Sumerians used sharp
I
to make symbols on clay tablets. (reeds/knives)

Reed

Explanation: In the Ancient Near East, clay tablets (Akkadian ṭuppu(m) ) were used as a writing medium, especially for writing in cuneiform, throughout the Bronze Age and well into the Iron Age. Cuneiform characters were imprinted on a wet clay tablet with a stylus often made of reed (reed pen).

d. japan's attack on pearl harbor

explanation:

i think it is in quadrant 4.

the five year plans were part of a command economy. there was little choice in what would be emphasized for the current 5 year period.

the answer to democracy or totalitarianism is a bit harder. in stalin's time, russia was totalitarian. now that's not entirely true. putin has moved towards at least the boundary.