Topic 8 AP Exam Practice
Multiple-Choice Questions
Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.
“WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
• to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our life-time has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
• to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
• to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
• to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND FOR THESE ENDS
• to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and
• to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
• to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
• to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples”
Preamble to the United Nations Charter, 1945
1. Which best describes the historical context in which the United Nations was founded?
- (A) The impact of trench warfare in World War I
- (B) The success of the League of Nations
- (C) The long-running U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms race
- (D) The causes and effects of both World War I and World War II
2. Which is the best example of the United Nations using its power as described in the preamble?
- (A) Negotiating an end to World War II
- (B) Sending peace-keeping missions to several different countries
- (C) Helping the United States exit the Vietnam War
- (D) Preventing the Cold War from spreading
3. Which of the following statements is best supported by the Preamble to the United Nations Charter?
- (A) The United Nations should have supreme authority over all the governments of the world.
- (B) The United Nations was formed to maintain world peace and facilitate international cooperation.
- (C) The United Nations works to prevent war between members only and does not get involved in economic or social issues.
- (D) The United Nations does not promote democracy or democratic values in the world. SHORT-ANSWER QUESTION 1. Use the passage below to answer all parts of the question that follows. “Whatever the international tensions and the UN shortcomings, the existence of the United Nations as an institution for all countries created a sense of being part of a world-wide community and helped develop a global consciousness. For developing countries, the United Nations provided a political arena and spearheaded their struggle for decolonization and political emancipation, engendering a feeling of empowerment and importance, and providing a means of participating on the world stage as equals. . . . The norms and standards set by the United Nations specialized agencies have enriched life, both nationally and internationally. The smaller and more technical specialized agencies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Universal Postal Union (UPU), etc. have, through their standards and regulatory regimes, helped in maintaining international order in such diverse areas as meteorology, communications, aviation, etc. Successive global conferences convened by United Nations organizations have helped to identify and focus global attention on new problems relating to such issues as environment, population, energy, science and technology, food and nutrition and women’s place and role in society and social development in general.” South Centre, For a Strong and Democratic United Nations: A South Perspective on UN Reform, 1997 (A) Explain ONE argument in the passage. (B) Explain ONE limitation of the argument selected in the previous question. (C) Explain ONE historical situation in the late 20th century in which the development of the United Nations affected global relations. 2. Answer all parts of the question that follows. (A) Explain ONE way in which international interactions affected human rights issues in the late 20th century. (B) Explain ONE way in which globalization changed international interactions in the late 20th century. (C) Explain ONE way in which an international organization, other than the UN, furthered international cooperation in maintaining world peace in the late 20th century.