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Master Your Terrorism and Counterterrorism Course: Practice Questions &
Answer Sheets
Prepare effectively for your terrorism and counterterrorism exam with this comprehensive PDF,
featuring 3 sections of 50+ practice questions each, complete with detailed answer sheets.
Designed with insights from the course material and the language your professors use, this
resource aligns closely with the exam format, ensuring you're ready to excel.
Whether you're solidifying key concepts, refining your analytical skills, or simply seeking extra
practice, this guide is your ultimate companion for mastering the subject. Good luck on your
exam!
, 2
TCT Practice Exam Questions on Readings pt. 1
1. According to Ganor, which of the following is not a necessary criterion for defining terrorism?
A) Use of violence
B) Aimed at achieving political goals
C) Exclusively targeting military personnel
D) Civilians as primary targets
2. What is a key distinction in Schmid’s Academic Consensus Definition of terrorism?
A) Terrorism is solely conducted by non-state actors.
B) It involves both ideological motives and behavior.
C) It excludes propaganda as a tactic.
D) State terrorism is explicitly ruled out.
3. Which of the following best summarizes Toros's perspective on negotiating with terrorists?
A) It legitimizes their goals.
B) It risks contradicting peaceful resolutions.
C) It can reverse radicalization processes.
D) It has no transformative potential.
4. How does Ganor differentiate between guerrilla warfare and terrorism?
A) Guerrilla warfare targets military personnel; terrorism targets civilians.
B) Both target civilians but for different purposes.
C) Guerrilla warfare is always state-sponsored.
D) There is no meaningful difference between the two.
5. Which of the following contrasts between terrorism and insurgency is most accurate according
to Tilly?
A) Terrorism is purely symbolic, while insurgency seeks territorial control.
B) Insurgency uses terror exclusively as a tactic.
C) Terrorism targets external audiences, while insurgency focuses on military forces.
D) Both are fundamentally the same, differing only in scale.
6. Which of the following factors does Crenshaw identify as an enabling precondition for
terrorism?
A) Modernization and urbanization
B) Absolute poverty
C) High levels of education
D) Globalization
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7. According to Schuurman and Carthy, what is a protective factor against radicalization?
A) Social isolation
B) Strong family bonds
C) Lack of political participation
D) Economic instability
8. Which of the following best captures Schmid’s definition of radicalization?
A) A process restricted to violent extremism
B) Advocating political change through non-violent means
C) Both a thought process and a system-transforming action
D) An exclusively religious phenomenon
9. According to Horgan, what distinguishes why people join terrorist groups from how they join?
A) The psychological versus social mechanisms involved
B) Ideological motivation versus material incentives
C) Rational versus emotional decision-making
D) None of the above
10. How does Parker & Sitter’s critique of Rapoport’s wave theory differ from others?
A) They highlight the absence of state actors in the waves.
B) They suggest strains, not waves, explain terrorism’s evolution.
C) They argue waves are too inclusive.
D) They accept the wave theory uncritically.
11. What is Jackson's primary critique of Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS)?
A) Its over-reliance on descriptive studies
B) A lack of acknowledgment of state terrorism
C) Its rejection of collaboration with governments
D) Its narrow focus on Islamic terrorism
12. Which of the following reflects Ganor’s view on state-sponsored terrorism?
A) It cannot be considered terrorism.
B) It is primarily operationalized through intelligence services.
C) States rarely involve themselves directly.
D) All of the above.
13. What is a unique critique by Schuurman of traditional terrorism studies?
A) Overuse of experimental research
B) Lack of collaboration among researchers
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C) Excessive reliance on primary data
D) Focus on group-level dynamics
14. According to Pape, what is the primary logic behind suicide terrorism?
A) To gain media attention
B) To extract concessions from democracies
C) To eliminate military targets
D) To disrupt economic stability
15. Which of the following is not a goal of state terrorism according to Stohl?
A) Strengthening political power
B) Winning public approval
C) Provoking arrests of opposition
D) Enforcing obedience
16. How does Schmid's definition of terrorism differ from Ganor’s?
A) Schmid includes state actors, while Ganor excludes them.
B) Ganor focuses exclusively on psychological impact.
C) Schmid does not require political goals.
D) Both authors reject the concept of state terrorism.
17. Which author argues that root causes are insufficient to explain terrorism?
A) Crenshaw
B) Schmid
C) Jackson
D) Horgan
18. Which of the following is a key finding in Thomas's study on female suicide bombers?
A) They are more lethal in countries with restrictive gender norms.
B) Their effectiveness surpasses male suicide bombers in all contexts.
C) They primarily target military installations.
D) They are overrepresented in global attacks.
19. How does Spaaij define lone wolf terrorism?
A) Attacks with no political or ideological motive
B) Actions carried out without external command
C) Operations by organized groups disguised as individuals
D) Exclusively cyber-based attacks
Master Your Terrorism and Counterterrorism Course: Practice Questions &
Answer Sheets
Prepare effectively for your terrorism and counterterrorism exam with this comprehensive PDF,
featuring 3 sections of 50+ practice questions each, complete with detailed answer sheets.
Designed with insights from the course material and the language your professors use, this
resource aligns closely with the exam format, ensuring you're ready to excel.
Whether you're solidifying key concepts, refining your analytical skills, or simply seeking extra
practice, this guide is your ultimate companion for mastering the subject. Good luck on your
exam!
, 2
TCT Practice Exam Questions on Readings pt. 1
1. According to Ganor, which of the following is not a necessary criterion for defining terrorism?
A) Use of violence
B) Aimed at achieving political goals
C) Exclusively targeting military personnel
D) Civilians as primary targets
2. What is a key distinction in Schmid’s Academic Consensus Definition of terrorism?
A) Terrorism is solely conducted by non-state actors.
B) It involves both ideological motives and behavior.
C) It excludes propaganda as a tactic.
D) State terrorism is explicitly ruled out.
3. Which of the following best summarizes Toros's perspective on negotiating with terrorists?
A) It legitimizes their goals.
B) It risks contradicting peaceful resolutions.
C) It can reverse radicalization processes.
D) It has no transformative potential.
4. How does Ganor differentiate between guerrilla warfare and terrorism?
A) Guerrilla warfare targets military personnel; terrorism targets civilians.
B) Both target civilians but for different purposes.
C) Guerrilla warfare is always state-sponsored.
D) There is no meaningful difference between the two.
5. Which of the following contrasts between terrorism and insurgency is most accurate according
to Tilly?
A) Terrorism is purely symbolic, while insurgency seeks territorial control.
B) Insurgency uses terror exclusively as a tactic.
C) Terrorism targets external audiences, while insurgency focuses on military forces.
D) Both are fundamentally the same, differing only in scale.
6. Which of the following factors does Crenshaw identify as an enabling precondition for
terrorism?
A) Modernization and urbanization
B) Absolute poverty
C) High levels of education
D) Globalization
, 3
7. According to Schuurman and Carthy, what is a protective factor against radicalization?
A) Social isolation
B) Strong family bonds
C) Lack of political participation
D) Economic instability
8. Which of the following best captures Schmid’s definition of radicalization?
A) A process restricted to violent extremism
B) Advocating political change through non-violent means
C) Both a thought process and a system-transforming action
D) An exclusively religious phenomenon
9. According to Horgan, what distinguishes why people join terrorist groups from how they join?
A) The psychological versus social mechanisms involved
B) Ideological motivation versus material incentives
C) Rational versus emotional decision-making
D) None of the above
10. How does Parker & Sitter’s critique of Rapoport’s wave theory differ from others?
A) They highlight the absence of state actors in the waves.
B) They suggest strains, not waves, explain terrorism’s evolution.
C) They argue waves are too inclusive.
D) They accept the wave theory uncritically.
11. What is Jackson's primary critique of Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS)?
A) Its over-reliance on descriptive studies
B) A lack of acknowledgment of state terrorism
C) Its rejection of collaboration with governments
D) Its narrow focus on Islamic terrorism
12. Which of the following reflects Ganor’s view on state-sponsored terrorism?
A) It cannot be considered terrorism.
B) It is primarily operationalized through intelligence services.
C) States rarely involve themselves directly.
D) All of the above.
13. What is a unique critique by Schuurman of traditional terrorism studies?
A) Overuse of experimental research
B) Lack of collaboration among researchers
, 4
C) Excessive reliance on primary data
D) Focus on group-level dynamics
14. According to Pape, what is the primary logic behind suicide terrorism?
A) To gain media attention
B) To extract concessions from democracies
C) To eliminate military targets
D) To disrupt economic stability
15. Which of the following is not a goal of state terrorism according to Stohl?
A) Strengthening political power
B) Winning public approval
C) Provoking arrests of opposition
D) Enforcing obedience
16. How does Schmid's definition of terrorism differ from Ganor’s?
A) Schmid includes state actors, while Ganor excludes them.
B) Ganor focuses exclusively on psychological impact.
C) Schmid does not require political goals.
D) Both authors reject the concept of state terrorism.
17. Which author argues that root causes are insufficient to explain terrorism?
A) Crenshaw
B) Schmid
C) Jackson
D) Horgan
18. Which of the following is a key finding in Thomas's study on female suicide bombers?
A) They are more lethal in countries with restrictive gender norms.
B) Their effectiveness surpasses male suicide bombers in all contexts.
C) They primarily target military installations.
D) They are overrepresented in global attacks.
19. How does Spaaij define lone wolf terrorism?
A) Attacks with no political or ideological motive
B) Actions carried out without external command
C) Operations by organized groups disguised as individuals
D) Exclusively cyber-based attacks
