Question

In the passage, the author states that "trenches become a necessity as well as a strategy for winning war". In what ways does the author support this statement?

Answer 1

The author supports the statement by explaining how the introduction of new technologies in World War I made defending from trenches more effective than charging the enemy's position, illustrating the futility and high cost of life in charging across no man's land, and providing an example of a British attack that temporarily gained territory but with significant casualties.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author supports the statement that "trenches become a necessity as well as a strategy for winning war" in several ways:

1. The introduction of new technologies in World War I, such as machine guns, mines, and modern rifles, made it more effective to defend a position from trenches rather than charge and try to take the enemy's position.
2. The British phrase "going over the top" describes the futility of charging across no man's land, where the enemy in the trenches could open fire with impunity, resulting in a high loss of life with little territorial gain.
3. The example of a British attack in 1915 that gained temporary territory at the cost of thousands of lives highlights the difficulty of breaking through the trench system.