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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The German army used against France was six times bigger in 1914 than it had been in 1870. How big was it?
(a) 3 million men.
(b) 1.5 million men.
(c) 1 million men.
(d) .5 million men.

2. What event took place two hours after Grey finished speaking to the House of Commons in Chapter 9?
(a) Belgium declared war on Britain.
(b) France declared war on Germany.
(c) Germany declared war on France.
(d) Russia declared war on Austria.

3. What country was Bethmann referring to when he said, “it was like striking a man from behind while he was fighting for his life against two assailants” (129)
(a) Belgium.
(b) France.
(c) Germany.
(d) England.

4. What did Kaiser William II mean when he said, “If only someone had told me beforehand that England would take up arms against us!” (120)?
(a) That he saw England as an extension of the Russian war effort.
(b) That the Germans did not think England would join France in the war.
(c) That the English lied to him.
(d) That he never even considered the possibility.

5. Why did the Belgians not have any heavy artillery?
(a) The Austrian company hired to make it had botched the job.
(b) The Belgians had scoffed at the idea of heavy artillery.
(c) The German company hired to make it had delayed deliveries.
(d) The Russian company hired to make it had requisitioned it for war.

6. What did the book The Great Illusion try to prove?
(a) That war was a human necessity.
(b) That war had become vain.
(c) That war was inconvenient.
(d) That war made you strong.

7. What did Moltke’s nickname der traurige Julius mean in English?
(a) Gloomy George.
(b) Grumpy Gus.
(c) Gloomy Gus.
(d) Grumpy Gale.

8. Schlieffen’s plan was derived from what ancient general at what ancient battle?
(a) Scipio at Zama.
(b) Hannibal at Lake Trasimene.
(c) Hannibal at Cannae.
(d) Scipio at Cannae.

9. What order did the First Lord Churchill give when he heard of events in Austria in Chapter 7?
(a) For the British fleet to hide in port.
(b) For the British fleet to attack the German fleet.
(c) For the German fleet to attack the British fleet.
(d) For the British fleet not to disperse.

10. Who was the ninth king attending Edward VII’s funeral whom “few observers had eyes for” (3)?
(a) General Joffre of France.
(b) King George of England.
(c) King Albert of Belgium.
(d) King William II of Germany.

11. What state were the Belgian troops in when war was declared?
(a) They were a model of discipline and honor.
(b) They were conscripted, and had gone home for the winter.
(c) They were ill-disciplined and untidy.
(d) They were average, able to keep up with the Germans and French.

12. Whose funeral sets the scene in Chapter 1?
(a) William II of Germany.
(b) William of Orange.
(c) Edward VII of England.
(d) King Albert of Belgium.

13. Why did the French insist that Russia attack by the 15th day of war, regardless of its readiness?
(a) They knew Britain would join them if the Russians did.
(b) They wanted Germany to be forced to fight on two fronts.
(c) They knew Russia would utterly defeat the Germans.
(d) They wanted Germany to leave them alone.

14. Why did France order a ten-kilometer withdrawal from its frontier on July 30?
(a) To make sure desertion rates stayed low.
(b) To try to get Belgium to join with them.
(c) To ensure that the soldiers didn’t get too comfortable close to German lines.
(d) To ensure that the blame of starting the war would be on Germany.

15. What was one of the two options the Germans had for fighting a Russian offensive split into two wings?
(a) Attack both wings at once.
(b) Try to get behind the Russian armies.
(c) Split their own army into two wings.
(d) Attack one wing before the other.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was “an unimportant obstacle” (18) to Schlieffen, along with the River Pregel?

2. What humiliation in their past did the French want to avenge?

3. What took place at two minutes past eight on the morning of August 4?

4. Who was the Home Secretary of Britain when the war began?

5. What were Schlieffen’s last words about the right wing?

(see the answer keys)

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