View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Robert sarcastically claim to be the advantage to being wrong in the case of military action?
(a) No one would be around to know.
(b) All of the enemies would be destroyed.
(c) America's nuclear power would keep other countries from voicing disapproval.
(d) It was favored by the American people.

2. What statement did the Russians make public on September 11th?
(a) Russia made no statement.
(b) They would put missiles in any country they want.
(c) The missiles already in Cuba would remain there.
(d) They had no intention of putting missiles in Cuba.

3. What book had JFK recently read that had to do with miscalculations leading to war?
(a) The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.
(b) Night.
(c) The Dangerous Summer.
(d) The Guns of August.

4. When Robert meets with Dobrynin after the blockade is put into effect, what does Dobrynin say the ships will do?
(a) Turn back to Russia.
(b) Take military action against boarders.
(c) Re-route to another country.
(d) Continue as planned.

5. Who does JFK meet with whom Robert claims he "trusted implicitly" (51)?
(a) Secretary John McNamara.
(b) Secretary Adlai Stevenson.
(c) Ambassador Dobrynin.
(d) Ambassador David Ormsby-Gore.

6. What is SAM an acronym for?
(a) Surface attack mission.
(b) Strategy against missiles.
(c) Surface-to-air-missile.
(d) Submarine aquatic mission.

7. What was one recommendation from the military action plan?
(a) Nuclear bombardment of Cuba.
(b) Nuclear bombardment of Russia.
(c) Permission granted by the UN.
(d) A warning sent to Khrushchev.

8. What piece of information caused JFK to favor the blockade?
(a) No guarantee that American lives would not be lost.
(b) Russian promise to use nuclear weapons against Berlin.
(c) No guarantee of all missiles being destroyed.
(d) The Russian demand to remove bombs from Turkey.

9. What happened around 10:30, October 27th, the first day of the blockade?
(a) The Cubans overran the U.S. embassy.
(b) The Russian ships fired upon a U-2.
(c) The Russian ships stopped.
(d) The Cubans shot down a plane.

10. According to Robert in the section, "It was now up to one single man," what did JFK stress in his speech to the nation?
(a) The blockade was the initial step.
(b) The U.S. was not yet in danger.
(c) The surgical air-strike was the initial step.
(d) The U.S. would invade Cuba.

11. Who does Robert speak to about the President's concern about missiles in Cuba on September 4th?
(a) Ambassador Dobrynin.
(b) The Deputy Attorney General.
(c) Soviet Chairman Nikita Khrushchev.
(d) The President.

12. Who suggested that the US take military action against Cuba for America's safety, not knowing about the missiles?
(a) Senator Homer E. Caphart.
(b) Senator J. William Fulbright.
(c) Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
(d) Senator Richard B. Russell.

13. What did Secretary McNamara do, despite his dissent to the strategy?
(a) Ordered the blockade.
(b) Prepared the military for air bombardments.
(c) Prepared the documents to release Berlin to Russia.
(d) Sent communication to Khrushchev for a summit.

14. Who said, "You are in a pretty bad fix, Mr. President" (29)?
(a) General LeMay.
(b) Robert F. Kennedy.
(c) John F. Kennedy.
(d) General Shoup.

15. What might have happened to the President if he had not acted?
(a) Impeachment.
(b) Public humiliation.
(c) Nothing.
(d) Death.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who, due to his role in the government, might have been the leader of Ex Comm if he had been able to attend more meetings?

2. What type of non-fiction is Thirteen Days?

3. What did JFK ask in a letter to Khrushchev after ordering the blockade?

4. Who unanimously pushed for immediate military action on Thursday October 18th?

5. What does Robert believe often leads to war?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 599 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample