During World War I, the issue of neutral rights on the seas plagued Am

Question

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Passage # 62, Date: 01-May-2020
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During World War I, the issue of neutral rights on the seas plagued America’s foreign relations. One of the German justifications for its shoot-on-sight policy was the fragile U-boat’s vulnerability to armed vessels. To deal with this problem, in early 1916, Lansing proposed a modus vivendi: if the Allies agreed to disarm their merchant ships, the Germans would agree not to attack such vessels without warning and without protecting the safety of civilians. In effect, the submarine would act as a surface cruiser and observe the established rules of naval warfare.

Unwilling to surrender what they considered to be a right to arm surface vessels, the British rejected the proposal. Lansing quickly dropped the modus vivendi proposal. Unfortunately, he had opened a Pandora’s box. In explaining it to the German government, Lansing had implied that the American government regarded Allied armed merchant vessels as warships. This had been the Germans’ position all along, and they seized on the opening the Americans had created. The Germans informed the Americans that their U-boats would resume attacks on armed merchant vessels without prior warning.

These events alarmed the pacifists. The Wilson administration, by dropping the modus vivendi, seemed to be saying that it accepted the British position that armed merchant vessels were not warships. If this were so, then by the administration’s interpretation, Americans would have the right to travel on such vessels. Since the Germans now intended to attack them on sight, Wilson was almost guaranteeing a collision with Germany. To avoid such a confrontation, Representative Jeff Lars and Senator Tom Gore introduced resolutions forbidding American travel on armed ships. Wilson interpreted this as a challenge to his leadership in foreign affairs and a surrender of American rights. “For my own part,” Wilson wrote the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “I cannot consent to any abridgment of the rights of American citizens in any respect. Once we accept a single abatement of rights, many other humiliations would certainly follow, and the whole fine fabric of international law might crumble in our hands.” Congress backed down and tabled the Gore-Lars resolutions. Wilson’s victory over Congress would later be viewed as a pivotal incident since later attacks on U.S. shipping drew America into the war.    1 
 E 
 1. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?

(A) the role of American diplomacy in enforcing international laws concerning sea travel
(B) how conflicts over control of the sea lanes helped lead to the outbreak of war
(C) the effects on international relations of internal political conflicts in the United States
(D) Wilson’s failure to accede in certain steps that could have prevented the United States’ involvement in war
(E) the disagreement between the Germans and the Allies over the arming of ships and how it helped draw the United States into war
 
 2 
 E 
 2. What is the primary purpose of the passage?

(A) to defend Wilson’s ideals and non-compliance with Germany
(B) to describe the US’s stance on naval warfare in WWI
(C) to argue that Wilson could have prevented war by giving in to Germany’s demands
(D) to compare the war strategies of the Germans and the Allies
(E) to trace a disagreement between Germany and the Allies and show how it drew the US into war

3 
 E 
 3. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(A) A conflict is presented, followed by its final result and decisions based upon that result.
(B) A series of arguments is presented alongside the major players who created them.
(C) An event in history is described, followed by an examination of the decisions that led up to this event.
(D) A proposal is stated, followed by the reasons it should have been accepted.
(E) A conflict is explored, followed by a description of its major players, decisions, and eventual result.

4 
 B 
 4. The author implies that U.S. involvement in the war was caused:

(A) mainly by British political pressure on the United States.
(B) chiefly by Wilson’s unwillingness to compromise his ideals.
(C) primarily by German belligerence.
(D) by a breakdown in international communications.
(E) largely by unplanned and unintentional actions.

5 
 B 
 5. This passage most likely appeared in a:

(A) newspaper editorial
(B) naval history chronicle
(C) sociology article
(D) United States government text
(E) military instructional manual

6 
 A 
 6. It can be inferred from the passage that Lansing’s dropping of the modus vivendi proposal seemed to represent:

(A) a perceived reversal of the U.S. position on the status of armed merchant ships
(B) a rejection of the British position concerning the rights of merchant vessels
(C) an attempt to subsume the controversy under the general provisions of international law
(D) a tacit acceptance of the German shoot-on-sight policy
(E) an assertion of the right of the Allies to use merchant ships for the transportation of arms

7 
 B 
 7. According to the passage, the Gore-Lars resolutions were introduced in an attempt to:

(A) conciliate the British.
(B) avoid a confrontation with Germany.
(C) appease pro-pacifist sentiment.
(D) undercut the Allied bargaining position.
(E) assert the rights of U.S. citizens on the seas.

8 
 B 
 8. According to the passage, the U-boat was

(A) a formidable weapon against any type of surface warship.
(B) relatively vulnerable to attack by surface vessels.
(C) clearly subject to the same international laws that governed surface warships.
(D) generally unable to inflict serious damage on large surface vessels.
(E) considered by the Allies as subject to attack without warning.

9 
 B 
 9. It can be inferred from the passage that Wilson regarded which of the following as most important?

(A) avoidance of U.S. involvement in war
(B) upholding the rights granted by international law
(C) suppression of congressional opposition
(D) protection of the lives of U.S. citizens
(E) maintenance of good relations between the United States and Britain

10 
 B 
 10. For what reason does the author say that the dropping of the modus vivendi had alarmed the pacifists?

(A) to show that Wilson had few opponents
(B) to show that some disagreed with Wilson
(C) to show that peacemakers feared the Germans
(D) to show that not everyone was against Germany
(E) to show that America was in turmoil

mimishyu · Accepted Answer

1. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?

(A) the role of American diplomacy in enforcing international laws concerning sea travel …..incorrect

We’re not concerning the role of American diplomacy in enforcing international laws

(B) how conflicts over control of the sea lanes helped lead to the outbreak of war…..incorrect

We’re not concerning sea lanes

(C) the effects on international relations of internal political conflicts in the United States…..incorrect

international relations of internal political…too broad

(D) Wilson’s failure to accede in certain steps that could have prevented the United States’ involvement in war…..incorrect

Only partial

Wilson’s victory over Congress would later be viewed as a pivotal incident since later attacks on U.S. shipping drew America into the war.

(E) the disagreement between the Germans and the Allies over the arming of ships and how it helped draw the United States into war ….correct

See para1
  During World War I, the issue of neutral rights on the seas 
 plagued America’s foreign relations. One of the German 
 justifications for its shoot-on-sight policy was the fragile 
 U-boat’s(German) vulnerability to armed vessels. To deal with 
 this problem, in early 1916, Lansing(American) proposed a 
 modus vivendi:

------- the disagreement between the Germans and the Allies 
 over the arming of ships

and last paragrapph 
 Congress backed down and tabled the Gore-Lars resolutions. 
 Wilson’s victory over Congress would later be viewed as a 
 pivotal incident since later attacks on U.S. shipping drew America into the war.
 ---- how it helped draw the United States into war

2. What is the primary purpose of the passage?

(A) to defend Wilson’s ideals and non-compliance with Germany. ….incorrect

Only partial of the passage mention about defending to Wilson’s ideal

(B) to describe the US’s stance on naval warfare in WWI. …incorrect

Only cover partial of the passage

(C) to argue that Wilson could have prevented war by giving in to Germany’s demands …incorrect

Opposite to this statement that Wilson finally let US involve into the war

(D) to compare the war strategies of the Germans and the Allies…..incorrect

(E) to trace a disagreement between Germany and the Allies and show how it drew the US into war….correct

the explanation to this answer choice is the same as Ques1

3. Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

(A) A conflict is presented, followed by its final result and decisions based upon that result.

Though this can be the answer, however its not the best answer compare to (E) which is more specific to the description of the structure of the passage

(B) A series of arguments is presented alongside the major players who created them.

A series of arguments….out of scope

(C) An event in history is described, followed by an examination of the decisions that led up to this event….incorrect

Although we can view para1 as an event, we doesn’t have the action that examine the decision which further led up to this event
 
(D) A proposal is stated, followed by the reasons it should have been accepted….incorrect

Only para1

(E) A conflict is explored, followed by a description of its major players, decisions, and eventual result. …correct

4. The author implies that U.S. involvement in the war was caused:

(A) mainly by British political pressure on the United States.
(B) chiefly by Wilson’s unwillingness to compromise his ideals. …….correct.

“For my own part,” Wilson wrote the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “I cannot consent to any abridgment of the rights of American citizens in any respect. Once we accept a single abatement of rights, many other humiliations would certainly follow, and the whole fine fabric of international law might crumble in our hands.”
-----this is about Wilson’s ideal

And the following sentence
Congress backed down and tabled the Gore-Lars resolutions.
-----this is anti-Wilson/pacifist’s stance

Wilson’s victory over Congress would later be viewed as a pivotal incident since later attacks on U.S. shipping drew America into the war.
----- Wilson’s victory over Congress can interpret as Wilson’s unwillingness to compromise his ideals, he still hold on to his ideal

(C) primarily by German belligerence.
(D) by a breakdown in international communications.
(E) largely by unplanned and unintentional actions.

5. This passage most likely appeared in a:

(A) newspaper editorial. …out of scope
(B) naval history chronicle ….correct
(C) sociology article ….incorrect

Rather to say that this passage about sociology, its more about political

(D) United States government text. ….incorrect

I choose (D) at first, later found it wrong
US’s position is only part of the whole passage, since the passage not only mention US, also its relationship with Germany in the war, if you say “naval” its more broad and more fit to the main focus of passage
(E) military instructional manual. ….incorrect

Although this passage mention about war and military, but the broader picture to the whole passage is about political factor which lead to war

6. It can be inferred from the passage that Lansing’s dropping of the modus vivendi proposal seemed to represent:

in early 1916, Lansing( an American government official) proposed a modus vivendi: if the Allies agreed to disarm their merchant ships, the Germans would agree not to attack such vessels without warning and without protecting the safety of civilians. In effect, the submarine would act as a surface cruiser and observe the established rules of naval warfare.

Unwilling to surrender what they considered to be a right to arm surface vessels, the British rejected the proposal. Lansing quickly dropped the modus vivendi proposal.( the change of attitude) Unfortunately, he had opened a Pandora’s box. In explaining it to the German government, Lansing had implied that the American government regarded Allied armed merchant vessels as warships. This had been the Germans’ position all along, and they seized on the opening the Americans had created. The Germans informed the Americans that their U-boats would resume attacks on armed merchant vessels without prior warning.

(A) a perceived reversal of the U.S. position on the status of armed merchant ships ….correct
(B) a rejection of the British position concerning the rights of merchant vessels
(C) an attempt to subsume the controversy under the general provisions of international law
(D) a tacit acceptance of the German shoot-on-sight policy
(E) an assertion of the right of the Allies to use merchant ships for the transportation of arms

7. According to the passage, the Gore-Lars resolutions were introduced in an attempt to:

(A) conciliate the British. …. .out of scope

(B) avoid a confrontation with Germany. ….correct

Wilson was almost guaranteeing a collision with Germany. To avoid such a confrontation, Representative Jeff Lars and Senator Tom Gore introduced resolutions forbidding American travel on armed ships. …………Congress backed down and tabled the Gore-Lars resolutions.

(C) appease pro-pacifist sentiment. …. .out of scope
 
 (D) undercut the Allied bargaining position. …. .out of scope

(E) assert the rights of U.S. citizens on the seas. …incorrect

though in para3 mention about U.S citizen

Wilson wrote the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “I cannot 
consent to any abridgment of the rights of American citizens in 
any respect.

but this isn’t the Gore-Lars resolutions’ main attempt

8. According to the passage, the U-boat was

(A) a formidable weapon against any type of surface warship.
(B) relatively vulnerable to attack by surface vessel. ….correct

One of the German justifications for its shoot-on-sight policy was the fragile U-boat’s(German) vulnerability to armed vessels.

(C) clearly subject to the same international laws that governed surface warships.
(D) generally unable to inflict serious damage on large surface vessels.
(E) considered by the Allies as subject to attack without warning.

9. It can be inferred from the passage that Wilson regarded which of the following as most important?

(A) avoidance of U.S. involvement in war. …. .out of scope

(B) upholding the rights granted by international law….correct

“For my own part,” Wilson wrote the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “I cannot consent to any abridgment of the rights of American citizens in any respect”. Once we accept a single abatement of rights, many other humiliations would certainly follow, and the whole fine fabric of international law might crumble in our hands.

(C) suppression of congressional opposition. …. .out of scope

(D) protection of the lives of U.S. citizens. ….incorrect

Only in here that the passage mention about U.S. citizens
“I cannot consent to any abridgment of the rights of American citizens in any respect.
but this doesn’t mean anything about “protection of the lives of U.S. citizen

(E) maintenance of good relations between the United States and Britain. ….out of scope

10. For what reason does the author say that the dropping of the modus vivendi had alarmed the pacifists?

These events alarmed the pacifists. The Wilson(America) administration, by dropping the modus vivendi, seemed to be saying that it accepted the British position that armed merchant vessels were not warships. ……. Since the Germans now intended to attack them on sight, Wilson was almost guaranteeing a collision with Germany(Wilson’s pro-war stance). To avoid such a confrontation, Representative Jeff Lars and Senator Tom Gore introduced resolutions forbidding American travel on armed ships.

(A) to show that Wilson had few opponents. ….out of scope

(B) to show that some disagreed with Wilson. ….correct

Since we can infer from the passage that Wilson is pro-war

These events alarmed the pacifists. The Wilson(America) administration, by dropping the modus vivendi, seemed to be saying that it accepted the British position that armed merchant vessels were not warships. If this were so, then by the administration’s interpretation, Americans would have the right to travel on such vessels. Since the Germans now intended to attack them on sight, ‘Wilson was almost guaranteeing a collision with Germany”.

AND following these sentences:
To avoid such a confrontation, Representative Jeff Lars and Senator Tom Gore introduced resolutions forbidding American travel on armed ships.

Thus,
The reason behind that
the author say that the dropping of the modus vivendi(violate peace agreement) had alarmed the pacifists
-show that some disagreed with Wilson

(C) to show that peacemakers feared the Germans …incorrect

Nowhere in the passage mention peacemakers feared the German

(D) to show that not everyone was against Germany. ….out of scope
(E) to show that America was in turmoil. …incorrect

Nowhere in the passage mention America was in turmoil

It is only in the last sentence of para3 says that
Wilson’s victory over Congress would later be viewed as a pivotal incident since later attacks on U.S. shipping drew America into the war.

But this doesn’t in line with the Question stem which asks the reason why the author say that the dropping of the modus vivendi had alarmed the pacifists

GDT · Answer

SajjadAhmad

Pls post OE for Q5, 10

Thanks in advance!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

5. This passage most likely appeared in a:

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

(B)  The focus of the passage is on neutral sea rights. The conflict ensues between the Allies and the Germans over this issue. Thus the passage is likely to appear in a place that deals with naval subject matter.

(A)  is wrong because if it were a journalistic article it would probably have a more contemporaneous perspective. Also, the passage deals with a historical period too long ago to be news-appropriate.

(C)  is wrong because the effect of individuals and their decisions is more important in this passage than the contributions of groups – sociology studies group behavior and social constructions.

(D)  is wrong because the topic is international relations, not how the American government functions internally.

(E)  is not likely either since a manual contains specific instructions, not a detailed historical account.

(B) is the best choice.

10. For what reason does the author say that the dropping of the modus vivendi had alarmed the pacifists?

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

(B)  The quotation from Wilson’s letter in paragraph 3 is one piece of evidence for the correct answer here. Another is the fact that Wilson was evidently willing to risk a confrontation with Germany, and the risk of war that that entailed, in order to uphold the concept of international law. This fact helps eliminate choices  (A) and (D) .

Though the passage states that Wilson interpreted the Gore-Lars resolutions as a challenge to his leadership in foreign affairs, it does not suggest that his primary motive in opposing the resolutions was to suppress congressional opposition  (C) .

(E)  might be true, but the relationship between America and Britain is not discussed in the quotation as a factor in Wilson’s decision.

(B) is the best choice.

bond001 · Answer

Sajjad1994
would you please post 9 question solution I am confused 
and thanks in advance

bM22 · Answer

Hi  bond001

Not the OE, but let me know if this helps.

9. It can be inferred from the passage that Wilson regarded which of the following as most important?

(A) avoidance of U.S. involvement in war
 (B) upholding the rights granted by international law
 (C) suppression of congressional opposition
(D) protection of the lives of U.S. citizens
(E) maintenance of good relations between the United States and Britain

Explanation: Consider the lines:
"If this were so, then by the administration’s interpretation,  Americans would have the right to travel on such vessels.  Since the Germans now intended to attack them on sight, Wilson was almost guaranteeing a collision with Germany.  To avoid such a confrontation, Representative Jeff Lars and Senator Tom Gore introduced resolutions forbidding American travel on armed ships.  Wilson interpreted  this as a challenge to his leadership in foreign affairs and a surrender of American rights.  “For my own part,” Wilson wrote the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “I cannot consent to any abridgment of the rights of American citizens in any respect."

The above lines imply that for Wilson, upholding the rights granted by international law was the most important and that forbidding American travel on armed ships would be a blow to the America rights.

Thanks.

bond001 · Answer

bm2201
thanks for the explanation I understood your explanation while I was trying to understand and rereading I found that if we stick to Wilson statement it will be much clear
Once we accept a single abatement of rights,(of America) many other humiliations would certainly follow,(of other country) and the whole fine fabric of international law might crumble in our hands{what this says is that if we accept America's abatement right many other countries will start telling us to abide their law and there won't be an international law governing the British water. To save us from that (humiliation) we will uphold international law}

bm2201 is my logic proper

shauryahanda · Answer

@Sajjid or any of the respected moderators

I would like to put forward my disagreement with que 4 , the passage says disagreement of Wilson was pivotal incident and then with the collision with germany the war became inevitable

Converting a pivotal incident into the reason for war seems a bit extreme and abrupt as it might still be to contention and author himself does not directly state it to be the reason

I would request you to look into this as i am getting confused because of this

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Let me know if this helps

Official Explanation

4. The author implies that U.S. involvement in the war was caused:

Difficulty:  Medium

Explanation

The  last paragraph  discusses Wilson’s letter and more specifically his motivation (idealism) for sending that letter. The last sentence implies that Wilson’s refusal to accept the congressmen’s proposal left American civilian passengers vulnerable to German naval attacks, the consequences of which would later prompt America to enter the war. The author’s point here is that Wilson’s idealism helped draw the U.S. into the war, and  choice (B)  discusses this.

Answer: B

itsarudolf · Answer

Hey  Sajjad1994

I don't really get the OE of question 10. Especially the part supposed to eliminate answer choice C. Can you please help out?

Cheers
Rudolf

During World War I, the issue of neutral rights on the seas plagued Am

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During World War I, the issue of neutral rights on the seas plagued Am

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