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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. At what time did the long and personal letter from Khrushchev come on October 26th?
(a) 6PM.
(b) Noon.
(c) Midnight.
(d) 6AM.

2. What animal does Khrushchev compare Russia and the U.S. to when he says they will be exterminated in the case of a war?
(a) Rats.
(b) Doves.
(c) Hawkes.
(d) Moles.

3. Who handles all international problems for the U.S.?
(a) The ambassadors.
(b) The CIA.
(c) The Secretary of State.
(d) The Chief of Staff.

4. Why does Khrushchev claim the Soviet Union has placed missiles in Cuba?
(a) To fire upon all major U.S. cities.
(b) To potect the Soviet people in Cuba.
(c) To provoke the U.S. into war.
(d) To prevent the U.S. from invading.

5. According to Robert in "The importance of placing ourselves in the other country's shoes," why was JFK reluctant to attack the missile sites after a U.S. U-2 was shot down?
(a) The Russians would be forced to retaliate.
(b) The Cubans would attack
(c) It would humiliate Castro.
(d) Too many innocents would die.

6. How did Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. die?
(a) Drowned.
(b) Killed in WWII.
(c) Assassinated.
(d) Contracted polio.

7. According to Khrushchev, who are the only people who would provoke war in today's nuclear world?
(a) Morons and aggressors.
(b) Democrats.
(c) Americans.
(d) Lunatics and suicides.

8. Who does JFK write to after the Russians agree to remove missiles from Cuba?
(a) Castro.
(b) Mrs. Anderson.
(c) Khrushchev.
(d) Mrs. Onasis.

9. What does Robert claim can "best be judged by conflict, by debate" (86)?
(a) Life.
(b) Leaders.
(c) Opinion.
(d) Business.

10. What did JFK believe was the likelihood of nuclear war when dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis?
(a) Ninety percent.
(b) One in ten.
(c) One in three.
(d) Fifty - fifty.

11. When JFK says, "this is the night I should go to the theater" (84), what famous historical figure is he referencing?
(a) Dwight D. Eisenhower.
(b) Abraham Lincoln.
(c) Harry S. Truman.
(d) Martin Luther King Jr.

12. According to the Afterword, the Cuban Missile Crisis is important on how many levels?
(a) Five.
(b) Three.
(c) Two.
(d) Ten.

13. What did Robert promise to do with his daughters on October 28th?
(a) Go shopping.
(b) Buy Halloween costumes.
(c) Attend the theater.
(d) Go to a Horse Show.

14. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, what role did Congress play?
(a) They helped formulate ideas.
(b) They were informed.
(c) They declared war.
(d) Some were members of Ex Comm.

15. How many Russian submarines were in the Caribbean after the blockade took effect?
(a) 5.
(b) 2.
(c) 12.
(d) 6.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who would not allow Russian planes to refuel or land in Dakar?

2. Who was approached by a Soviet Embassy official to offer a proposal for removing the missiles from Cuba?

3. Who wrote the letter responding to Khrushchev's first letter?

4. What was the "final lesson" (95) learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis?

5. How many destroyers did the U.S. put in Caribbean waters?

(see the answer keys)

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