The passage: For decades, America has been locked in hostile confrontation with the two great Communist powers, the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. We were engaged with the one at many points and almost totally isolated from the other, but our relationships with both had reached a deadly impasse [standstill]. All three countries were victims of bondage about which George Washington long ago warned in these words: The nation which indulges toward another an habitual [constant] hatred is a slave to its own animosity [hatred].

Question

1. With which nation was the United States "engaged at many points"? From which was it "almost totally isolated"?
I said, the U.S. was engaged at many points with the Soviet Union, and isolated from China.

2. According to the passage, what was the situation between the United States and China and between the United States and the Soviet Union?
I said, because the Soviet Union and China were both communist countries.

Answer 1

Both are correct. :-)

Answer 2

Thank you. Also one more question was, Why did Washington and Nixon both believe that everyone was the loser in this situation?
Now I wasn't too sure about this question but I responded with, We disliked both countries for years, and Washington said long ago that if you hate another country, it won't do your country any good.

Answer 3

Right.

I'm reminded that years ago I hated a neighbor -- for little reason. That was a bad time for me as I later realized. That hatred ate at me far more than anything this neighbor might have done.

Answer 4

I am sorry to hear that, I hope things are well between you guys now.
And thank you for checking my answers!

Answer 5

All is well now. I hope I learned my lesson about what hate can do.

You're very welcome.