AP Success - AP European History: Atomic Age: Reflections & Reactions
Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, memories of the first nuclear bomb test."We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita; Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty, and to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another."
Question 1
Which event is Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer most likely reflecting upon in the given source?
The Trinity Test, the first detonation of a nuclear weapon
The bombing of Hiroshima
The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union
The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Question 2
The source reflects a sentiment that became common among scientists after which of the following periods?
The Cold War
The Industrial Revolution
The Enlightenment
World War II
Question 3
Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer's invocation of the Bhagavad-Gita in his reflection illustrates which of the following?
The profound moral and ethical implications of the nuclear age
The influence of Eastern philosophy on Western scientific thought
The role of religion in justifying scientific endeavors
The cultural exchange between India and the United States during the 1940s
Question 4
The mixed reactions described by Oppenheimer ('A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent.') suggest which of the following about the initial response to the nuclear bomb test?The observers were primarily amused by the spectacle of the explosion
There was a range of emotions, indicating uncertainty and awe at the new technology
The majority of observers were indifferent to the significance of the event
The event was met with overwhelming joy and celebration
Question 5
The phrase 'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds' signifies which of the following in the context of the source?
A recognition of the destructive power of nuclear weapons
A reference to the cyclical nature of creation and destruction in Hinduism
A belief in the necessity of war to bring about peace
An acceptance of the inevitability of global conflict
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