DSST History of the Vietnam War Exam Practice Test 2

Question 1

Dien Bien Phu marked the end of the French colonial rule in Vietnam. The best way to explain Dien Bien Phu is:

Accepted Answer

Attacking Viet Minh forces tunneled behind the French defences and overran the French position.

Answer

Explanation:
An important concept to know is that Ho Chi Minh’s original guerrilla army was termed the Viet Minh. The Viet Cong (or Vietcong) was a term used much later when the Americans had arrived in the country. While both terms refer to Ho’s guerrilla fighters, the use of one term will define the struggle against the French and the other will describe the conflict against the Americans.

Question 2

Despite American training and equipment, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam is unable to combat the Viet Cong
 insurgency. With increasing strength and influence, the Viet Cong announced the formation of the National Liberation
 Front (NLF), which would serve as the...

Accepted Answer

Political arm of Viet Cong

Answer

Explanation:
The National Liberation Front served as political arm of the communist Viet Cong to put an end to Diem regime. Yes, NLF is not an army or combatants. And, no, this is not the National Football League in the USA.

Question 3

The colonial French were reinstated as Vietnam's rulers:

Accepted Answer

Ho Chi Minh and his followers consented to the provisions of a French-Vietnamese agreement.

Answer

Explanation:
The situation in Vietnam at the end of World War II was muddled, to say the least. Ho probably made the smart move in compromising with the French colonialists so that he could get rid of Chiang’s Chinese forces who occupied the north. The British were in control of the country below the 16th parallel. Ho regarded French colonial rule as the least of all evils, knowing it would be temporary, and because he gained considerable autonomy for Vietnam with the agreement

Question 4

When the USS Maddox was attacked by North Vietnamese in the Gulf of Tonkin, the Vietnam War escalated. As a result,
 this President issued orders to bomb North Vietnam in a systematic manner.

Accepted Answer

President Lyndon Johnson

Answer

Explanation:
The question's challenge here is to recall when USS Maddox was sent. Remember that the vessel was sent for an intelligent mission following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. So the will be his successor President Lyndon Johnson.

Question 5

The French commanders at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu were confident that they could defeat the Viet Minh and
 begin peace talks because:

Accepted Answer

They felt that the Viet Minh would be unable to provide food, weapons, and other military supplies to their forces due to overextended supply lines.

Answer

Explanation:
The French command was significantly outnumbered at the battle of Dien Bien Phu, so “B” would be the wrong choice. The French also respected the fighting abilities of their foes and considered them a match for their own experienced forces; therefore, answer “D” is a false statement. While option “C” is a largely true statement, the Viet Minh were also entrenched around the hillsides and had artillery at their disposal. In fact, the Viets had accomplished a miracle of supply; they had plenty of ammo, artillery, and fighters, and were very well supplied. Answer “A” is the right answer; that’s what the French believed. They were wrong, of course.

DSST - DANTES Subject Standardized Tests Practice Test

DSST - DANTES Subject Standardized Tests Practice Test

DSST History of the Vietnam War Exam Practice Test 2