Final answer:
World War I did not resolve international tensions or prevent World War II; instead, its punitive repercussions, particularly the Treaty of Versailles, exacerbated grievances leading to the rise of Nazism and a second world conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the consequences of World War I and which events did not occur as a result of it. Despite the vast changes the war brought about, including the redistribution of global power, the growth of communism, and the rise of totalitarian regimes, it is important to clarify that World War I itself did not directly lead to a resolution of international tensions nor did it prevent the eventual outbreak of World War II. In fact, many of the treaties and shifts in power dynamics, such as the Treaty of Versailles, only served to exacerbate existing grievances, particularly within Germany, which faced severe economic reparations and territorial losses. These factors contributed to the rise of Nazism and eventually World War II. The statement that another general war was assumed to be unlikely as long as diplomacy continued did not hold true, as diplomacy failed to prevent subsequent global conflict.