View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The drinking among servicemen when alcohol was freely available would best be described as which of the following?
(a) Reasonable.
(b) Jovial.
(c) Excessive.
(d) Social.

2. Which of the following qualities of warfare does the author NOT suggest to be a contributing factor in military blunders?
(a) Ruthlessness.
(b) Fluidity.
(c) Chaos.
(d) Vastness.

3. The use of meaningless and tedious tasks as hazing would best be described as which of the following?
(a) Rare.
(b) Uncommon.
(c) Common.
(d) Constant.

4. How did much of the American public react to initial reports of violence, chaos and casualty figures?
(a) They were uninterested.
(b) They refused to believe them.
(c) They were appalled.
(d) They ignored them.

5. How important was a rumor's accuracy and predictive success for its tendency to spread?
(a) Success usually ended a rumor.
(b) Success was usually ignored.
(c) Success was not important at all.
(d) Success was crucially important.

6. According to the author, what belief is typical of younger soldiers and not of older soldiers?
(a) They are the best soldiers in the war.
(b) They will almost certainly die.
(c) They will survive.
(d) They do not matter.

7. Italians were considered to prefer which of the following to war?
(a) The high-life.
(b) Women.
(c) Drinking.
(d) Diplomacy.

8. The author states that most of the weapons issued to American armed forces suffered from what problems?
(a) They were too expensive.
(b) They were issued in insufficient numbers.
(c) They were poorly made.
(d) They were obsolete.

9. In general, why was the stereotyping of enemy forces condoned and encouraged?
(a) To dehumanize the enemy.
(b) To provide a distraction.
(c) To improve morale.
(d) To keep troops misinformed.

10. How old were the youngest soldiers fielded by the axis during the war?
(a) Fifteen.
(b) Twelve.
(c) Nineteen.
(d) Seventeen.

11. According to the rumor about servicemen's food, why was a certain substance added to their food?
(a) To drive them crazy in battle.
(b) To dampen their sexual ardor.
(c) To cause them to sleep less.
(d) To cause them to eat less.

12. How were military blunders usually treated in official reports?
(a) They were filed confidentially.
(b) They were meticulously analyzed.
(c) They were omitted or distorted.
(d) They were censored.

13. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways that most contemporaneous war histories depicted military blunders?
(a) Rare.
(b) Costly.
(c) Funny.
(d) Benign.

14. Why did enlisted men require an "anodyne"?
(a) To deal with the loss of friends.
(b) To make up for their low self-images.
(c) To cope with the stresses of warfare.
(d) To provide a distraction.

15. How long did most Americans believe the war would last?
(a) A few months.
(b) Three years.
(c) Six months.
(d) A year.

Short Answer Questions

1. Americans believed that heavy bombers had what quality?

2. According to the author, the hazing of enlisted men by officers would best be described as which of the following?

3. When did heavy drinking begin for most conscripts?

4. How did the American media react to the image of many conscripts being drunkards?

5. How did the military handle blunders that resulted in casualties?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 522 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample