By: George Friedman
Alternatively, go to finance.townhall.com, or
just Google the title and the writer’s name.
Level of difficulty: ***** (Due to the content,
summary exercises and question 16)
QUESTIONS
Read the introduction and answer the following
questions.
1.
Why
exactly does Rudyard Kipling describe British imperial power as recessional?
Read “The Rise of Britain” and answer the
following questions.
2.
What
does “This” refer to in the phrase “This gave Britain dominance in the North
Atlantic” and what was its ultimate significance?
3.
The
elimination of France as a contender for power was not the only stroke of luck
Britain enjoyed. There were two other facts that aided in Britain’s rise as a
military and industrial power. They were:
4.
What
conclusion can we draw from the information in the fourth paragraph in this
section?
5.
Britain
was more similar to Rome than Nazi Germany in that it was not ………………………This was
the case because ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Before continuing, summarize the section you
have just read in a few sentences.
Read “German and US Challenges” and answer the
following questions.
6.
The
text states: “The window of opportunity that had opened with the defeat of
Napoleon was closing”. The two reasons why this was the case are:
7.
A
possibility of major political change occurred as a result of WW I. What was
it?
8.
Why
exactly did Britain’s management of the empire undergo a change in this period?
9.
It
is stated in the fourth paragraph in this section that “WW II, the second round
of the German war, broke Britain’s power”. Which statement in the same
paragraph best qualifies this statement?
10.
What
does “this” refer to in the phrase “But the US had no interest in this”. Use
your own words.
Before continuing, summarize the section you
have just read in a few sentences.
Read “From Suez to Special relationship” and
answer the following questions.
11.
The
withdrawal of Britain to the British Isles was precipitated by:
……………………………………….
12.
The
twist Britain added to its inclusion in the Bretton Woods is termed:
……………………………..
13.
What
were the three benefits Britain derived from the above policy?
14.
What
led Britain to opt for a policy of maintaining a balance between the US and
Europe rather than providing complete support for US policies?
15.
Read
the last paragraph in this section and state clearly what conclusion we can
draw from it?
Before continuing, summarize the section you
have just read in a few sentences.
Read “Keeping its
Options Open” and answer the following question.
16.
After
reading this last section, decide which sentence in the section best summarizes
it.
KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This activity is based on another concise and well
written little gem. The activity is designed to give maximum practice in
analytical questions – to the extent which the text permits – and fill in some
more gaps in the students’ general knowledge. I can see the whole task,
including the summaries, taking 75 minutes. It could be done with intermediate
classes in May and advanced classes earlier in the second term. As with every
reading activity I post, check for related videos to get the ball rolling; on
tedtalks for instance…
1.
Because
it controlled about one fourth of the Earth’s land surface and one fifth of the
World’s population. Fifty years… I need to apologize for the lengthy answer but
some pieces of information are key points that can’t be skipped.
2.
The
elimination of France as a significant naval challenger to Britain for several
generations; it gave control over trade routes in the Indian and Pacific
oceans.
3.
Napoleon’s
devastation of continental Europe; the underdevelopment of the US.
4.
The
British Empire was foremost a trading block
5.
Exploitative;
the Napoleonic wars having crippled most European powers, Britain was not under
military pressure for most of the century.
6.
The
unification of Germany and the rapid industrialization of the US.
7.
The
Empire could be broken.
8.
Because
Britain became more dependent on its Empire.
9.
Britain
emerged from the war vastly weaker economically and militarily than the US
10.
Britain’s
strategy of remaining aligned with the US and trying to find a foundation for
the US to underwrite the retention of the Empire.
11.
The
US political intervention against the British, French and Israeli attack on
Egypt in 1956.
12.
The
lieutenant strategy.
13.
Guide
the students to formulate answers as follows: special concessions and
considerations, the ability to influence US policy, the ability to prompt the
use of US forces.
14.
The
cost of maintaining the force relative to the benefits, the danger of being
drawn so deeply into the US orbit that Britain would lose its freedom of
action.
15.
Britain
has been able to retain options while limiting its dependency on either side.
16.
The
British strategy represents a classic case of a nation accepting reversal,
retaining autonomy and accommodating itself to its environment while
manipulating it.
