Question

Read this section from "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat" to determine the central or main idea of the passage and answer the follow-up questions.

You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs - Victory in spite of all terrors - Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.
Let that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages, that mankind shall move forward toward his goal.
Part A
What is the main idea of this section of the text?
A. Churchill defines his main goal as prime minister, which is to defeat Germany in war.
B. Churchill thinks the survival of Britain is at stake.
C. The world cannot survive without the British Empire.
D. Britain has the same goals as all other nations, in war and in peace.

Answer 1

The main idea of the passage from Churchill's speech is that the survival of Britain and its values is at stake, which is best represented by option B. He stresses that victory is critical for the nation's continued existence and characterizes the war as a fight for the very survival of the British Empire and its ideals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central or main idea of the passage from Winston Churchill's "Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat" speech is best captured by option B. Churchill thinks the survival of Britain is at stake. In this impassioned excerpt, Churchill emphasizes the critical need for victory in the face of war, noting that without it, the consequences would be dire not only for Britain but for the values and progress that the British Empire represented. This passage is underlined by Churchill's steadfast belief that the British Empire's continuity was essential for the advancement of humankind. It also reflects his broader worldview and political strategy during World War II, which was to fight tirelessly against Germany and its allies to prevent their dominance.

Churchill's speeches during the war, including his conviction to defend the United Kingdom at all costs, and his perspective on the British Empire, solidify the idea that he saw the war effort as intrinsically tied to the nation's survival and principles. The need for defiance against surrender and for persistent battle—even under seemingly insurmountable conditions—permeates his leadership and communication during the Battle of Britain and throughout the war.