Question

Read this passage from a 1946 speech by Winston Churchill:

"It is my duty . . . to place before you certain facts about the present position in Europe. From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in many cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow."

Which statement best summarizes what Churchill's speech signified about the Cold War?

A. It reflected Western countries' desire to remain nonaligned in Cold War conflicts.
B. It demonstrated Western Europeans' growing fears about the spread of communism.
C. It highlighted the importance of nuclear weapons to a country's military strength.
D. It symbolized the relaxing of hostilities between communist and democratic countries.

Answer 1

B. It demonstrated Western Europeans' growing fears about the spread of communism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

B. It demonstrated Western Europeans' growing fears about the spread of communism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Churchill described the Soviet threat as an "iron curtain." Clearly, he thought it was dangerous and pervasive. This was near the start of the Cold War tensions, so we can be sure that A and D are not correct. At this point, capitalism and communism are rallying their forces for defense or attack. And C doesn't make sense, because Churchill does not reference or imply nuclear power in any context in this quote.