Lesson 3

3 Propaganda and censorship Quiz: Pearson Edexcel History, Unit 14

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3, Propaganda and censorship: 20 multiple choice questions for the Pearson Edexcel GCSE History (1HI0), Unit 14: Russia and the Soviet Union, 1917–41, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which body carried out censorship of publications in the Soviet Union from 1922?

    • Glavlit
    • The Cheka
    • Gosplan
    • Narkompros

  2. What artistic style was officially required in the Soviet Union?

    • Impressionism
    • Abstract expressionism
    • Surrealism
    • Socialist realism

  3. Which newspaper was the central organ of the Communist Party?

    • Krasnaya Zvezda
    • Izvestia
    • Trud
    • Pravda

  4. Which organisation taught Soviet children communist values from an early age?

    • The Cadet Corps
    • The Young Pioneers
    • The Boy Scouts
    • The Hitler Youth

  5. What was the main aim of the League of the Militant Godless?

    • Promoting atheism
    • Building churches
    • Spreading Christianity
    • Protecting clergy

  6. How was foreign news presented in the Soviet press?

    • Live broadcast
    • Strictly controlled
    • Uncensored
    • Globally sourced

  7. A 1934 film shows workers as heroes building factories. Which artistic style does it follow?

    • Impressionism
    • Expressionism
    • Socialist realism
    • Constructivism

  8. What was the main purpose of Soviet youth organisations?

    • Military combat
    • Democratic debate
    • Party loyalty
    • Foreign trade

  9. What was the likely outcome for a writer criticising collectivisation in the 1930s?

    • Banned and arrested
    • Awarded a prize
    • Promoted in government
    • Ignored by authorities

  10. Which measure was used to control religious life in the 1920s and 1930s?

    • Building cathedrals
    • Funding clergy
    • Free worship
    • Closing churches

  11. Which mass medium spread Soviet messages directly to rural villages?

    • Private telephones
    • Village loudspeakers
    • Social media
    • Television broadcasts

  12. Why was propaganda translated and aimed at non-Russian nationalities?

    • To promote tourism
    • To encourage rebellion
    • To secure loyalty
    • To spread capitalism

  13. What did Soviet propaganda combine with media control to shape beliefs?

    • Free elections
    • Independent tribunals
    • Public referendums
    • State terror

  14. What was the role of the Union of Soviet Writers established in 1934?

    • Enforcing socialist realism
    • Promoting abstract art
    • Defending free speech
    • Funding underground presses

  15. What did the practice of 'self-criticism' encourage citizens to do?

    • Strike from work
    • Expose secret agents
    • Leave the country
    • Admit errors publicly

  16. Forcing teachers to follow a strict state curriculum is an example of what?

    • Ideological control
    • Academic freedom
    • Religious tolerance
    • Market competition

  17. What was the significance of the 1932 decree dissolving independent artistic groups?

    • Foreign cultural exchange
    • Unified state direction
    • Privatisation of media
    • Complete artistic freedom

  18. How did censors handle photographs of purged Soviet officials?

    • Framed them proudly
    • Doctored the images
    • Donated to museums
    • Published them widely

  19. What was the main purpose of Soviet censorship?

    • Restricting public information
    • Promoting open debate
    • Expanding foreign news
    • Encouraging investigative journalism

  20. Who owned and controlled newspapers in the 1930s USSR?

    • Private citizens
    • Independent companies
    • State and party
    • Foreign corporations

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