World War 1 Multiple-Choice Exam (PDF Download)

The World War 1 exam below consists of:

– 25 stimulus-based multiple-choice questions (3 points each)

– 5 short response questions (5 points each)

If you’d like a PDF copy (with a link for a Google forms version, too) scroll to the bottom and click on the button.

World War 1 Exam

Directions: Choose the best answer for each question.

“A month ago Europe was a peaceful comity of nations; if an Englishman killed a German, he was hanged. Now, if an Englishman kills a German, or if a German kills an Englishman, he is a patriot, who has deserved well of his country.” British philosopher Bertrand Russell, in a letter to the paper The Nation, 15 August, 1914

1-What is the point of view of Bertrand Russell regarding World War 1?

1. Germans no longer like Englishmen
2. What was previously a serious crime is now a heroic act.
3. German patriots are not to be trusted.
4. New immigration laws are necessary between Germany and Britain

2-Which of the long-term causes of World War 1 is being addressed in this quote?

1. Militarism
2. Alliances
3. Imperialism
4. Nationalism

3- A good title for this political cartoon would be

1. “Old Man Winter is blowing problems”
2. “Triple Entente Wins the War”
3. “Long-Term Causes of World War 1”
4. “Short Term Causes of World War 1”

4- Why is the Balkans labeled as dangerous?

1. Their geographical location was key
2. Trade wars between the Balkans and Britain
3. Extreme weather in the area
4. Nationalist movements amongst the Serbs

“We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. Signed, ZIMMERMANN

5- When Zimmerman writes, “. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance…” what is he referring to “not succeed” at?

1. Keeping the U.S. from entering WW1
2. Unrestricted submarine warfare
3. Mexico staying neutral in the war
4. In creating an alliance with Mexico

6- What does Zimmerman want in this telegram?

1. To reconquer Texas and New Mexico
2. A settlement with Mexico
3. Mexico’s alliance in the war
4. Financial support from Mexico

7- What is Zimmerman offering Mexico in this telegram?

1. Territory they lost in the Mexican-American War
2. A trade agreement
3. Not to use submarine warfare on them
4. A proposal

8- What was the United States’ reaction to this telegram?

1. They never found out about it
2. They declared war on Germany and entered WW1
3. They declared war on Mexico
4. They built up their military in preparation for a German attack

9- What type of technology is depicted in the picture?

1. Hand-to-hand combat
2. Poison gas
3. Schlieffen strategy
4. Trench warfare

10- The following are all problems of this warfare EXCEPT…

1. Flooding
2. Protection from the enemy
3. Rats
4. Trench foot

XII. The Turkish portion of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Ottoman rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees. President Wilson, Point 12

11- What is President Wilson suggesting in the 12^th of his 14 Points?

1. People under Ottoman rule should now have self-rule
2. The Turkish people should keep control of the Dardanelles
3. The Turkish people should rule others from the Ottoman Empire
4. The Turkish people should not have sovereignty

12- Which long-term causes of World War 1 was Wilson addressing with this solution?

1. Militarism
2. Alliances
3. Imperialism
4. Nationalism

The success of battle today depends more on conceptual coherence than on territorial proximity. Thus, one battle might be fought in order to secure victory on another battlefield.

Schlieffen, 1909

13. This portion of the Schlieffen plans indicates

1. The geographic location of troops is extremely important
2. In order to succeed troops must secure victory
3. The concept of each batter should be different
4. It is sometimes necessary to wage 1 battle so that another can prevail

14. The Schlieffen plan entailed invading which nation first?

1. France
2. Britain
3. Russia
4. Austria-Hungary

15. The Germans sank the Lusitania

1. as part of the Schlieffen Plan
2. in order to stop trade in the Atlantic
3. as the first direct attack on the U.S.
4. as part of unrestricted submarine warfare

16. One result of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 was that

1. Britain declared war on Germany
2. It was a cause of the U.S. entering the war
3. Germany won the war
4. Russia pulled out of the war

17. The German attack on the Lusitania caused worldwide outrage because

1. So many people died
2. The ship sunk in 20 only minutes
3. It was an unprovoked attack on a non-military vessel
4. Germany warned that they would attack the ship ahead of time

18- Which 2 nations are depicted in the political cartoon?

1. The U.S. and Germany
2. France and Germany
3. Mexico and the U.S.
4. Germany and the U.S.

19- The political cartoon is depicting which event of World War 1?

1. The Zimmerman Telegram
2. Sinking of the Lusitania
3. Schlieffen Plan
4. Trench warfare

It is a fearful thing to lead this great peaceful people into war, into the most terrible and disastrous of all wars, civilization itself seeming to be in the balance. But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts-for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free. President Wilson to Congress, 1917

20- What justification is President Wilson giving for the U.S. to enter World War 1?

1. to overcome fear of peaceful people
2. to make the world safe for democracy
3. the right to submit to authority
4. to change the balance of civilization

21- What was a main cause of Wilson’s asking Congress to declare war on Germany?

1. to help the Allies
2. to help the economy with military spending
3. Unrestricted submarine warfare
4. Nationalism

Part VIII. (Articles 231-247) Reparations – Article 231

The allied and associated governments affirm, and Germany acknowledges, that Germany and her allies are responsible for all losses and damages that the allied and associated governments and their nationals have suffered as a result of the war imposed on them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.

22- How is Germany being punished in this provision of the Treaty of Versailles?

1. by being stripped of territory
2. by being forced to accept blame for WW1
3. by acknowledging Germany’s losses
4. by demilitarizing Germany

23- Article 231 affected Germany by

1. devastating her economy
2. the loss of land
3. humiliating the nation by forcing her to accept all blame for the war
4. by forcing Germany to pay reparations

24- Who is the character being force-fed symbolize?

1. Austria-Hungary
2. Ottoman Empire
3. United States
4. Germany

25- What is the “pill” that is being force-fed?

1. the armistice
2. the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
3. the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
4. the Big Four

Part 2: Short response (5 points each)

-Choose 2 of the long-term causes of World War 1 and analyze how they caused the war.

-Identify 4 new technologies utilized during World War 1 and explain their effects on the war.

-Why did the United States change their policy of neutrality and enter World War 1? (minimum of 2 reasons)

-President Wilson’s 14 Points laid out his plan post-war. What is one point that he succeeded in accomplishing and one that he failed to get?

-What were the general terms of the Treaty of Versailles and why did it become a cause of World War 2?

Happy teaching!