“. . . [A] policy which only aims at containing Russia where it now is, is, in itself, an unsound policy; but it is a policy which is bound to fail because a purely defensive policy never wins against an aggressive policy. If our only policy is to stay where we are, we will be driven back. It is only by keeping alive the hope of liberation, by taking advantage of that wherever opportunity arises, that we will end this terrible peril which dominates the world, which imposes upon us such terrible sacrifices and so-great fears for the future. But all of this can be done and must be done in ways which will not provoke a general war . . .
“. . . those who do not believe that results can be accomplished by moral pressures, by the weight of propaganda, just do not know what they are talking about. . . .”
–John Foster Dulles, hearing before the Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations, 1953

Read the quote and then answer the question below.

Which statement best describes the main idea of this passage?
a.
The United States must immediately fight to free all nations taken over by Russia.
b.
The United States must aggressively use moral pressures and propaganda to oppose Russian expansion.
c.
The United States should negotiate with Russia about areas of political influence.
d.
The United States should wage a defensive campaign to contain Russia’s efforts at expansion.