Read the excerpt from a speech that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made shortly after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. What
is Churchill’s intention with this part of the speech? This is a strange Christmas Eve. Almost the whole world is locked in deadly struggle, and, with the most terrible weapons which science can devise, the nations advance upon each other. Ill would it be for us this Christmastide if we were not sure that no greed for the land or wealth of any other people, no vulgar ambition, no morbid lust for material gain at the expense of others, had led us to the field. Here, in the midst of war, raging and roaring over all the lands and seas, creeping nearer to our hearts and homes, here, amid all the tumult, we have tonight the peace of the spirit in each cottage home and in every generous heart. Therefore we may cast aside for this night at least the cares and dangers which beset us, and make for the children an evening of happiness in a world of storm. Here, then, for one night only, each home throughout the English-speaking world should be a brightly-lighted island of happiness and peace.
A.
to remind people about the evils surrounding them
B.
to promote happiness and peace during the Christmas season
C.
to encourage more support for the war
D.
to push for the United States and Britain to become one country
The correct answer is option letter B (to promote happiness and peace during the Christmas season). After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the <em>British Prime Minister Winston Churchill</em> flew to Washington, D.C. in order to meet <em>President Franklin Roosevelt</em> and discuss how the two countries (Britain and the United States) could coordinate strategy in the wake of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Since he was away from Britain, Churchill broadcast to the world from the White House and the purpose of his speech was <u>to dedicate the night and holiday to children</u>. Churchill wanted the people to celebrate the night without the cares of war, especially the children (“<em>Let the children have their night of fun and laughter</em>”). The rest of the options are incorrect because they are a misunderstanding of the text (A, C), or an action that has already happened, that is, the union of Britain and the United States (D).
