Correct answer: A. It could put pressure on Axis supply routes in the Mediterranean
Explanation: The direct answer is A: Malta could put pressure on Axis supply routes in the Mediterranean. Malta lies in a central position in the Mediterranean, between Europe and North Africa. During the Second World War, its air and naval forces, supported by the Allies, could observe, attack, or disrupt ships carrying supplies to Axis forces, especially those operating in North Africa. This made Malta a valuable strategic base. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because Malta was not Japan’s capital; Japan’s capital is Tokyo. Option C is wrong because Malta was not the Soviet parliament. Option D is wrong because Malta was not the court of the League of Nations. Those choices confuse Malta with unrelated countries or institutions. The point is not that Malta alone decided the war, but that its location allowed pressure on Mediterranean transport and supply lines. Memory cue: Malta’s central island position meant control, observation, and disruption.