Free CIE IGCSE History
Practice Paper

In August 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese independence in Hanoi. Which country had controlled Vietnam as a colonial power before World War Two?

1. Britain
2. France
3. Japan
4. The United States

In 1947, US President Truman announced a new foreign policy in response to the threat of communist expansion in Greece and Turkey. What was the main aim of the Truman Doctrine?

1. To rebuild European economies through financial aid
2. To contain the spread of communism by supporting free peoples
3. To create a military alliance against the Soviet Union
4. To divide Germany into occupation zones

In the 1948 South African general election, the National Party campaigned on a policy of 'apartheid'. What does the Afrikaans word 'apartheid' mean?

1. Togetherness
2. Separateness
3. Unity
4. Freedom

Which of the following best explains why the United States Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920?

1. The Senate believed the treaty was too harsh on Germany
2. Many senators opposed American involvement in the League of Nations
3. President Wilson refused to negotiate with Republican senators
4. The Senate wanted Germany to pay higher reparations

In 1923, Italian forces bombarded and occupied the Greek island of Corfu after Italian officials were murdered on Greek territory. What was the outcome of the League's involvement in this crisis?

1. Italy was condemned and forced to withdraw immediately
2. Greece was ordered to apologise and pay compensation to Italy
3. Both countries were given economic sanctions
4. The dispute was referred to the Permanent Court of International Justice

Study the information below: 'In September 1931, Japanese troops seized the Chinese province of Manchuria. China appealed to the League of Nations. The League sent a commission led by Lord Lytton to investigate. The Lytton Report was published in October 1932.' What was the main recommendation of the Lytton Report?

1. Japan should be allowed to keep Manchuria as compensation for Chinese aggression
2. Manchuria should be returned to China but Japan should retain economic interests
3. Military sanctions should be imposed on Japan immediately
4. China should pay reparations to Japan for the incident

President Nasser of Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal in July 1956. What was the main reason Britain viewed this as a threat to its interests?

1. Britain owned shares in the Suez Canal Company and relied on the canal for oil supplies
2. Egypt had threatened to close the canal to all shipping
3. The United States had requested British intervention
4. The canal was located on British territory

The table below shows the main events of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962: Day 1: US reconnaissance aircraft photograph missile sites in Cuba Day 7: President Kennedy announces a naval blockade of Cuba Day 13: Soviet ships approach the blockade line then turn back Day 14: Khrushchev agrees to remove missiles from Cuba Which of the following best explains why Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles?

1. The USA had successfully invaded Cuba and overthrown Castro
2. Kennedy agreed to remove US missiles from Turkey and not invade Cuba
3. The United Nations imposed economic sanctions on the Soviet Union
4. Soviet ships had been sunk by the US Navy during the blockade