP)
52What is Nigeria's most important export?
53Nigeria has been the dominant force in which international organization?
- ECOWAS
- MERCOSUR
- the UN
- the EU
54Nigerian ethnic groups that are predominantly Muslim include the
- Hausa and Fulani.
- Igbo and Yoruba.
- Ijaw and Oyo.
- Zulu and Inkatha.
55Nigeria's current legislative-executive system may be classified as
- prime ministerial.
- presidential
- semi-presidential
- parliamentary
56Nigeria's current era (the Fourth Republic) has generally been characterized by
- successive military coups.
- the establishment of a parliamentary legislative system.
- successive peaceful democratic elections.
- devolution of authority to regional legislatures.
57The declared winner of Nigeria's disputed 2023 election was
- Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
- Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
- Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
- Rabi'u Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
58The lower house of Nigeria's parliament is called the
- House of Representatives.
- House of Burgesses.
- House of Councilors.
- Chamber of Deputies.
59Boko Haram is
- Nigeria's largest trade union.
- a nongovernmental organization promoting environmental awareness.
- a radical Islamist sect.
- an environmentally sensitive savanna region.
60Divisions among Nigeria's political parties are primarily based on
- wealth.
- ethnicity
- ideology
- history
61Compared to the political parties in most western societies, the major parties in Nigeria tend to be
- more socially liberal.
- more economically conservative.
- more socially conservative.
- more economically liberal.
62An abundance of state-controlled natural resources that supports an authoritarian regime is an example of what is sometimes called
- petrol authoritarianism.
- the resource curse.
- the authoritarian asset.
- a resource regime.
63The 1967–70 Nigerian civil war led to the brief existence of the Republic of Biafra in
- northern Nigeria.
- southeastern Nigeria.
- southwestern Nigeria.
- modern Cameroon.
64Which of the following best captures China's major geographic and demographic features?
- China is geographically very large, but very sparsely populated due to a hostile
terrain and climate. - China is only a medium-sized country geographically, but an extremely dense urban
population means it has one of the largest populations in the world. - China is both geographically one of the largest countries in the world and has one
of the highest populations. - China is a medium-sized mountainous country, with a population roughly equal to
Germany and France.
65What is China's historical development particularly notable for?
- having an early and strong centralized state that succumbed to weakness in the
modern era - sealing itself off from global trade and political influence for centuries
66Which group won the Chinese Civil War in the immediate aftermath of World War Il?
- Qing dynasty
- the Kuomintang (KMT)
- The Chinese communist party
67Which of the following best summarizes China's political regime?
- a theocratic nondemocratic regime
- a presidential regime
- a parliamentary regime
- a one-party nondemocratic regime
68What body holds the real political power and authority in China?
- the Communist Party and, especially, the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC)
- the Communist Party and, especially, the National Party Congress (NPC)
- the National People's Congress
- the judicial system
69What has been the trend of Chinese civil society in the past 50 years?
- It has declined precipitously under the watchful gaze of the CCP.
- It was initially allowed to flower in the post-Mao era, though it has since been restricted by the CCP in the past decade.
- It has grown to become more vibrant and influential since the Mao-era restrictions on civil society organizations were lifted.
- It has never been allowed to exist.
70Which of the following best describes nationalism in China?
- It was an important force in the twentieth century and has become even more so in the twenty-first.
- It has not played a significant role in Chinese political society and culture.
- It has long laid dormant after the humiliations of World War ll.
- It was an important force in the twentieth century, but the CCP has worked to lower nationalist feelings in the twenty-first.
71Which of the following is NOT a problem created by China's economic reforms and rapid growth over the past several decades?
- Increased farm productivity has led to increased rural unemployment.
- Income and wealth inequality has grown rapidly.
- Pollution has led to deurbanization as people flee hostile urban environments
- Increased industrialization has led to significant environmental damage and resource shortages.
72What potential conflict is the most serious threat to China's peaceful rise?
- its support of African authoritarian regimes
- its role in the United Nations
- its alliance with Russia
- the future of Taiwan
73Which of the following represents a core component of Confucianism?
- Elevation of the people's will.
- Meritocracy.
- Elimination of hierarchy.
- Equality of wealth.
74Mao and the Chinese Communist Party's circuitous 1930s retreat westward into China's hinterland was known as the
- Long March.
- Ten Thousand Li Struggle.
- Prelude to Victory.
- Heroic Retreat
75The Chinese political organization that vied with the Chinese Communist Party for control of China during the first half of the twentieth century was the Kuomintang or Guómíndǎng, known in English as the
- Beijing Alliance
- Nationalist Party
- Democratic League
- Chinese liberation party
76The Chinese Communists' disastrous attempt in the late 1950s to depart from the Soviet model by rapidly establishing locally directed communes was known as
- the Cultural Revolution.
- The Hundred Flowers campaign
- reform and opening
- the Great Leap Forward
77The Red Guard was composed of
- Maoist student radicals during the Cultural Revolution.
- the initial leaders of the Chinese Revolution in 1949.
- the founders of the Chinese Communist Party in the 1920s.
- the pro-Soviet faction of the Chinese Communist Party in the 1950s.
78The Chinese leader responsible for initiating China's post-Mao program of reform and opening was
- Xi Jinping.
- Hu Jintao
- Wen Jiabao
- Deng Xiaoping
79China's legislature is known as the
- Plenary Hall.
- Socialist People's Parliament
- House of the People
- National People's congress
80Coastal capitalist enclaves established during the late 1970s as part of reform and opening were known as
- entrepôts
- kaifa
- special economic zones.
- duty-free districts.
81The current paramount leader of China is
- Xi Jinping
- Hu Jintao
- Hu Jintao
- Hua Guofeng
82Which of the following territories claimed by the People's Republic of China is not actually governed by the PRC in practice?
- Taiwan
- Hong Kong
- Macau
- Tibet