Answered

Question 2 of 10

Examine the charts below showing the amount of consumer goods produced in the United States and the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R) during several years of the Cold War. Which of the following conclusions does this data support?

Table 4.8: U.S.A. Shipments of Selected Consumer Products
Table 4.8: U.S.S.R. Production of Selected Consumer Products

\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
Product & 1970 & 1975 & 1980 & 1985 & 1990 & 1995 \\
\hline
Radios & 5,304 & 4,800 & 5,000 & 5,200 & 5,500 & 5,600 \\
\hline
Washing Machines & 639 & 650 & 670 & 700 & 730 & 750 \\
\hline
Refrigerators & 1,932 & 2,000 & 2,100 & 2,200 & 2,300 & 2,400 \\
\hline
Televisions & 6,504 & 6,600 & 6,700 & 6,800 & 6,900 & 7,000 \\
\hline
Cars & 2,524 & 2,600 & 2,700 & 2,800 & 2,900 & 3,000 \\
\hline
Bicycles & 1,932 & 2,000 & 2,100 & 2,200 & 2,300 & 2,400 \\
\hline
Vacuum Cleaners & 478 & 500 & 520 & 540 & 560 & 580 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

A. The Soviet Union's command economy allowed it to focus production on producing vehicles rather than entertainment products.

B. Though the Soviet Union never produced as many consumer goods as the U.S. during the Cold War, its economic growth rate was much higher.

C. During the Cold War, the U.S. consumer products industry was much more productive than its Soviet counterpart.

D. During the 1980s, the Soviet Union determined that televisions were unnecessary luxuries that should be produced in reduced numbers.



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
To address this question, we need to examine each of the options in light of the data provided in the tables showing consumer goods produced by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. We want to determine which conclusion is best supported by this data.

1. Option A: The Soviet Union's command economy allowed it to focus production on producing vehicles rather than entertainment products.
- This statement suggests a distributional focus in production, prioritizing vehicles over entertainment products. However, there's no specific data provided in the tables that indicates a clear preference or a significant comparison between vehicle and entertainment product production for the Soviet Union.

2. Option B: Though the Soviet Union never produced as many consumer goods as the U.S. during the Cold War, its economic growth rate was much higher.
- This option comments on economic growth rates rather than absolute production figures. The tables do not offer any information regarding growth rates, only the quantities of consumer goods produced. Thus, this conclusion cannot be validated using the given data.

3. Option C: During the Cold War, the U.S. consumer products industry was much more productive than its Soviet counterpart.
- This option directly compares the productivity between the U.S. and Soviet Union in terms of consumer goods. Given the provided data, we can compare quantities, and it appears the U.S. consistently produced more consumer goods than the Soviet Union. Therefore, this conclusion is strongly supported by the tables.

4. Option D: During the 1980s, the Soviet Union determined that televisions were unnecessary luxuries that should be produced in reduced numbers.
- This option refers to a specific policy decision in the 1980s regarding television production. However, the tables do not provide data specific to this decade or any policy decision about reducing television production. Thus, this cannot be substantiated by the given data.

Given the analysis of each option, we find that Option C is the most accurate and supported conclusion based on the data provided. Thus, the data supports the statement that:

C. During the Cold War, the U.S. consumer products industry was much more productive than its Soviet counterpart.

Other Questions