Question

The economy of Russia was devastated after World War I. How did the lack of trade further the suffering of the Russian people?

Without trade the people of Russia were able to focus on their own growing needs.

Lack of trade meant no new sources for wealth to enter the country.

The lack of trade kept the people of Russia from experiencing new products.

Embarrassed by their poverty the people of Russia wanted nothing to do with outside trade.

Answer 1

Best answer: "Lack of trade meant no new sources for wealth to enter the country."

Why: trade brings export income, foreign capital, and imports of food, fuel, machinery and spare parts. After World War I and the civil war Russia lost markets and trade links, so it couldn’t earn foreign exchange to buy needed goods or attract investment. That deepened shortages, industrial breakdown, unemployment and famine.

Notes on the other choices: the idea that lack of trade let people “focus on growing needs” is misleading — isolation worsened shortages. That they were merely kept from “experiencing new products” is true but a secondary effect compared with loss of income and supplies. The last option is incorrect.