Question

it was a time of great and exalting excitement. the country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism, the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering, on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun. the prayer by mattias karlsson is licensed under cc by - nc - nd 2.0. daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts, and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country and invoked the god of battles, beseeching his aid in our good cause in outpouring of fervid eloquence which moved every listener. it was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half - dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safetys sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more on the way. sunday morning came - next day the battalions would leave for the front, the church was full, the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams - visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender - medal - fame from home - the war finished - heroes welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory. how different it all was from the stern reality! 3. in the first paragraph, the author describes the country going to war. what does this description reveal about the citizens of this country? a. the citizens share in a parade and prayer to support their armed forces, revealing their loyalty and compassion for their fellow citizens. b. the citizens enthusiastically throw a parade to support the war, suggesting that patriotism blinds them to the horrors of war. c. the citizens listen to their pastors preach and call out to their god of battles, implying that the citizens are being tricked by their spiritual leaders to support the war. d. most of the citizens celebrate going to war, but when a few people protest without fear it suggests that the war is unwanted and most people are just following the crowd.

Explanation:

The passage describes citizens enthusiastically supporting the war - with patriotic emotions, parades, and mass meetings. The description of opposition being quickly silenced implies that the general mood is one where patriotism may blind citizens to the horrors of war.

Answer:

B. The citizens enthusiastically throw a parade to support the war, suggesting that patriotism blinds them to the horrors of war.