Which arms-control treaty, established in the 1960s, specifically banned atmospheric nuclear tests and advanced arms control?

Which arms-control treaty, established in the 1960s, specifically banned atmospheric nuclear tests and advanced arms control?

• A. Partial Test Ban Treaty
• B. Outer Space Treaty
• C. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
• D. Limited Test Ban Treaty

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is limiting nuclear weapons testing in the environment rather than stopping all testing. In the 1960s, negotiators aimed to reduce radioactive fallout and environmental harm while still allowing weapons development to continue underground. The treaty that fits this goal is the Limited Test Ban Treaty, commonly known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty. It prohibited nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, in outer space, and underwater, leaving underground tests allowed. This was the first major postwar arms-control step and set the stage for later efforts, even though it did not ban underground testing. The other options address related but different issues: one focuses on space weapons and does not ban atmospheric tests; another is the later Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which bans all testing but was opened in 1996 and is not the 1960s instrument; the remaining choice is essentially the same as the one above but under a different label. The Limited/Partial Test Ban Treaty is the one that directly bans atmospheric tests and was established in the 1960s.

The key idea here is limiting nuclear weapons testing in the environment rather than stopping all testing. In the 1960s, negotiators aimed to reduce radioactive fallout and environmental harm while still allowing weapons development to continue underground. The treaty that fits this goal is the Limited Test Ban Treaty, commonly known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty. It prohibited nuclear explosions in the atmosphere, in outer space, and underwater, leaving underground tests allowed. This was the first major postwar arms-control step and set the stage for later efforts, even though it did not ban underground testing.

The other options address related but different issues: one focuses on space weapons and does not ban atmospheric tests; another is the later Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which bans all testing but was opened in 1996 and is not the 1960s instrument; the remaining choice is essentially the same as the one above but under a different label. The Limited/Partial Test Ban Treaty is the one that directly bans atmospheric tests and was established in the 1960s.