At the Geneva Conference, Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.

At the Geneva Conference, Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel.

• A. 15th parallel
• B. 17th parallel
• C. 18th parallel
• D. 16th parallel

Answer: (B)

The boundary at the Geneva Conference was set at the 17th parallel north as a temporary division line between the northern Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the southern State of Vietnam, with elections planned for 1956 to reunify the country. This line was chosen to create a manageable ceasefire and to allow time for nationwide elections, under international supervision. The other parallels mentioned aren’t the ones used in the Geneva arrangement, so they don’t fit the description of the division boundary established there. Understanding this helps explain why the correct choice is the 17th parallel: it reflects the specific agreement reached to separate forces and set a path toward potential reunification.

The boundary at the Geneva Conference was set at the 17th parallel north as a temporary division line between the northern Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the southern State of Vietnam, with elections planned for 1956 to reunify the country. This line was chosen to create a manageable ceasefire and to allow time for nationwide elections, under international supervision. The other parallels mentioned aren’t the ones used in the Geneva arrangement, so they don’t fit the description of the division boundary established there. Understanding this helps explain why the correct choice is the 17th parallel: it reflects the specific agreement reached to separate forces and set a path toward potential reunification.