International Relations Mixed Practice — MCQs with Answers (Set 8)

Correct because total US-Soviet trade peaked near a few billion dollars in 1979. US-China goods trade alone hit about 690 billion dollars in 2022. That gap shows how deeply China is integrated into the American economy.

Correct because IMF estimates put China ahead of the United States in purchasing-power-parity GDP around 2016-17. The Soviet economy, by contrast, never overtook America’s even at its peak.

Correct because the leaders adopted the Delhi Declaration at the summit hosted by India on 27 January 2022, covering trade, connectivity, security, counter-terrorism and cultural cooperation, and setting up a joint working group on Afghanistan.

Correct because Kazakhstan, the world’s leading uranium producer, supplies uranium to India’s civil nuclear programme under bilateral agreements, making it a key energy partner.

Correct because India announced the Connect Central Asia policy in 2012 to deepen political, economic and security ties with the five republics, and it remains the umbrella framework for the relationship.

Correct because AUKUS is a narrow, technology-focused trilateral partnership. It does not replace the QUAD, ANZUS or the Five Eyes network. The QUAD remains a separate four-nation consultative grouping. AUKUS adds deterrence without superseding existing partnerships.

Correct because the plan sells three Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the early 2030s. Australia will then receive eight British-designed SSN-AUKUS boats from the early 2040s. US and UK submarines will also rotate through HMAS Stirling near Perth from 2027.

Correct because Australia scrapped its A$90 billion Attack-class deal with France’s Naval Group. France recalled its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra in response. The episode strained transatlantic relations for months.

Correct because Pillar I covers nuclear-powered attack submarines for Australia. Australia will first buy Virginia-class boats from the United States. Later it will build SSN-AUKUS submarines using British and American technology.

Correct because AUKUS joins Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The three leaders announced the pact on 15 September 2021. Its focus is security and technology cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Correct because on 22 July 2025 the US State Department announced Washington would leave UNESCO again, about two years after rejoining in 2023. The withdrawal takes effect on 31 December 2026.

Correct because Article II(6) provides that withdrawal takes effect on 31 December of the year following the year of notification. The US exits announced in 2017 and 2025 both followed this rule.

The Ombudsperson, created by Resolution 1904 (2009) and strengthened in 2011, reviews petitions for delisting under the 1267/1988/2253 regime. Since 2011, Ombudsperson delisting recommendations bind states unless the Security Council decides otherwise by consensus.

Resolution 1535 (2004) created CTED to provide expert analysis, conduct assessments and country visits, and facilitate technical assistance. Resolution 1540 concerned WMD proliferation, while 1566 created a working group on practical counter-terrorism measures.

Tigray is Ethiopia’s northernmost region. The Tigray War involved Ethiopian federal forces and allied Eritrean forces against Tigrayan forces.

Kachin State is Myanmar’s northernmost state, where the Kachin Independence Army has long sought greater autonomy.

Donbas is a region in eastern Ukraine. Conflict there escalated after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The correct answer is Ukraine. A UN story places Donbass in Ukraine. Red Cross pages name its regions, Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia is wrong because the UN and the Red Cross describe a conflict in eastern Ukraine. Syria is wrong because no source places Donbas there. Georgia is wrong for the same reason. Memory hook: Donbas means eastern Ukraine.

The correct answer is Myanmar. UNHCR calls Kachin Myanmar’s northernmost state. Ethiopia is wrong because that is where Tigray lies. Thailand is wrong because it only borders Myanmar. Ukraine is wrong because that is where Donbas lies. Memory hook: Kachin, Myanmar, KIA.

The correct answer is the Kachin Independence Army. UNHCR says a 17-year ceasefire between the military and the KIA collapsed in 2011. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front is wrong because it is a party in Ethiopia. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party and the Oromo Liberation Army are wrong because no source links them to Kachin. Memory hook: KIA means Kachin.

The correct answer is Donetsk and Luhansk. The Red Cross says it has worked there since 2014. UN pages from 2014 and 2015 also name the same two regions. Crimea and Odesa are wrong because no source ties them to this conflict. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are wrong for the same reason. Kharkiv and Lviv are wrong for the same reason. Memory hook: Donbas means Donetsk plus Luhansk.

Egypt signed its peace treaty with Israel in 1979, long predating both the Arab Peace Initiative and the Abraham Accords.

The answer is UAE and Bahrain. A US House resolution says the United States, Israel, the UAE and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords on 15 September 2020. Morocco and Sudan signed later. Why the others fail: Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not named as signers. Egypt and Jordan made treaties earlier, in 1979 and 1994. Kuwait and Oman are not named either. Memory hook: September 2020, two Gulf states first.

The answer is Saudi Arabia. The official text calls the Arab Peace Initiative a Saudi-inspired plan. Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia presented it at the Beirut summit on 28 March 2002. Why the others fail: Egypt and Jordan made peace treaties with Israel in 1979 and 1994, not this plan. The UAE signed the Abraham Accords in 2020. Memory hook: Beirut 2002, Saudi plan.