TASK DEFINITION: You will be given a trivia clue, and the category it belongs to. You should answer with the best answer that belongs in the category and is described by the clue. For consistency, answers should be in all lower cased letters.
PROBLEM: Category: WORLD HISTORY 
Clue: In a 1918 treaty, this country gave up Ukraine but soon recovered it

SOLUTION: russia

PROBLEM: Category: IN OTHER WORDS... 
Clue: An ancient alma mater attempt

SOLUTION: the old college try

PROBLEM: Category: DEAR JOHN 
Clue: This author of the novel "Falconer" won a 1979 Pulitzer Prize for some of his short stories

SOLUTION:
john cheever