Since William II of Germany ascended the throne as German Emperor and

Question

Adapted from Scientific American Supplement No. 1157 Vol. XLV (March 5th, 1898)

Since William II of Germany ascended the throne as German Emperor and King of Prussia on June 15, 1888, the eyes of Europe have been fixed on him. The press of the world delights in showing up his weak points, and the "war lord" undoubtedly has them, but, at the same time, he has qualities which are to be admired and which make him conspicuous among the rulers of Europe.

He is popular in Germany, and it is not surprising, for, in spite of being autocratic to the last degree, he is honest, courageous, ambitious, hard working, and a thorough German, being intensely patriotic. Indeed, if the people of Germany had the right to vote, they would undoubtedly choose their present ruler, for, while the virtues we have named may seem commonplace, they are not so when embodied in an emperor. One thing which places William at a disadvantage is his excessive frankness. His mistakes have largely resulted from his impulsive nature coupled with chauvinism, which is, perhaps, excusable, in a ruler.

Since the time when William was a child, he evidenced a strong desire to become acquainted with the details of the office to which his lofty birth entitled him. In the army he has worked his way up like any other officer and has a firm grasp on all the multifarious details of the military establishment of the great country. He believes in militarism, or in force, to use a more common expression, but in this he is right, for it has taken two hundred and fifty years to bring Prussia to the position it now holds, and what it has gained at the point of the sword must be retained in the same way. The immense sacrifices which the people make to support the army and navy are deemed necessary for self-preservation, and with France on one side and Russia on the other, there really seems to be ample excuse for it.    1 
 1. The main idea of this passage is best summarized as __________.

A. William II is a danger to the rest of Europe due to his excessive militarism.
B. William II, despite being of foreign birth, perfectly captures the spirit of contemporary Germany.
C. William II is perfectly fit for the office of emperor, notwithstanding his excessive frankness.
D. William II is the greatest and most powerful ruler in Europe and is deserving of more respect than he receives.
E. William II is a rare and virtuous ruler who embodies all the best qualities of his subjects.

2 
 2. The author’s tone throughout this passage is primarily one of __________.

A. frankness
B. disrespect
C. admonishment
D. reverence
E. condescension

3 
 3. Which of these is not an argument the author employs to defend William II’s militarism?

A. The use of military force is necessary to maintain peace in Europe.
B. Germany's territorial gains were won in battle.
C. A strong army can defend Prussian gains.
D. William II has a deep understanding of the military establishment.
E. Germany is beset with religious heresy.

4 
 4. Which of these reasons best explains why, according to the author, William II is widely loved and respected in Germany?

A. He possesses virtues which are rare and desirable in a ruler.
B. He is an industrious man.
C. He is consistently frank and honest with the German people.
D. He is a proud warrior and a great general in battle.
E. He is a learned man with a great respect for hard-work and intelligence.

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aditi17m · Answer

please explain answer to the the 3rd ques.

BrunoPrados · Answer

Question 3 is very poor.

No sense

Sajjad1994 · Answer

I agree with both of you. Modified the question.

Thank you!

Vishal_Jain · Answer

Time took 6 mins 
3 out of 4 correct. 
Got question 1 incorrect. 
Can someone explain why option E is better than option A, in question 1 ?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

1. The main idea of this passage is best summarized as __________.

The passage presents William II of Germany in a positive light, emphasizing his admirable qualities and suggesting that he stands out among the rulers of Europe. It acknowledges that the press often focuses on his weaknesses but states that he has qualities that are worthy of admiration. The passage highlights his popularity in Germany and attributes it to his honesty, courage, ambition, hard work, and intense patriotism. These qualities, although they may seem commonplace, are portrayed as noteworthy when embodied in an emperor.

Furthermore, the passage suggests that if the people of Germany had the right to vote, they would undoubtedly choose William II as their ruler. This statement reinforces the idea that he is highly regarded by his subjects. The passage also recognizes that one of his disadvantages is his excessive frankness, which has led to mistakes resulting from his impulsive nature and chauvinism. However, these flaws are depicted as somewhat excusable given his position as a ruler.

In summary, the passage portrays William II as a rare and virtuous ruler who possesses qualities that are highly admired by his subjects. The main idea of the passage is that William II is a rare and virtuous ruler who embodies all the best qualities of his subjects, as stated in option (E).

Answer: E

Since William II of Germany ascended the throne as German Emperor and

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