Question

What were two things severely hurting the Soviet economy just prior to its fall?
A. The agricultural and manufacturing sectors were not meeting peoples' needs.
B. It was in the middle of fighting a protracted and unwinnable war in Pakistan.
C. Falling oil prices caused loss of income for the Soviet Union export business.
D. Russia had managed to find itself in a major trade deficit, which proved unhealthy.

Answer 1

The best option from the list would be that "A. The agricultural and manufacturing sectors were not meeting peoples' needs", since the USSR was a "planned economy" that failed to meet the needs of the people. 

Answer 2

Answer:

A. The agricultural and manufacturing sectors were not meeting peoples' needs.

C. Falling oil prices caused loss of income for the Soviet Union export business.

Explanation:

I know that I'm right. It says in the passage: And I quote,

" In the background, there were critical issues facing the Kremlin:

* the Afghanistan War was taking a heavy toll on the financial resources of the country, not to mention its negative effect on morale;

* the manufacturing and agricultural infrastructures were failing to meet the needs of Soviet citizens; and

* as the nation was dependent on oil exports, rapidly falling oil prices were causing alarming shortfalls in income."

So my inference tells me that based on the given information, the logical answers are letters A and B, or options One and Three.

Have a nice day.

-KC