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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. What type of story is specifically cite as being very likely to be reported by mainstream media of the era?

2. What was a soldier's primary source of information?

3. Who controlled access to war zones for public media staff?

4. How does the author establish the nature of the media's presentation of the war?

5. What is one major product for which many improvised substitutes were devised?

Short Essay Questions

1. When were more enduring war novels written and why were they written during this time period?

2. What was the importance of the literary journal Horizon?

3. How were books adapted for soldiers' use, and how did these changes persist after the war?

4. How did most media outlets react to the requirements placed on them?

5. How did the average soldier view the war?

6. Why did citizens in the US and England suffer from deprivation?

7. What were the most important types of media during the war?

8. How did soldiers react to the media's presentation of the war?

9. What is one way that a person could become considered to be subversive?

10. What does the author believe about the phenomenon of attributing high-minded ideals to the purpose of a war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Americans placed great stock in their new lines of heavy bombers, which were predicted to be able to win the war quickly and easily, but the reality proved very different.

1) Explain why Americans put so much faith and hope in the doctrine of precision bombing.

2) Explain the doctrine of precision bombing and how it was expected to end the war.

3) Discuss the difficulties in implementing a campaign of precision bombing, and how American strategy changed as a result.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

The use of stereotypes to describe both allied and enemy soldiers was extremely common among American soldiers during World War II. Military leaders did little to dispel these beliefs.

1) Describe some of the stereotypes held by American troops regarding the soldiers of other nations during World War II.

2) Explain how these stereotypes emerged and spread.

3) Discuss the ways that stereotypes about other soldiers can be helpful or harmful. Discuss some harmful stereotypes in particular.

4) Explain why military leaders of the time were willing to tolerate stereotypes about enemy soldiers.

(see the answer keys)

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