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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In the iconic pre-war image discussed in Chapter 1, the soldiers are best described as being which of the following?

3. What term does the author not use as an example of vocabulary intended to demean enlisted men?

4. The author suggests that most people prefer to feel that their lives have what?

5. Casualties among bombers crews would best be described as which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. Once they were in the war, how did Americans believe they could win it?

2. What types of rumors are sometimes believed by both sides?

3. According to the author, how common are military blunders and what are their causes?

4. How did soldiers think about women most of the time?

5. How was military jargon and vocabulary used to demean enlisted men?

6. What problems did American arms and armaments suffer from in the early parts of WWII?

7. What problems did the doctrine of precision bombing face?

8. What sort of information is regularly denied to the common soldier?

9. What writer is a notable exception to the normal treatment of enlisted men, and how did he differ?

10. Why is purpose difficult to see or non-existent in war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When America entered the war the country had mixed feelings but was generally optimistic. However, some of the rosy predictions of the American public proved to be woefully inaccurate and the nation struggled hard and suffered great loss in order to defeat the axis.

1) Explain the opinion of most Americans towards their prospects in the war at the time that America entered the war. What kinds of attitudes and doctrines dominated? How long did most Americans think the war would take to win?

2) List and describe the resources that Americans believed they would use to obtain victory.

3) Discuss how American optimism caused mistakes during the early parts of the war, and how it supported the war effort later.

4) Explain some of the changes in the American attitude towards the war that occurred as it dragged on and it became clear that early predictions would not come true.

Essay Topic 2

When it entered into World War II, America was at a disadvantage in terms of its equipment, and struggled long and hard to correct these problems.

1) Explain the state of military equipment in the American army when the US entered the war. Discuss some of the problems in design, scale and distribution.

2) Describe some of the consequences of these inadequacies for American troops on the battlefield.

3) Discuss the process that brought America's army up to date and in line with modern standards.

Essay Topic 3

For the first time during World War II, soldiers were treated as perfectly uniform and interchangeable parts. This treatment gradually crept into the minds of the men, further damaging their sense of self-worth.

1) Explain the concept of individuality and its importance and prevalence in a Democracy like America.

2) Discuss how and why soldiers were treated as being faceless and non-unique for the first time during World War II.

3) Describe the impact that this treatment had on American soldiers, and what problems it caused for them.

(see the answer keys)

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