Cuban Missile Crisis Quiz

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Thirteen days in October 1962 when the world held its breath. How well do you remember the Cuban Missile Crisis?

1.
In what month and year did the Cuban Missile Crisis occur?
A
October 1962
B
March 1963
C
September 1961
D
November 1962
2.
How were the Soviet missile sites in Cuba first discovered?
A
A Cuban defector reported them
B
Naval intelligence
C
Satellite imagery
D
U-2 spy plane photographs
3.
What action did President Kennedy take to prevent more Soviet weapons from reaching Cuba?
A
He invaded Cuba
B
He severed diplomatic ties
C
He bombed the missile sites
D
He ordered a naval blockade (quarantine)
4.
Why did Kennedy call it a 'quarantine' instead of a 'blockade'?
A
A blockade was technically an act of war
B
It was a medical term for safety
C
It sounded less threatening
D
The press suggested the term
5.
Who was the Soviet Premier during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A
Leonid Brezhnev
B
Yuri Andropov
C
Joseph Stalin
D
Nikita Khrushchev
6.
Who was the leader of Cuba during the crisis?
A
Che Guevara
B
Fulgencio Batista
C
Fidel Castro
D
Raul Castro
7.
How many days did the crisis last?
A
21 days
B
13 days
C
7 days
D
10 days
8.
What did the Soviets agree to do to resolve the crisis?
A
Allow UN inspections of all Soviet bases
B
Withdraw all troops from Cuba
C
Remove the missiles from Cuba
D
Stop nuclear testing
9.
What secret concession did the U.S. make in return?
A
Removing U.S. missiles from Turkey
B
Withdrawing from NATO
C
Ending the space program
D
Lifting trade sanctions on the USSR
10.
Who served as Attorney General and close advisor to JFK during the crisis?
A
Robert McNamara
B
McGeorge Bundy
C
Robert F. Kennedy
D
Dean Rusk
11.
What was the U.S. military readiness level raised to during the crisis, the highest ever during the Cold War?
A
DEFCON 2
B
DEFCON 3
C
DEFCON 4
D
DEFCON 1
12.
What famous phrase did Secretary of State Dean Rusk say when Soviet ships turned back?
A
'We're eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked'
B
'We've won the day'
C
'Crisis averted'
D
'The bear has backed down'
13.
What was established between Washington and Moscow after the crisis to prevent future miscommunication?
A
Regular summit meetings
B
A direct communication hotline
C
A joint military command
D
A peace treaty
14.
What U.S. Air Force pilot was shot down and killed over Cuba during the crisis?
A
Rudolf Anderson
B
Chuck Yeager
C
Francis Gary Powers
D
John Glenn
15.
How did most Americans learn about the crisis?
A
Through radio broadcasts
B
Through word of mouth
C
Through newspaper headlines
D
Through Kennedy's televised address on October 22

Answer Key

Question 1

A. October 1962

Question 2

D. U-2 spy plane photographs

Question 3

D. He ordered a naval blockade (quarantine)

Question 4

A. A blockade was technically an act of war

Question 5

D. Nikita Khrushchev

Question 6

C. Fidel Castro

Question 7

B. 13 days

Question 8

C. Remove the missiles from Cuba

Question 9

A. Removing U.S. missiles from Turkey

Question 10

C. Robert F. Kennedy

Question 11

A. DEFCON 2

Question 12

A. 'We're eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked'

Question 13

B. A direct communication hotline

Question 14

A. Rudolf Anderson

Question 15

D. Through Kennedy's televised address on October 22

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