Issue — March 2026

Quiz: Global Affairs This Decade

C1 Quiz 11 sentences

Quiz: Global Affairs This Decade 0 / 11

Speed

A challenging quiz on the geopolitics, crises, and trends shaping the 2020s.

A Multipolar World Takes Shape

The 2020s have witnessed a marked shift away from US unipolar dominance toward a far more contested global order. The war in Ukraine, US-China strategic rivalry, and the rise of middle powers such as India, Brazil, and the Gulf states have eroded the assumption of a single hegemony shaping world events. Multilateral institutions like the UN, WTO, and G20 are being challenged or bypassed as nations pursue more transactional relationships, producing strategic fragmentation — a world where national sovereignty is fiercely defended. This new environment demands constant diplomacy and a deep understanding of regional dynamics.

Quiz: Global Affairs This Decade — image 2

Flashpoints and Fault Lines

Beyond great-power rivalry, the decade has been marked by cascading crises that have tested global resilience. The lingering effects of COVID-19 exposed weaknesses in supply chains and pushed governments to prioritize self-sufficiency over efficiency, while the Russia-Ukraine war triggered sweeping Western sanctions and revived deterrence as a core policy doctrine. In the Middle East, the Israel-Hamas war raised fears of broader regional polarization and humanitarian collapse. At the same time, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence introduced a technological paradigm shift in how states project power and compete economically.

اختبر نفسك

0/5

1According to the article, what is described as no longer undisputed in the 2020s?

The first section states that 'hegemony' is no longer undisputed, as power has grown more contested.
2What does the article say is happening to multilateral institutions such as the UN, WTO, and G20?

The article notes these institutions are 'being challenged or bypassed' as states pursue more transactional ties.
3The article says the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities mainly in:

The second section explicitly links the pandemic to weaknesses in supply chains and a turn toward self-sufficiency.
4The Israel-Hamas war is described as raising fears of:

The text states the conflict 'raised fears of broader regional polarization and humanitarian collapse.'
5The article describes the rise of artificial intelligence as:

The final sentence calls AI 'a technological paradigm shift in how states project power and compete economically.'

لازم تعرف 10

deterrence Noun The act of preventing someone from doing something by making them afraid of the consequences; something that deters.
diplomacy Noun The profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, especially by a country's representatives abroad. It can also refer to the skill of dealing with people sensitively and effectively in difficult situations.
fragmentation Noun The process of breaking something into smaller, separate parts or fragments; a state of being divided or split into pieces.
hegemony Noun Hegemony refers to the dominance or leadership of one group, country, or organization over others, especially in political, economic, or cultural contexts.
multilateral Adjective Involving or done by several countries or parties, especially the governments of different countries. Relating to an agreement or organization in which three or more countries or groups work together.
paradigm Noun A paradigm is a typical example or pattern that represents a particular way of thinking or a standard model. In science and philosophy, it refers to a set of assumptions, concepts, and values that form a framework for understanding how something works.
polarization Noun The process by which a group, especially a political one, becomes divided into two opposing sides with sharply contrasting views or positions. In physics, it refers to the restriction of the vibrations of a transverse wave, such as light, to a single direction.
resilience Noun The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or adversity; mental toughness. Also refers to the ability of a material to return to its original shape after being stretched, compressed, or bent.
sanctions Noun Official penalties or restrictions imposed by one country or group on another, typically as a form of punishment or diplomatic pressure, often involving trade measures.
sovereignty Noun Sovereignty is the supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. It refers to a country's independence and its right to make its own laws and decisions.