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The Causes of the Great War

Part 2 of 2

German general headquarters in January 1917, with (l-r) General von Hindenburg, Kaiser Wilhelm, and General Ludendorff.

By Robert Sennecke (1885–1940), via Wikimedia COmmons. Public domain.

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The Causes of the Great War

By Robert Sennecke (1885–1940), via Wikimedia COmmons. Public domain. Source

German general headquarters in January 1917, with (l-r) General von Hindenburg, Kaiser Wilhelm, and General Ludendorff.

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Continued from Part 1

Russia had fallen very low after the war with Japan, but was rapidly recovering both in wealth and armed strength. France was making strenuous efforts to increase her army, so that she should not be at a disadvantage as compared with the far greater population of Germany. Britain had no ambitions of conquest; her aim was the peaceful development of her Empire. But that was an oversea Empire, and she required a large navy; and the size of this navy seemed to Germany to be a menace to her future.

The result was that in the summer of 1914 the rulers of Germany had decided that some great effort must soon be made; they must put their land in such a position that for the future it would have no cause to dread the aggression, or even the rivalry, of other Powers. If they delayed too long they feared that the growing wealth of Russia and the increased military strength of France would make such an effort for ever impossible.

From ‘Days to Remember’ (1922) by John Buchan (1875-1940).

Précis

Buchan felt that Germany had little reason to be afraid. Russia was arming, but recovering from a very low level; France too was bolstering her military, but only to achieve parity; Britain was already strong, but had no plans for expansion. Nonetheless, the ambition and anxiety of Germany’s policymakers blinded them, and they resolved to strike first. (57 / 60 words)

Buchan felt that Germany had little reason to be afraid. Russia was arming, but recovering from a very low level; France too was bolstering her military, but only to achieve parity; Britain was already strong, but had no plans for expansion. Nonetheless, the ambition and anxiety of Germany’s policymakers blinded them, and they resolved to strike first.

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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, because, just, must, otherwise, since, unless.

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Word Games

Sevens Based on this passage

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

According to Buchan, what was Germany nervous of?

Suggestion

Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.

Spinners Find in Think and Speak

For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.

This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.

1 Commerce. Even. Rich.

2 Army. Ever. Serious.

3 Strenuous. Stroke. Twenty.

Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)

Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak

Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.

This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.

1. World. 2. Outcome. 3. Spread. 4. Population. 5. Low. 6. Development. 7. Empire. 8. Fix. 9. Nation.

Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.

Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak

Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.

dd (10+3)

See Words

add. aided. dad. dead. deed. did. died. diode. dude. odd.

dado. dodo. dud.