Question

exercise 1: mark the following statements as true or false according to the text:

1. the war in europe officially began in september 1939.
2. wwi began when germany, under chancellor adolf hitler, invaded russia.
3. in 1940, germany attacked denmark and norway.
4. later in the summer of 1940, germany launched a further attack on britain.
5. germany won the battle of britain.
6. as hitler plotted his next steps, italy expanded the war by invading greece and north africa.
7. the greek campaign was a success and italy did not need any german reinforcement.
8. in 1941, germany began its most ambitious action by invading the soviet union.
9. germany managed to conquer the entire soviet union by 1944.
10. winters for the german army in army in russia were warm.
11. germany surrendered in may 1945, shortly after the suicide of adolf hitler.
12. the war in the pacific began when japan launched a surprise attack on the u.s. navy base at pearl harbour.

exercise 2: read the text and underline any unknown words, discuss the meaning of these words in class or look up their definitions online.
exercise 3: read the text again and answer the questions below:

1. which two countries declared war on germany for invading poland?
2. which nations were conquered by germany in 1940?
3. which country was germany’s first military failure?
4. which country did italy invade?
5. why did the ussr prove to be the downfall of germany’s war effort?
6. which two battles forced germany into a full - scale retreat?
7. who were the first to reach the german capital of berlin and force germany to surrender in may 1945?
8. which event caused the war in the pacific to begin?
9. what did japan do after its attack to pearl harbour?
10. in which battle did japan suffer a catastrophic defeat?
11. by which time had most of japan’s conquests been liberated?
12. on which two cities did the united states drop two atomic bombs, causing japan to surrender?

Explanation:

1. The war in Europe started with Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939.
2. WWI began in 1914, not with Hitler's actions. Hitler's Germany invaded Russia in WWII.
3. Germany attacked Denmark and Norway in 1940.
4. Germany launched air - attacks on Britain in summer 1940.
5. Germany did not win the Battle of Britain.
6. Italy invaded Greece and North Africa during WWII.
7. Italy needed German reinforcement in the Greek campaign.
8. Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.
9. Germany did not conquer the entire Soviet Union by 1944.
10. Winters for the German army in Russia were harsh.
11. Germany surrendered in May 1945 after Hitler's suicide.
12. The war in the Pacific began with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. For Exercise 3:
13. Britain and France declared war on Germany for invading Poland.
14. In 1940, Germany conquered Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.
15. Britain was Germany's first military failure in WWII as Germany could not achieve air - superiority or invade.
16. Italy invaded Greece and North Africa.
17. The vast territory, harsh climate, and strong Soviet resistance in the USSR drained Germany's resources and military strength.
18. The battles of Stalingrad and Kursk forced Germany into a full - scale retreat.
19. The Soviet Red Army was the first to reach Berlin and force Germany to surrender in May 1945.
20. Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor caused the war in the Pacific to begin.
21. After attacking Pearl Harbor, Japan continued to expand in the Pacific, seizing many islands and territories.
22. Japan suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Midway.
23. By the end of the war in 1945, most of Japan's conquests were liberated.
24. The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing Japan to surrender.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. False
10. False
11. True
12. True

Exercise 3:

1. Britain and France
2. Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France
3. Britain
4. Greece and North Africa
5. Vast territory, harsh climate, strong Soviet resistance drained Germany's resources and strength
6. Stalingrad and Kursk
7. The Soviet Red Army
8. Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor
9. Continued to expand in the Pacific, seizing many islands and territories
10. Battle of Midway
11. 1945
12. Hiroshima and Nagasaki