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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 was a soldier's primary source of information?

2. What was done in England to frustrate a potential invading force?

3. Overall, the media presented the war effort as being which of the following?

4. Overall, the author believes that the political and media-based interpretation of the war was what?

5. The author states that it was common for the media to suggest that individual soldiers died for what reason?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why were front line soldiers confused by media presentations of the war?

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

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

4. How did the average soldier view the war?

5. How did advertisers think of and take advantage of the war?

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

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

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

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

10. What was the overall reading experience of citizens and soldiers like during the war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nations on all sides recruited soldiers around the age of 18, since young men were considered to be ideal soldiers. For better or worse, young men fought and won the war.

1) Explain why young men were considered to be ideal candidates for training as soldiers.

2) Why is it important for soldiers to exhibit aggression? Explain why young men around the age of 18 are prime candidates in this regard.

2) Discuss why military leaders believed young men to be easier to lead and less likely to question the purpose of the war. Was this supposition valid?

3) Discuss the use of very young soldiers by the axis powers late in the war. Was this type of recruitment immoral, or supportable given their circumstances?

Essay Topic 2

Drunkenness was rampant in the ranks of the enlisted men. The author states that heavy drinking usually began early in stateside training, and stopped (temporarily) only when alcohol was not available.

1) Explain why so many soldiers turned to drinking throughout the war.

2) Discuss the prevalence of drunkenness and alcoholism in the ranks of the enlisted men.

3) Describe some of the problems brought on by this tendency. What did the American public think about their soldiers and what health problems and other dangers did these soldiers face?

Essay Topic 3

Many soldiers believed in Talismans.

1) Describe what a talisman is and why they concept was embraced by soldiers.

2) Discuss the types of objects that were used as talismans and why their origins caused them to be considered important.

3) Speculate as to how seriously most soldiers believed in the protective powers of the talismans.

4) Discuss the importance of the talismans as devices to comfort and reassure soldiers placed in brutal and violent conditions.

(see the answer keys)

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