Question

Which of the following represented a propaganda victory for the U.S.S.R.?

launching of Sputnik

Cuban Missile Crisis

Kennedy's assassination

building of the Berlin wall

Answer 1

It definitely wasn't the Cuban Missile Crisis. That turned into a humiliating defeat for the USSR after it backed down. Kennedy's assassination is also out. The USSR was as surprised as anyone that it happened. Some believed that blame might actually fall on them and spark a war. The building of the Berlin wall can also be counted out -- that was seen by many the world over as another affirmation that the USSR and its allies were more concerned with control than with helping their people.

So the only one that makes sense would be the launch of Sputnik. As a satellite, it didn't really do anything except beam out a radio signal, but as the first of its kind, it served as a wake up call on just how far ahead the USSR was when it came to space...and how behind the United States and the rest of the world were.