Question

The map shows territory controlled by Japan during World War II.

A map of Asia. Japan, south of China, and northeast of China are shaded and labeled Japanese-controlled territory.

What does the map show about the locations of battles on the Pacific islands during World War II?

Fighting in Iwo Jima brought US troops closer to Japan.
US forces moved farther from Japan with each island they took.
Fighting on Midway made invading the Soviet Union easier for US troops.
The US detour to Guadalcanal allowed the Allies to reach China.

Answer 1

The map does not provide information about the locations of battles on the Pacific islands during World War II.

Answer 2

The correct option is A.

The map of Japanese-controlled territory during World War II shows that the fighting in Iwo Jima and other Pacific islands brought US forces closer to Japan, reflecting the 'island hopping' strategy of capturing islands to advance towards Japan.

Step-by-step explanation:

The map indicating territory controlled by Japan during World War II helps illustrate the strategic movements in the Pacific theater of the conflict. Specifically, it can highlight the importance of battles such as the one in Iwo Jima, which brought US troops closer to the Japanese mainland as part of the 'island hopping' strategy. This strategy involved capturing one island after another, both to prevent Japanese planes from launching from those islands and to establish airfields for the Allies closer to Japan, to facilitate further invasions.

The fighting on Midway, contrary to the map's suggestion, was significant because it was a critical naval battle that weakened Japanese naval strength and did not facilitate an invasion of the Soviet Union by US troops. Guadalcanal's capture was critical in undermining Japanese strength in the region and aiding Allied efforts to reach other strategic areas, including China, though it was not a direct route to China.

The map is shown below: