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A Level H2 History Practice Paper 3

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Questions

TuitionGoWhere Exam Practice (AI) — History H2 A-Level Practice Paper

School: TuitionGoWhere Exam Practice (AI)
Subject: History H2
Level: A-Level (H2)
Paper: Source Based Skills Practice Paper (Version 3 of 5)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Marks: 80
Name: ___________________________
Class: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________

Instructions:

This practice paper tests Source Based Skills for A-Level H2 History.
Read all sources carefully before answering.
Section A: Source Comprehension (20 marks)
Section B: Source Comparison (30 marks)
Section C: Assertion Evaluation (30 marks)
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Use evidence from the sources to support your responses.

Sources for Sections A, B and C

Source A
Extract from a speech by US Secretary of State James Byrnes, September 1946, Stuttgart, Germany.
"The United States will continue to oppose any attempt by any power to dominate Europe. We seek no territorial expansion. Our policy is to build a stable Germany that can contribute to European recovery. The Soviet Union must understand that the window of opportunity for unilateral action is closing."

Source B
Cartoon titled "The Iron Curtain", published in a London newspaper, March 1947. Shows a large curtain labelled "USSR" descending across Eastern Europe, with shadowed figures behind it and a worried crowd in the West looking on.

Cartoon for Source B / Q6, Q11, Q16 (ALEVEL History H2)

Generated cartoon for Source B / Q6, Q11, Q16.

Source C
Memorandum from the British Foreign Office to the Cabinet, February 1947.
"His Majesty's Government can no longer sustain the financial burden of military presence in Greece and Turkey. Without American assistance, these states will fall under Soviet influence. We recommend immediate approach to Washington for the Truman Doctrine aid package."

Source D
Extract from George Kennan's "Long Telegram", sent from Moscow, February 1946.
"The Soviet leadership is committed to the destruction of rival power. Their ideology demands the undermining of Western capitalism. However, they are cautious and will not risk direct war. Containment through strong resistance at every point is the answer."

Source E
Statistical table: Marshall Plan aid disbursed to Western European states, 1948–1951 (in US$ billion).

Country	1948	1949	1950	1951
France	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.5
UK	1.3	0.9	0.6	0.4
West Germany	0.5	0.8	0.9	0.7
Italy	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.3

Source F
Article from Pravda (Soviet state newspaper), July 1947.
"The American Marshall Plan is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is designed to enslave the economies of Europe and open them to Yankee exploitation. Peace-loving nations reject this imperialist trap."

Section A: Source Comprehension (20 marks)

1. What does Source A reveal about the US attitude towards Soviet influence in Europe? [2]

2. Identify the main message conveyed by the cartoon in Source B. [2]

3. According to Source C, why did Britain urge the US to provide aid to Greece and Turkey? [2]

4. What strategy does Kennan propose in Source D to deal with the Soviet Union? [2]

5. Based on Source E, which country received the highest total Marshall Plan aid across 1948–1951? Show your working. [3]

6. How does the portrayal of the USSR in Source B differ from the tone in Source A? [3]

7. Source F describes the Marshall Plan as a "wolf in sheep's clothing". Explain what this metaphor suggests about Soviet perception. [2]

8. Which source is a primary document produced by a Soviet government body? [1]

9. From Source D, what limitation does Kennan attribute to Soviet behaviour? [1]

10. Using Source E, calculate the percentage decrease in UK aid from 1948 to 1951. [2]

Section B: Source Comparison (30 marks)

11. Compare the evidence provided by Sources A and B on the division of Europe after 1945. [10]

12. Compare the views in Sources C and D regarding the threat posed by the Soviet Union. [10]

13. How do Sources E and F differ in their assessment of the Marshall Plan? [10]

Section C: Assertion Evaluation (30 marks)

14. How far do Sources A–F support the view that the Cold War was caused primarily by mutual misunderstanding rather than deliberate policy? [30]

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Answers

TuitionGoWhere Exam Practice (AI) — History H2 A-Level Practice Paper Answer Key (Version 3)

Paper: Source Based Skills Practice Paper
Total Marks: 80
Level: A-Level H2

Section A: Source Comprehension (20 marks)

1. [2 marks]
Source A reveals the US was opposed to any single power dominating Europe and would resist Soviet unilateral action. It shows a defensive but firm stance seeking stability in Germany.
Teaching note: A primary speech shows policy intent. Student should identify "oppose domination" and "stable Germany" as key points.
Marking: 1 mark for opposition to Soviet dominance; 1 mark for building stable Germany / closing window for unilateral action.

2. [2 marks]
The cartoon conveys that the USSR was isolating Eastern Europe behind an "Iron Curtain", causing anxiety in the West.
Marking: 1 mark for Iron Curtain / division; 1 mark for Western worry or Soviet shadowing.

3. [2 marks]
Britain could no longer afford military presence; without US aid Greece and Turkey would fall to Soviet influence.
Marking: 1 mark for financial burden; 1 mark for risk of Soviet influence.

4. [2 marks]
Kennan proposes "containment" — strong resistance at every point, as Soviets are cautious and avoid direct war.
Marking: 1 mark for containment; 1 mark for cautious / no direct war reasoning.

5. [3 marks]
Working: France = 1.1+1.0+0.7+0.5 = 3.3; UK = 1.3+0.9+0.6+0.4 = 3.2; West Germany = 0.5+0.8+0.9+0.7 = 2.9; Italy = 0.6+0.5+0.4+0.3 = 1.8. Highest = France (3.3).
Marking: 1 mark for correct sums; 1 mark identification France; 1 mark correct total.

6. [3 marks]
Source B uses fearful imagery (curtain, shadows) suggesting threat; Source A is formal/direct but not visually alarmist, stating policy. Difference: B is emotional/public, A is official/measured.
Marking: 1 mark B emotional; 1 mark A measured; 1 mark comparison of tone.

7. [2 marks]
Metaphor suggests Soviets saw Marshall Plan as deceptive — seemingly helpful but actually exploitative/imperialist.
Marking: 1 mark deceptive; 1 mark exploitative intent.

8. [1 mark]
Source F (Pravda).
Marking: 1 mark correct.

9. [1 mark]
Soviets are cautious and will not risk direct war.
Marking: 1 mark.

10. [2 marks]
UK 1948 = 1.3, 1951 = 0.4. Decrease = (1.3–0.4)/1.3 × 100 = 69.2%.
Marking: 1 mark for values; 1 mark for correct %.

Section B: Source Comparison (30 marks)

11. [10 marks]
Both sources show Europe divided after 1945. Source A (speech) states US will oppose Soviet domination and notes closing window for unilateral action — implies division. Source B (cartoon) visualises division via Iron Curtain.
Agreement: both reflect East–West split.
Difference: A is policy-oriented, names Germany; B is public anxiety, generic.
Reliability: A official US, B media perception.
Marking descriptors: 2 marks identify agreement; 4 marks contrast content/type; 2 marks source nature; 2 marks synthesis.

12. [10 marks]
Source C sees Soviet threat as financial/strategic loss of Greece/Turkey. Source D sees ideological threat, Soviet committed to destroy rival power but cautious.
Both: threat real. Diff: C practical, D doctrinal.
Marking: 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 as above.

13. [10 marks]
E shows aid flows (positive US support). F calls it imperialist trap. Contrast: factual vs hostile interpretation.
Marking: 3 agreement on topic; 4 difference; 3 evaluation.

Section C: Assertion Evaluation (30 marks)

14. [30 marks]
Claim: Cold War caused primarily by mutual misunderstanding not deliberate policy.
Sources A, C, D show deliberate policy (containment, aid, opposition). B shows perception gap. F shows propaganda misunderstanding.
Support limited: only B/F suggest perception issues; rest show policy.
Overall: moderate/limited support.
Marking: Unpack claim (4); source-by-source (16); synthesis (10).