NJC_2025_JC2_H2_History_Prelim_P1_QP_final

1 NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE SENIOR HIGH 2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION Higher 2 HISTORY 9174/01 Paper 1 The Changing International Order (1945–2000) 29 August 2025 Additional Materials: Answer Booklet 3 hours READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST An answer booklet will be provided with this question paper. You should follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper, ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet. Section A Answer Question 1. Section B Answer two questions. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. This question paper consists of 5 printed pages and 3 blank pages. H

2 SECTION A You must answer Question 1. THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM 1 Read the sources and answer the questions which follow. Source A The Polish comrades emphasi sed that it is Poland's difficult economic situation that accounts for the prolonged nature of the political crisis. They acknowledged that these difficulties are caused by Poland's indebtedness to the West, and by the destruction of extremists from Solidarity. “Poland's foreign debt…has grown astronomically. Credits are extended to us at very high interest rates of up to 20 percent.” Comrade Brezhnev drew the attention to the fact that the Western imperialists are seeking to turn Poland into a source of additional international tension. They are speculating about the threat of Soviet intervention and are presenting themselves as champions of Polish independence. One must decisively struggle against this and explain to the Polish nation that the real danger comes from imperialism – our common enemy. It is essential that everyone in Poland understands that credits lent by Western governments are in no way a gift, but a commercial transaction. For Poland, this amounts to slavery. Adapted from minutes of Brezhnev’s meeting with Polish communist leaders, 22 August 1981 Source B Kiszczak* is very concerned over the political strikes now threatening. It is only a short step to bringing people into the streets, with unpredictable results. Military intervention is not the problem. Poland is a nation of 40 million with a fragile economy. A reduction in 2 million tons of Soviet oil, or even iron ore, would exert intolerable pressure. I reviewed the steps we have already taken on food aid in response to the question of assistance to Poland. I said we were very aware of the destabilizing effect that price rises had always had in Poland, and the resultant pressure on the opposition by its political base to produce visible improvements. However, I told him that we regarded the composition of the new government as a purely internal matter to be determined among Poles. I know about the rumour in Wars