Final answer:
The Cuban Missile Crisis was caused by the discovery of Soviet missile pads in Cuba by the United States. This escalated tensions in an already fraught Cold War context, bringing the world precariously close to a nuclear conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cause of the Cuban Missile Crisis was due to the discovery of missile pads in Cuba by the United States, which makes B) the correct choice. In 1962, during the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a significant escalation with the United States. U.S. reconnaissance flights gathered photographic evidence proving the presence of these missiles. This revelation led to a tense stand-off between the two nations, a pivotal event known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It ultimately brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
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