A Level H2 History Practice Paper 2

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - History H2 A-Level

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper (AI) — Version 2 of 5

Subject: History H2
Level: A-Level (Pre-University)
Paper: Source Based Skills Practice Paper
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Marks: 40
Name: ___________________________
Class: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________

Instructions:

• This practice paper tests source-based skills aligned with the H2 History (9174) syllabus Theme I (Cold War) and regional conflict contexts.
• Read all sources carefully before answering.
• Section A carries 10 marks; Section B carries 30 marks. Total = 40 marks.
• Use clear historical reasoning: compare, evaluate reliability, and test assertions using evidence.
• This is a syllabus-first practice paper generated from LLM-inferred templates; it is not derived from official national A-Level papers.

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Section A: Source Comparison and Reliability (10 marks)

Read Sources A and B below, then answer Question 1.

Source A: Extract from a 1946 editorial in a US newspaper, The Chicago Tribune, commenting on Soviet policy in Eastern Europe.

"The Kremlin's iron grip on Poland and Romania confirms that Moscow seeks not security but domination. Their refusal to allow free elections exposes the myth of socialist liberation. America must hold the line before all Europe falls."

Source B: Extract from a 1947 speech by a Soviet foreign ministry official broadcast on Moscow Radio.

"The Western powers encircle our motherland with bases and refuse postwar loans. Our presence in Eastern Europe is a defensive shield won by the blood of our people. Their Marshall Plan is dollar imperialism aimed at splitting Europe."

Q1. (a) Compare the views of Sources A and B on the causes of tension between the USA and USSR after 1945. [5]
(b) Assess the usefulness of Source A for understanding US public opinion on the Cold War in 1946. [5]

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Section B: Testing an Assertion Using Multiple Sources (30 marks)

Read Sources C to F below, then answer Question 2.

Source C: 1988 memo from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on economic reform.

"The stagnation of our planned economy is undeniable. Comrade Gorbachev's 'uskorenie' has failed to raise output. We must permit limited market mechanisms or face systemic collapse."

Source D: 1989 diary entry of a shipyard worker in Gdansk, Poland.

"Today 10,000 of us marched for free unions. The government did nothing. We no longer fear them. Solidarity lives, and Moscow stays silent."

Source E: 1990 article by a US Cold War historian in Foreign Affairs.

"The collapse of Soviet control in Eastern Europe was inevitable once Gorbachev renounced force. His 'Sinatra Doctrine' let nations go their own way; this, not Washington, ended the Cold War."

Source F: 1991 statement by the US State Department on the dissolution of the USSR.

"President Reagan's pressure—SDI, the Reagan Doctrine, and military buildup—forced Moscow to the brink. The triumph of freedom is a vindication of American resolve."

Q2. How far do Sources C to F support the assertion that "the end of the Cold War was primarily the result of Gorbachev's own initiatives"? [30]

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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper — Answer Key (Version 2)

Subject: History H2
Level: A-Level
Total Marks: 40
Paper: Source Based Skills Practice Paper

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Section A: Mark Scheme (10 marks)

Q1 (a) Compare the views of Sources A and B on the causes of tension between the USA and USSR after 1945. [5]

Marking descriptors:

• 1–2: Simple summary of each source separately, little comparison.
• 3–4: Identifies contrast in blame (USSR vs USA) with some evidence.
• 5: Clear comparison of both attribution of cause and tone; uses direct references.

Teaching notes / model answer: Both sources attribute tension to the other side's actions but differ on who is aggressor. Source A (US newspaper) claims the USSR seeks "domination" via control of Eastern Europe and denies free elections; it sees US as defensive. Source B (Soviet official) claims the West "encircles" the USSR with bases and uses the Marshall Plan as "dollar imperialism"; it sees USSR as defensive. Thus both agree tension exists but each casts the other as cause. A top answer notes both use propaganda language and mirror-image rhetoric.

Common mistake: Writing two separate paragraphs with no "both / however" linking.

Q1 (b) Assess the usefulness of Source A for understanding US public opinion on the Cold War in 1946. [5]

Marking descriptors:

• 1–2: States it is useful because it is a newspaper.
• 3–4: Notes bias and audience but limited analysis of representativeness.
• 5: Balances usefulness (contemporary, reflects hawkish editorial line) against limits (single outlet, not a poll).

Model answer: Source A is useful as a contemporary 1946 editorial showing one strand of US elite/media hostility to Soviet policy. It reveals how American newspapers framed the Iron Curtain. However, as a Tribune editorial it may not reflect all public opinion (isolationists, leftists absent). Usefulness is high for elite discourse, limited for mass sentiment.

Teaching note: Reliability ≠ usefulness. A biased source can be useful for attitudes.

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Section B: Mark Scheme (30 marks)

Q2. How far do Sources C to F support the assertion that "the end of the Cold War was primarily the result of Gorbachev's own initiatives"? [30]

Mark breakdown:

• Unpack claim (3 marks): Defines "primarily" and "Gorbachev's initiatives" (e.g., non-use of force, Sinatra Doctrine, economic reform).
• Source-by-source evaluation (16 marks): ~4 marks each for C, D, E, F assessing support/contradiction.
• Synthesis & judgment (11 marks): Weighs overall (strong/moderate/limited), notes counter-claims (US pressure, people power).

Model answer structure: The assertion receives moderate support. Source C shows Gorbachev's economic reforms weakened the system, supporting internal initiative. Source D shows popular movements (Poland) exploiting Soviet restraint—partially Gorbachev's non-intervention. Source E explicitly credits Gorbachev's Sinatra Doctrine, strong support. Source F credits US pressure (Reagan), contradicting "primarily." Overall: Gorbachev enabled end, but not solely; structural and Western factors matter.

Teaching note for new students: Always test "primarily"—if 2+ sources give alternative cause, claim is only partially supported. Use "Source X supports because… however Source Y suggests…" framing.

Common mistake: Listing sources without weighing; conclusion must judge "how far".