Question

directions: study the passage and political cartoon, read the question, and choose the best answer.
in 1938, communism had begun to spread in europe. in the united states, a congressional committee led by representative martin dies of texas started investigating potential communist activities within the nation. in august 1939, nazi germany and the soviet union signed a nonaggression pact that divided eastern europe into german and soviet spheres of influence. the agreement allowed nazi germany to invade western europe without having to fight the soviet union at the same time. the roosevelt administration opposed the nazi - soviet nonaggression pact. when the american communist party supported the pact, many of its members left the party.
directions: study the information, read each question, and choose the best answer.
after the spanish - american war in 1898, the united states became an international power with several overseas territories. one of them was the caribbean island of puerto rico. following a period of direct control from washington, d.c., puerto rico became a commonwealth of the united states in 1952. as such, it is a self - governing u.s. territory. decades later, puerto ricans have gone to the polls to vote on the islands status. would it remain the commonwealth? would it become independent? would it take its place as the 51st state? because spanish is the dominant language, some u.s. groups have concerns about puerto rican statehood. one such concern is expressed below.
\is it possible for a state whose majority does not speak english to assimilate in a country where english is the official language? would not those in a spanish - speaking state feel alienated as they see their cultural traditions and languages diluted by the english - speaking majority and therefore be more likely to adopt separatist ideas? think of quebec and the problems in canada. then, consider that puerto rico has a higher percentage of non - english speakers than quebec. would not those separatist ideas fueled by language barriers lead to unrest in puerto rico just as they have in quebec?\

1. what does the ship represent in relation to the american communist party?

a. the ship represents the american communist partys involvement in shipping war materials to communist nations.
b. the ship represents those leaving the american communist party after it supported the nazi - soviet nonaggression pact.
c. the ship represents the soviet unions abandonment of the american communist party.
d. the ship represents the alienation caused by being investigated by the dies committee.

1. why is it faulty logic to state that unrest will likely occur in puerto rico as it has in quebec?

a. most people in puerto rico speak spanish, while most people in quebec speak french.
b. quebec is part of canada, while puerto rico is part of the united states.
c. there are probably factors other than language involved.
d. because puerto rico is more linguistically homogeneous, there is less chance of unrest.

1. which of the following does the speaker argue is the greatest threat to national unity in the united states?

a. the nearness of conflict in canada
b. the lack of a common language
c. people who speak spanish
d. a linguistically homogeneous country

Explanation:

1. The cartoon shows a person (representing the American Communist Party) being left behind as the ship sails away. After the American Communist Party supported the Nazi - Soviet Nonaggression Pact, many members left the party, which is symbolized by the ship leaving the person.
2. Unrest in Quebec is not just due to language. There are likely other political, social and economic factors at play. So, saying unrest in Puerto Rico will occur just because of language is faulty logic as there are probably more than just language - related factors.
3. The passage discusses concerns about a state where the majority doesn't speak English assimilating, and how language differences can lead to issues like separatist ideas. So, people who speak languages other than English are seen as a threat to national unity.

Answer:

1. C. The ship represents the Soviet Union's abandonment of the American Communist Party.
2. C. There are probably other than language - related factors.
3. C. People who speak languages other than English.