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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the author, what was the last war in which soldiers were at least theoretically thought of as unique individuals with distinct identities?
(a) The Spanish-American War.
(b) World War I.
(c) The American Civil War.
(d) The Crimean War.

2. According to the author, rumors are best described as fulfilling what role?
(a) Acting as entertainment.
(b) Consoling soldiers.
(c) Being a distraction from the war.
(d) Filling gaps in information.

3. According to the author, what was the typical age of a soldier for the allies in WWII?
(a) Nineteen.
(b) Twenty-one.
(c) Twenty-two.
(d) Twenty.

4. Throughout Chapter 6, the author describes enlisted men as being which of the following?
(a) Poor.
(b) Ignorant.
(c) Faceless.
(d) Pitiable.

5. What types of bombers were believed to be key to the war-effort?
(a) Medium bombers.
(b) Jet-propelled bombers.
(c) Heavy bombers.
(d) Fighter-bombers.

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

7. What was Ernie Pyle's profession?
(a) Author.
(b) Senior enlisted serviceman.
(c) Junior officer.
(d) Journalist.

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

9. Why is Julian Maclaren-Ross discussed in the book?
(a) He committed many blunders.
(b) He created precision bombing doctrine.
(c) He denounced precision bombing doctrine.
(d) He committed almost no blunders.

10. In the American armed services, the term "chickenshit" referred to what?
(a) Hazing of enlisted by officers.
(b) Official disciplinary action.
(c) Complaining among the enlisted men.
(d) The response of enlisted men to hazing.

11. Which of the following does the author not list as a cause of the increasing lack of individuality with which solders were treated?
(a) The ideological nature of the war.
(b) Military training.
(c) Constant flow of reinforcements.
(d) Huge numbers of casualties.

12. How was the self-image of an individual soldier treated?
(a) As being totally irrelevant.
(b) With interest only from his squad mates.
(c) With contempt.
(d) As a nuisance.

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

14. Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons that armies historically favored younger soldiers?
(a) They are physically fit.
(b) They are obedient.
(c) They do not question the war's irrationality.
(d) They are aggressive.

15. When did heavy drinking begin for most conscripts?
(a) On their first leave while in Europe.
(b) On the transports.
(c) In France.
(d) Stateside training.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to the author, what belief is typical of younger soldiers and not of older soldiers?

2. A blunder that causes one force to misidentify another, whether it be friendly or hostile, is called what?

3. According to the stereotype about Chinese troops, they could survive indefinitely if provided with what?

4. What belief about the Japanese caused Americans to think that their war with Japan would end quickly?

5. Copies of the New Testament were frequently altered in what way?

(see the answer keys)

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