下载掌阅APP，畅读海量书库
立即打开
Almost as soon as World War II ended, the debate began over who had actually done the most on the Allied side to ensure the defeat of the Axis powers. The Russians only needed to point to their twenty million plus war dead to justify their rights in Eastern Europe and their new position as a great power on the world stage. Yet, Americans could also claim that they had done as much, if not more, as the Russians to defeat the Axis enemy. In hindsight, it is obvious that despite its greater number of dead, the Russian effort ranks second place to the American. In particular, the American effort seems greater in light of three crucial points: it was fighting at extreme distances from its home territory; it simultaneously fought three different enemies on a multitude of complex fronts with air, naval, land forces; and finally, it supplied many other fighting forces, including the Russians, with massive amounts of material.
The main fronts of World War II were in North Africa, Italy, Western and Eastern Europe, the Pacific Ocean, China, and India. The United States military forces fought on or supported every front, all of which were at extreme distances from the continental United States. A great logistical effort was required to support both its own forces and those of many other nations. Above all, supply ships were essential because without the supply ships, all would have been in vain. Keeping the world’s sea lanes free was one of the great accomplishments of the United States Navy and her allies, especially the British and Canadians. This allowed ships to traverse great distances and bring American and other Allied fighting forces to face the Axis powers. The Russians, on the other hand, were fighting in their own country for much of the war and were close to their supply lines. They fought on one continuous front and did not have to travel far to meet the enemy.
The United States fought all three great Axis powers during the war: Germany, Japan, and Italy. While it cannot be denied that the Russian army did the lion’s share of the fighting against Germany and the lesser Axis powers of Finland, Hungry, Romania, and Bulgaria for a longer time, it was not until the last days of the war that Russia attacked Japan. As for the Italians, the Russians only met the reluctant few whom Hitler managed to coerce for his Russian campaign. Another area to take into consideration is the strategic bombing campaign that the Americans and British waged against German industry, something that the Russians did not take part in at all. Finally, with the exception of the Baltic Sea, the Russian navy played a very minor role in the war compared to America’s navy. Despite significant aid from the British, Australians, and New Zealanders, the Americans bore the brunt of the Pacific fighting.
American arms, support equipment, food, and clothing went to the four corners of the world during the war even before America officially entered it in 1941. Indeed, the Russian Red Army rode into Eastern Europe on the wheels of over 300,000 American trucks, fed itself on a diet of American canned ham, and wore American boots. Coupled with all this were billion-dollar loans with generous terms of interest, which America gave to its allies. America was the only Allied nation that did not need to borrow any money during the war.
A Russia’s combat dead were approximately eight million. America’s number of combat dead was nowhere near the equal of Russia’s, comprising less than five percent of the number of Russian combat deaths. B This is not only a reflection of the intensity of the fighting in Eastern Europe, but it is also a reflection of the American and Russian commanders’ battle tactics, with the former being more concerned with saving lives. C If the dead alone counted for effort, then Russia surely would be considered the greatest Allied power of World War II. D Yet, one only has to consider if Russia would have even been able to achieve its victory over Germany without America as a supplier and fighting friend.
1. According to paragraph 1, all of the following were a result of World War II for Russia EXCEPT:
A The country incurred a great number of the dead during the war.
B The country assumed a greater influence in world affairs.
C The country began a simmering conflict with America.
D The country began expanding into Eastern Europe.
2. The word crucial in the passage is closest in meaning to
A special
B important
C diverse
D complex
3. According to paragraph 2, all of the fronts American forces fought on were
A located at far distances from the American mainland
B only located in the countries of Europe and Asia
C in countries belonging to nearby American allies
D located at various sites near the American homeland
4. The word reluctant in the passage is closest in meaning to
A enthusiastic
B fearful
C unwilling
D brave
5. According to paragraph 3, most of Russia’s fighting was done with
A its navy in the Baltic Sea against shipping
B its army against the European Axis powers
C its air force against German industries
D its army against the Japanese forces
6. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A After America officially entered the war in 1941, it provided many nations with supplies.
B Only before it officially entered the war in 1941 did America begin to supply other nations.
C America secretly supplied other nations before it officially entered the war in the year 1941.
D America supplied many nations both before and after it officially entered the war in 1941.
7. It can be inferred from paragraph 5 that Russian battle tactics
A included civilians in the fighting
B took advantage of greater numbers
C were wasteful of human lives
D were similar to American tactics
8. According to paragraph 5, the number of American combat dead was
A the greatest of all the Allied countries
B much less than the number of dead Russians
C equal to the number that the Russians lost
D slightly less than the number of dead Russians
9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
In addition, Russia suffered a further twelve million civilian deaths, from a multitude of causes, including its own prison camp system.
Where would the sentence best fit?
Click on a square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
10. Directions: Complete the table below to summarize the information about American and Russian war efforts as discussed in the passage. Match the appropriate statements to the Allied country with which they are associated. This question is worth 3 points .
Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong.
To remove an answer choice, click on it. To review the passage, click on View Text .
America
Select 3
·
·
·
Russia
Select 2
·
·
A Its greatest role was in the transportation of men and supplies around the world.
B Its greatest role was in fighting the most powerful Axis power in a long land battle.
C It contributed very little to the war in the Pacific.
D It fought all three major Axis powers on many different fronts.
E It kept the main Japanese armies occupied on the Asian mainland.
F It gave a great deal of money to its partners in the war.
G It failed to contribute very much to the final Allied victory.