Cambridge IAS-Level · Thinka 原創模擬試題

2025 Cambridge IAS-Level History (9489) 模擬試題連答案詳解

Thinka Jun 2025 (V3) Cambridge International A Level-Style Mock — History (9489)

100 180 分鐘2025
An original Thinka practice paper modelled on the structure and difficulty of the Jun 2025 (V3) Cambridge International A Level History (9489) paper. Not affiliated with or reproduced from Cambridge.

卷一: Document Question

Answer both parts of one question from one section only (Section A, B, or C).
2 題目 · 40
題目 1 · source_comparison
15
Read the following two sources carefully and answer the question below.

**Source A**
We must recognize that the League of Nations is an instrument of peace, not of war. In imposing economic sanctions against Italy, we have demonstrated our commitment to the principles of collective security. However, we must proceed with prudence. To deny oil to Italy or to close the Suez Canal would risk igniting a general European war—a catastrophe that would dwarf the conflict in East Africa. Our primary duty is to keep the peace in Europe and maintain a united front against greater threats. The League has acted responsibly by seeking a balanced resolution that protects the peace of the continent while expressing disapproval of aggression.
*(From a speech by a British Member of Parliament supporting the government's foreign policy, December 1935)*

**Source B**
I ask the great powers: what real assistance have you given to Ethiopia? The collective security you promised has proven to be a hollow phrase. By hesitating to impose effective sanctions, such as an embargo on oil, and by attempting to partition my country behind closed doors to appease the aggressor, you have encouraged international lawlessness. The weak have been abandoned to the mercy of the strong. By choosing to tolerate aggression rather than risk your own comfort, you have not secured peace in Europe; you have only ensured the death of the League itself.
*(From a public statement by Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, addressing the League of Nations, June 1936)*

**Question:** Compare and contrast the views expressed in Source A and Source B regarding the League of Nations' response to the Abyssinian Crisis.
查看答案詳解

解題

### Analysis of Similarities:
- **Avoidance of extreme measures:** Both sources acknowledge that the League refrained from imposing the toughest sanctions. Source A notes the decision not to 'deny oil' or 'close the Suez Canal', while Source B points to the failure to 'impose effective sanctions, such as an embargo on oil'.
- **Focus on European peace:** Both sources link the League's actions to the preservation of European peace. Source A explicitly states that the primary duty is to 'keep the peace in Europe', while Source B argues that the powers chose this path because they did not want to 'risk your own comfort' or disrupt their own peace.

### Analysis of Differences:
- **Assessment of the League's responsibility:** Source A views the League's approach as highly responsible and balanced, arguing it successfully condemned aggression without triggering a wider war. Source B views the response as irresponsible and treacherous, accusing the powers of trying to 'appease the aggressor' and 'partition' Ethiopia.
- **The effectiveness of collective security:** Source A argues that the economic sanctions applied showed a clear 'commitment to the principles of collective security'. Source B, on the other hand, dismisses collective security as a 'hollow phrase' that failed in practice, leaving the weak at the mercy of the strong.
- **The ultimate outcome:** Source A believes the League's actions protected continental peace. Source B argues that this policy failed to secure peace and instead 'ensured the death of the League itself'.

### Contextual Evaluation and Synthesis:
- **Source A** reflects the official British perspective in late 1935, during the period of the Hoare-Laval Pact discussions. The British government was anxious to avoid pushing Mussolini into an alliance with Hitler (maintaining the Stresa Front), which explains the emphasis on preserving European peace and avoiding provocative measures like oil sanctions.
- **Source B** represents the perspective of the victim of Italian aggression after the fall of Addis Ababa in 1936. Haile Selassie's bitter tone reflects the reality that the League's half-measures failed to save his country, highlighting the inherent contradiction in the League's policy of trying to satisfy collective security without risking military confrontation.

評分準則

### Marking Scheme Breakdown:

* **Level 4 (12–15 marks):** Identifies both similarities and differences, and evaluates the sources' utility/reliability using historical context or provenance to explain why their perspectives differ.
* *To achieve this level:* Students should explain the differing motives behind the British MP's justification (Stresa Front, fear of European war, appeasement policy) and Haile Selassie's condemnation (the total conquest of Abyssinia, betrayal by the Great Powers).

* **Level 3 (8–11 marks):** Identifies both similarities and differences through direct, textual comparison. Well-supported with quotes/references.
* *To achieve this level:* Must clearly contrast the positive view of collective security in Source A with the negative view in Source B, while also noting their agreement on the omission of oil sanctions.

* **Level 2 (4–7 marks):** Identifies only similarities OR only differences, or makes a basic comparison with limited source support.

* **Level 1 (1–3 marks):** Writes about the sources but does not make valid, direct comparisons, or simply summarizes each source individually.
題目 2 · Source Evaluation and Integration (b)
25
### Section C: International Option

**The League of Nations and International Peace in the 1920s**

Carefully read the four sources below and answer part (b).

**Source A**
From a speech by Lord Robert Cecil, British representative to the League of Nations, addressing the League Assembly, September 1921.

"The settlement of the Åland Islands question is a brilliant vindication of the League's methods. Here was a dispute which, in the old days of secret diplomacy, might easily have led to a bitter war between Sweden and Finland. Instead, both nations agreed to submit their case to the council of the League. Although Sweden was disappointed with the decision to award sovereignty to Finland, she has loyally accepted the ruling. This demonstrates that moral authority and impartial investigation can triumph over national passions. The League has proven itself to be a powerful instrument for the preservation of peace."

**Source B**
From a public statement by Benito Mussolini, Prime Minister of Italy, published in an Italian government-aligned newspaper, September 1923, regarding the Corfu incident.

"The League of Nations has no right to interfere in matters involving Italy's national honour and security. The brutal murder of Italian officials on Greek soil demanded immediate and decisive action. Italy will not submit her sovereignty to the judgment of an assembly of small nations who have no understanding of the responsibilities of great powers. If the League insists on meddling in a matter that is already being handled by the Conference of Ambassadors, Italy will withdraw from the League. Great powers must settle their own affairs without the interference of Geneva bureaucrats."

**Source C**
From a diplomatic letter written by a Lithuanian diplomat to the League of Nations Council, December 1922.

"Poland continues to occupy our ancient capital of Vilna in open defiance of the League of Nations and the principle of self-determination. The League's attempts to resolve this dispute have been characterized by hesitation and a complete lack of resolve. While Poland enjoys the protection of powerful members of the Council who wish to maintain a strong military ally in Eastern Europe, Lithuania is left defenseless. The League has proved itself powerless to enforce its own decisions when confronted by the aggressive expansionism of a nation backed by major powers."

**Source D**
From the official report by the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry on the border incident between Greece and Bulgaria, December 1925.

"The prompt intervention of the League Council prevented an outbreak of hostilities that could have engulfed the entire Balkan region. Upon receiving the appeal from the Bulgarian government, the Council acted with exemplary speed to demand a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Greek troops. Our commission has investigated the incident thoroughly and determined that while Greece acted hastily, both nations have now agreed to abide by the League's assessment of reparations. The success of this intervention demonstrates the effectiveness of the League's machinery when member states respect the Covenant."

***

**Part (b)**
How far do these sources support the view that the League of Nations was successful in resolving international disputes in the 1920s?
查看答案詳解

解題

### Analysis of the Sources

* **Source A**: Supports the hypothesis. It praises the League's settlement of the Åland Islands dispute between Sweden and Finland as a "brilliant vindication" of its methods. It argues that moral authority successfully triumphed over national passions.
* *Context and Evaluation*: Written by Lord Robert Cecil, a passionate advocate and co-architect of the League. His position means he has an interest in promoting the League's successes to secure public and political support. However, his assessment is historically accurate; the Åland Islands dispute was indeed a lasting success where both parties accepted a peaceful arbitration.

* **Source B**: Challenges the hypothesis. Mussolini rejects the League's authority over the Corfu incident, claiming it has "no right to interfere" in matters of national honour. He threatens withdrawal and asserts that great powers should bypass the League in favour of bodies like the Conference of Ambassadors.
* *Context and Evaluation*: This is a highly biased public statement by a nationalist dictator designed to assert Italian prestige and justify aggressive action. However, it accurately reveals a critical structural weakness of the League: its inability to discipline a major power (Italy) which successfully bypassed the League by utilizing the Conference of Ambassadors.

* **Source C**: Challenges the hypothesis. The Lithuanian diplomat argues that the League was "powerless" and showed a "complete lack of resolve" in the Vilna dispute, failing to stop Polish aggression because Poland was backed by powerful Council members (specifically France, which wanted a strong ally against Germany and Russia).
* *Context and Evaluation*: The source is from a Lithuanian perspective, which is naturally bitter and partisan given Lithuania's loss of Vilna. Nevertheless, the criticism is valid. The League failed to act decisively because major powers (Britain and France) were unwilling to enforce the League's authority against a key strategic ally, demonstrating that geopolitical interests overrode collective security.

* **Source D**: Supports the hypothesis. The official report on the Greek-Bulgarian dispute of 1925 describes the League's intervention as prompt, decisive, and successful in preventing a war, showing that the "machinery" of the League works effectively when respected.
* *Context and Evaluation*: As an official League of Nations document, it has an interest in presenting the League's actions in a positive light. However, the facts of the case support the source: the League successfully ordered a ceasefire and forced Greece to pay reparations, demonstrating that the League could resolve disputes effectively when dealing with smaller powers.

### Synthesis and Conclusion

The sources offer a balanced and nuanced view. When resolving disputes between smaller nations where no major power's core strategic interests were threatened (such as the Åland Islands in Source A and the Greek-Bulgarian conflict in Source D), the League operated highly effectively, using moral authority, commissions of inquiry, and swift diplomatic pressure.

Conversely, when a dispute directly involved a major power (such as Italy in Source B) or impacted the geopolitical interests of major Council members (such as France's alliance with Poland over Vilna in Source C), the League was bypassed, ignored, or rendered impotent. Therefore, the sources collectively suggest that while the League had successful conflict-resolution mechanisms, its success was conditional and severely limited by the realities of great power politics.

評分準則

**Mark Scheme for Part (b) (25 Marks)**

* **Level 5 (21–25 marks)**: Answers co-ordinate source utility/reliability and historical context to provide a balanced and well-substantiated judgment on the hypothesis. Candidates will evaluate the provenance of the sources (e.g., Cecil's idealism in Source A, Mussolini's nationalist posturing in Source B, Lithuanian desperation in Source C, and the institutional self-congratulation of Source D) to explain the discrepancy between the successes and failures of the League.
* **Level 4 (16–20 marks)**: Answers analyze the sources to show both support and challenge to the view. Candidates will begin to evaluate the sources for reliability, motive, or context to resolve the tension between them (e.g., noting that the League succeeded with smaller powers but failed when major powers were involved).
* **Level 3 (11–15 marks)**: Answers identify which sources support the view (A and D) and which challenge it (B and C). Candidates use details/quotes from the sources to explain how they support or challenge the hypothesis, but there is limited or no source evaluation.
* **Level 2 (6–10 marks)**: Answers are structured but focus on only one side of the argument (e.g., only explaining how the sources show the League was successful, or only how they show it failed), or offer a basic sequential summary of the sources with minimal links to the question.
* **Level 1 (1–5 marks)**: Answers write a general narrative about the League of Nations' successes and failures in the 1920s without directly using or analyzing the provided sources.
* **Level 0 (0 marks)**: No response or response does not meet the criteria.

卷二: Outline Study

Answer two questions from one section only (Section A, B, or C). Each question contains a part (a) and a part (b).
4 題目 · 60
題目 1 · essay
10
Explain why the Frankfurt Parliament of 1848–49 failed to achieve German unification.
查看答案詳解

解題

The Frankfurt Parliament, convened in May 1848, failed to achieve German unification due to several key factors: 1. Lack of Real Power and Military Support: The parliament had no army of its own and lacked the administrative machinery to enforce its decisions. It relied on the goodwill of the existing German states, particularly Prussia and Austria, which were eventually able to reassert their authority. 2. Internal Divisions: The delegates, mostly middle-class intellectuals and professionals, were divided over critical issues. The most significant debate was between the 'Grossdeutschland' (Large Germany, including Austria) and 'Kleindeutschland' (Small Germany, excluding Austria) solutions. This debate delayed progress for months, allowing conservative forces to regroup. 3. Rejection of the Crown: When the parliament finally settled on a Kleindeutschland constitution and offered the imperial crown to King Frederick William IV of Prussia in March 1849, he rejected it. He famously stated he would not accept a 'crown from the gutter' offered by an elected assembly, undermining the entire constitutional project. 4. Conservative Resurgence: By late 1848, the rulers of Austria and Prussia had regained control of their militaries and crushed radical uprisings, rendering the liberal parliament politically obsolete and leading to its eventual dissolution.

評分準則

Level 4 (8–10 marks): Explains multiple reasons for the failure of the Frankfurt Parliament, showing clear analytical links between these factors and the outcome. Answers will demonstrate deep historical understanding of the period. Level 3 (6–7 marks): Explains at least one key factor in detail (e.g., the role of Frederick William IV or the Grossdeutschland/Kleindeutschland debate) but other factors are only identified or described rather than explained. Level 2 (3–5 marks): Identifies reasons for the failure of the Parliament but lacks deep analysis or relies on narrative description of the 1848 revolutions. Level 1 (1–2 marks): Offers general assertions about the revolutions of 1848 with little specific historical knowledge of the Frankfurt Parliament. Level 0 (0 marks): No creditworthy response.
題目 2 · essay
10
Explain why the Compromise of 1850 failed to permanently resolve sectional tensions in the United States.
查看答案詳解

解題

The Compromise of 1850 was a temporary truce rather than a permanent solution to the sectional crisis for several reasons: 1. The Fugitive Slave Act: This was the most controversial component of the compromise. It forced citizens in free states to assist in the capture of runaway slaves under penalty of law. This direct federal intervention outraged Northern abolitionists, led to the passage of 'personal liberty laws' in several northern states, and intensified moral opposition to slavery, as highlighted by the publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1852. 2. Popular Sovereignty: The compromise left the status of slavery in the New Mexico and Utah territories to be decided by 'popular sovereignty' (local voters). Rather than settling the issue, this established a dangerous precedent that would directly lead to violent conflict in Kansas just a few years later. 3. Political Realignment: The struggle over the compromise weakened the national political parties (the Whigs and the Democrats), paving the way for the rise of sectional parties like the Republican Party, which was committed to stopping the expansion of slavery. 4. Temporary Consensus: The bills were passed individually by a shifting coalition led by Stephen Douglas, meaning there was never a true national consensus or shared vision of compromise between Northern and Southern politicians.

評分準則

Level 4 (8–10 marks): Explains multiple reasons for the failure of the Compromise of 1850, linking specific provisions (especially the Fugitive Slave Act and popular sovereignty) to the escalation of sectional tensions. Level 3 (6–7 marks): Explains at least one reason in detail, but describes others without fully analyzing their contribution to the breakdown of the compromise. Level 2 (3–5 marks): Identifies elements of the Compromise of 1850 but focuses more on describing the terms of the compromise rather than explaining why it failed to last. Level 1 (1–2 marks): Shows basic knowledge of the sectional conflict but lacks specific focus on the 1850 compromise. Level 0 (0 marks): No creditworthy response.
題目 3 · essay
20
How far was Prussian economic strength, rather than its military superiority, the key factor in the unification of Germany by 1871?
查看答案詳解

解題

To answer this question effectively, candidates should construct a balanced essay that compares economic factors with military and political/diplomatic factors:

1. **Arguments for Economic Strength:**
- The **Zollverein** (customs union) established Prussian economic hegemony over the German states, excluding Austria. This created a de facto economic unity long before political unification.
- Rapid industrialization, especially in the Ruhr valley, provided Prussia with the financial and material resources to build a modern infrastructure.
- The development of an extensive railway network allowed for rapid mobilization of troops and supplies, which proved decisive in the wars of unification.
- Krupp steel and industrial capacity ensured that the Prussian army was better equipped than its rivals.

2. **Arguments for Military Superiority and Other Factors:**
- **Military Reforms:** The reforms initiated by Albrecht von Roon (minister of war) and Helmuth von Moltke (chief of the general staff) in the 1860s transformed the Prussian army. The introduction of the needle gun, intensive training, and systematic organization were critical in defeating Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1870-71).
- **Bismarck's Diplomacy:** Bismarck's opportunistic diplomacy exploited international rivalries, isolated Austria (Treaty of Prague), provoked France (Ems Telegram), and secured the support of the southern German states.
- **Nationalist Sentiment:** Popular German nationalism, which had grown since 1848, was harnessed by Bismarck to legitimize Prussian dominance.

**Conclusion:**
While economic strength created the essential foundation and structural advantages that made Prussian dominance possible, it was Prussian military superiority and Bismarck's diplomatic strategy that converted this potential into actual political unification through 'blood and iron'.

評分準則

Level 5: 16–20 marks
- Answers show a clear understanding of the complexity of the question.
- Demonstrates well-selected and highly relevant historical knowledge.
- Sustains a balanced, analytical argument that directly addresses the 'how far' aspect of the prompt.

Level 4: 11–15 marks
- Answers display good historical knowledge and attempt to construct a balanced argument.
- Explains both economic and military/diplomatic factors but may favor one over the other in detail.

Level 3: 6–10 marks
- Answers contain some relevant knowledge but tend to be descriptive rather than analytical.
- May focus heavily on Bismarck or military battles without adequately addressing the economic aspect (or vice versa).

Level 2: 3–5 marks
- Answers show limited understanding of the topic, containing superficial or highly generalized assertions.

Level 1: 1–2 marks
- Answers offer fragmented, irrelevant, or inaccurate information.
題目 4 · essay
20
To what extent did the Compromise of 1850 successfully resolve sectional tensions in the United States?
查看答案詳解

解題

Candidates should analyze the components and the impact of the Compromise of 1850 to assess its success:

1. **Arguments that it was successful (mostly short-term):**
- **Averted Immediate Conflict:** It defused a major constitutional crisis and delayed the outbreak of civil war for a decade, giving the North more time to industrialize and grow in population.
- **Balanced Admissions:** California was admitted as a free state, which satisfied the North, while New Mexico and Utah territories were organized with popular sovereignty, offering a compromise on the expansion of slavery.
- **Settled Texas Boundaries:** Texas relinquished its claims to New Mexico in exchange for federal debt assumption, resolving a dangerous border dispute.
- **Banned Slave Trade in D.C.:** The abolition of the slave trade in Washington, D.C., was a symbolic victory for abolitionists.

2. **Arguments that it failed (mostly long-term):**
- **The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850:** This was the most controversial element. It forced northern citizens to assist in capturing runaway slaves and denied accused runaways a jury trial. This outraged northern public opinion, led to personal liberty laws, and fueled the rise of abolitionism (further boosted by the publication of *Uncle Tom's Cabin* in 1852).
- **Inherent Flaws of Popular Sovereignty:** By leaving the decision of slavery to local territorial populations, it set a dangerous precedent that directly led to violence in 'Bleeding Kansas' following the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.
- **Temporary Truce, Not a Cure:** It did not resolve the moral and political incompatibility of the free-labor and slave-labor systems, only postponing the inevitable clash.

**Conclusion:**
While the Compromise of 1850 successfully maintained the Union in the short term, its reliance on the highly divisive Fugitive Slave Act and the ambiguous doctrine of popular sovereignty ultimately exacerbated sectional polarization, making a peaceful resolution of the slavery issue more difficult in the long run.

評分準則

Level 5: 16–20 marks
- Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the provisions of the Compromise of 1850 and their consequences.
- Constructs a highly analytical and balanced argument evaluating both success (averting war) and failure (deepening divisions, particularly via the Fugitive Slave Act).

Level 4: 11–15 marks
- Displays good knowledge of the key terms of the Compromise.
- Provides a balanced explanation of its short-term benefits and long-term failures, though one side may be more developed than the other.

Level 3: 6–10 marks
- Offers a descriptive account of the Compromise of 1850 without fully analyzing its success or failure.
- May focus too heavily on general causes of the Civil War without specific reference to the 1850 terms.

Level 2: 3–5 marks
- Shows limited or superficial knowledge of the Compromise of 1850, often confusing it with other compromises (e.g., Missouri Compromise of 1820).

Level 1: 1–2 marks
- Fragmented, inaccurate, or irrelevant response.

想知道自己有幾分把握?

Thinka 是 DSE 學生用的 AI 練習應用程式,有無限量練習題、即時自動批改和詳細解題步驟。逾 100,000 名學生用它確認自己真的識,而不只是「以為識」。

想練更多類似題型?在 Thinka 無限量操練,即時知道答案。

免費開始練習