Reading Comprehension Test

Submitted by Jidapa Atipakkul 1004

Cold War was a geopolitical chess match between two superpowers in which the
major power players sought to project their respective ideologies across the globe in the
wake of colonialism’s collapse following World War Two. It is a conflict between
nations that does not involve direct military action but is pursued primarily through
economic and political actions. The two superpowers had different ideas about economics
and government. The Soviet Union was a communist country. In communism, the
government controls production and resources. It decides where people live and work.
The United States is a capitalist country. In capitalism, people and businesses control the
production of goods. People decide where they live and work. Many people in Germany
tries to escape life under the rule of communism, finally, the Berlin wall was constructed.

After World War II the country of Germany ended up dividing into two separate
countries. East Germany became a communist country under the control of the Soviet
Union. At the same time, West Germany was a democratic country and allied with
Britain, France, and the United States. As the Soviets and the East German leaders began
to worry that they were losing too many people who wanted to leave, the Berlin wall was
built around Berlin. In 1987 President Ronald Reagan gave a speech in Berlin where he
asked the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to "Tear down this Wall."
Around that time the Soviet Union was beginning to collapse. They were losing their
hold on East Germany. A few years later on November 9, 1989, the announcement was
made. The borders were open and people could freely move between Eastern and
Western Germany. On October 3, 1990, Germany was officially reunified into a single
country.

(source: ​https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War​)

Summary :
“Cold War” was a conflict between nations that were not involved in direct
military action between two superpowers. They had different ideas about economics and
government. The Soviet Union was communist; the United States was capitalist, which is
more independent and made some population in the communist country wanted to move
into that capitalist country.
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
a. Cold War was a long period of tension without direct battle between the
democracies of the United States and the communist Soviet Union.
b. The fall of the Berlin Wall was the end of cold war.
c. Cold war was t​he vast majority of the world's countries​—including all the
great powers​—eventually formed two opposing military alliances.
d. In 1987 President Ronald Reagan gave a speech in Berlin where he asked
the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, to "Tear down this
Wall"
2. Which of the following is not included in the Cold War ?
a. Space race
b. Intelligence
c. Propaganda
d. Direct armed conflict
3. Why was the Berlin Wall constructed ?
a. To show respect to leader of Soviet.
b. To divide East and West Berlin.
c. To make any announcement between East and West Germany.
d. To protect their territories from weapons.
4. Which of the following are the “two superpowers”?
a. Berlin wall and Nuclear power
b. Ideologies and Geopolitical
c. United States and the Soviet Union
d. East Germany and West Germany
5. What does the word “​allied​” in line 13 mean?
a. associated
b. isolated
c. related
d. freed
6. What does the word “​collapse​” in line 18 mean?
a. join
b. faint
c. fall apart
d. aggravate
7. The word “They” in line 15 refers to
a. Soviet Union
b. The two superpowers
c. Western Germany
d. Military
8. All of the following are the characteristic of ​communism ​EXCEPT
a. People are decided where to live and work.
b. Production and resources are controlled by the government.
c. elimination of private ownership of property or capital
d. an economic system based on private ownership.
9. Which of the following statement is true?
a. Both superpowers were communist countries.
b. Cold War occured after World War I.
c. Berlin Wall was built in order to prevent losing people who wanted to
escape.
d. The borders were opened and people could freely move in 1998.
10. According to the passage, what can be inferred about ​President Ronald Reagan?
a. He wanted to control Soviet.
b. He was an American politician.
c. He constructed Berlin wall.
d. Mikhail Gorbachev was his sibling.
ANSWER KEY :
1. a.
2. d.
3. b.
4. c.
5. a.
6. c.
7. a.
8. a.
9. c.
10. b.