Question

Read this excerpt from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation":

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. . . . I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

Based on this excerpt, what is most likely the meaning of "dastardly"?
A.Characterized by action
B.Characterized by planning
C.Characterized by war
D.Characterized by treachery

Answer 1

Characterized by treachery

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Answer 2

Answer: The right answer is D) Characterized by treachery.

Explanation: The adjective "dastardly" specifically means cowardly, dishonest, treacherous and underhanded. Since the attack on the U.S naval base at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941 was a surprise and devastating assault, which caused the death of thousands of soldiers and civilians, FDR rightly used those forceful and unequivocal words to describe it in his address, which aimed at formally declaring war on Japan.