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Extract A: From A History of Europe, published in 2004

Soviet Communism was seen by the West as a threat to non-Communist states, and had created hostility between East and West before 1945. In fact, the Grand Alliance was a convenient temporary arrangement between Britain, the USA and the Soviet Union - states which otherwise were hostile to each other. The Soviet Union said it was the defender of people around the world against western capitalist countries like the USA where 'Big Business' took advantage of the people. The USA, in turn, saw itself as the defender of the 'Free World' against the aim of the Soviet Union to expand Communism.

a) What impression does the author give about the impact of the attitudes of the Soviet Union and the West in 1945? (6)

Think about:

Overall impression

Content

Language and tone

Points of emphasis along with aspects omitted

Overall, impression