How Well Do You Know Prominent Women from Russian and Soviet History?

Image Source

Quiz Questions

1.
Which ballet dancer, most famous for her role of The Dying Swan, became the first ballerina to tour around the world and has a dessert named after her?
Image Source
- A.
  Galina Ulanova
- B.
  Anna Pavlova
- C.
  Tamara Karsavina
- D.
  Maya Plisetskaya
2.
Born in Moscow in 1850, Sofya Kovalevskaya was the first woman to obtain a doctorate in which scientific discipline?
Image Source
- A.
  Astronomy
- B.
  Physics
- C.
  Chemistry
- D.
  Mathematics
3.
Which influential 20th century writer and philosopher was born in Saint Petersburg and was called Alisa Rosenbaum until she moved abroad and assumed a new name?
Image Source
- A.
  Simone de Beauvoir
- B.
  Hannah Arendt
- C.
  Ayn Rand
- D.
  Susan Sontag
4.
Vera Mukhina is the author of which iconic monument that crowned the Soviet pavilion at the 1937 World's Fair and also serves as the logo of the Mosfilm film studio?
Image Source
- A.
  The Bronze Horseman in Saint Petersburg
- B.
  Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow
- C.
  The Motherland Calls in Volgograd
- D.
  The Worker and the Kolkhoz Woman in Moscow
5.
Which Russian monarch reigned for 34 years and embraced the philosophy of "enlightened despotism"?
Image Source
- A.
  Catherine I
- B.
  Catherine II (the Great)
- C.
  Anna Ioannovna
- D.
  Elizaveta Petrovna
6.
During World War II, what was the nickname reportedly given by Germans to an all-female Soviet night bomber regiment?
Image Source
- A.
  Night Witches
- B.
  Night Snipers
- C.
  Nighthawks
- D.
  Night Watch
7.
What American coming-of-age novel did the renowned Soviet translator Rita Rait-Kovaleva bring to Russian-speaking audiences, along with works by Kurt Vonnegut and William Faulkner?
Image Source
- A.
  To Kill a Mocking Bird
- B.
  An American Tragedy
- C.
  The Great Gatsby
- D.
  The Catcher in the Rye
8.
A former textile factory worker and amateur skydiver, Valentina Tereshkova became the world's first woman to do what?
Image Source
- A.
  Reach the North Pole
- B.
  Walk on the Moon
- C.
  Fly solo across the ocean
- D.
  Fly into space
9.
Nicknamed the "Sparrow from Minsk," which Belarusian athlete won four gold and two silver medals for the Soviet team at the Summer Olympic Games in 1972 and 1976?
Image Source
- A.
  Olga Korbut
- B.
  Irina Rodnina
- C.
  Maria Sharapova
- D.
  Larisa Lazutina
10.
Alexandra Kollontai was the first woman to become an official member of a governing cabinet and the first woman to hold which official rank?
Image Source
- A.
  Ambassador
- B.
  President
- C.
  Judge
- D.
  Prime Minister
11.
In 1977, The Ascent directed by Larisa Shepitko became the first Soviet film and the second film directed by a woman to win the Golden Bear at which prestigious European film festival?
Image Source
- A.
  Berlin International Film Festival
- B.
  Locarno Film Festival
- C.
  Venice Film Festival
- D.
  Cannes Film Festival
12.
Microbiologist Zinaida Yermolyeva, whose research was essential in fighting cholera and other infectious diseases in the USSR during WWII, was able to independently synthesize and mass-produce which antibiotic?
Image Source
- A.
  Erythromycin
- B.
  Tetracycline
- C.
  Penicillin
- D.
  Levofloxacin
13.
Nadezhda Durova, who disguised herself as a man and served in the Russian army during the 1812 war with Napoleon, came to be known under what moniker?
Image Source
- A.
  The Infantry Lady
- B.
  The Cavalry Maiden
- C.
  The Hussar Girl
- D.
  The Cossack Dame
14.
Which Soviet dissident and co-founder of the Moscow Helsinki Group returned to Russia from emigration in 1993 and carried on her human rights work until her death in 2018 at the age of 91?
Image Source
- A.
  Yelena Bonner
- B.
  Larisa Bogoraz
- C.
  Natalya Gorbanevskaya
- D.
  Lyudmila Alexeyeva
15.
Which celebrated poet, the author of Requiem and Poem without a Hero, was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1965 and 1966, but never received the award despite critical acclaim?
- A.
  Image Source
  Marina Tsvetaeva
- B.
  Image Source
  Anna Akhmatova
- C.
  Image Source
  Olga Bergholz
- D.
  Image Source
  Zinaida Gippius

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Level: Novice
Image Source
You may not yet know much about the outstanding legacy of Russian and Soviet women, but we hope that you'll be interested in learning more. We invite you to take a closer look at the Kennan Institute's women’s programming collection.Image: Alyonushka, by Viktor Vasnetsov (1881)
2.
Level: Intermediate
Image Source
Not bad! You know some of the most prominent Russian and Soviet women throughout history, but there is still a lot to learn. We invite you to take a closer look at the Kennan Institute's women’s programming collection.Image: The Merchant's Wife, by Boris Kustodiev (1918)
3.
Level: Advanced
Image Source
Well done! You know many of the most prominent Russian and Soviet women throughout history, but there are still a lot of interesting things to learn. We invite you to take a closer look at the Kennan Institute's women’s programming collection.Image: At the Dressing-Table. Self-Portrait, by Zinaida Serebriakova (1909)
4.
Level: Expert
Image Source
Bravo! You definitely know a lot about Russia's and the Soviet Union's outstanding women and their legacies! We invite you to take a closer look at the Kennan Institute's women’s programming collection to learn more about the status of women in Russia and Eurasia today.Image: Portrait of an Unknown Woman, by Ivan Kramskoi (1883)

How Well Do You Know Prominent Women from Russian and Soviet History?

To celebrate Women's History Month, we at the Kennan Institute invite you to recall several outstanding Russian and Soviet women throughout history. Test your knowledge of their legacy by taking our quiz, and learn more about their contributions to culture, science, politics, sports, and society.

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes