Question 35

[ozzer]

still not sure how we were supposed to know what the U51 was by reading P6...

[admin]

Let`s consider P6:

"...On the way Warburton-Lee reflected that his intelligence was so sketchy that he would be wise to stop at the entrance to the fiord and seek news from the pilot station. There, he received news which entirely altered the picture. But this did not deter him from prompt action. He turned southwestward to steam down Vest Fiord until dark so as to mislead any enemy who might see him - such as the U51 which duly led Bonte into a false sense of security."

First some reminders: the passage has established that Warburton-Lee represents the English and Bonte represents the Germans.

Now some hints: (1) Warburton-Lee "received news which entirely altered the picture`"; because the passage is about war, that statement suggests danger which means that the Germans must have something different or greater than the vessels that Warburton-Lee had faced before; (2) now why would the Germans (Bonte) have a "false sense of security"? This also suggests something special about U51: it must have something to give the Germans extra confidence.

Conclusion: U51 is a very powerful German vessel.

Just for your interest, U51 is a submarine and there is a pretty good Hollywood movie about it.

[ladywait223593]

My issue isn't so much with the phrase "false sense of security" but rather the answer in relation to this phrase. The question would be less contentious if answer choice B were reworded, toning down what seems to suggest that the Germans have an unstoppable vessel laying in wait. They've already got 10 large destroyers in Narvik, this alone would account for an entirely altered picture.

My reading of the passage gave the impression that the "false sense of security" was more likely a result of Warburton-Lee misleading the enemy into thinking he was steaming along merrily, not posing any threat. The U51 being a significantly powerful destructive weapon does not jive with the use of the term "false" either.

That being said, the fact that it specifically mentions the type of ship (a U51) instead of keeping with the rest of the passage and naming the actual vessel, does seem to make choice D less plausible but I still went with it despite this because quite frankly why belabor so minute a point. Just goes to show that sometimes the wrong and right answer is hidden obtusely in the answer choices themselves. Choices A and C are blatantly incorrect, the year the invasion occurred was 1940.

Perhaps if it was simply worded:
B) a German vessel that offered strategic tactical elements to Germany's fleet.
(or)
B) a German vessel with unique reconnaissance abilities.

[jellywing_2058]

Though, as you said, the answer choice B can be clarified or simplified, the answer to this question can be found using an elimination process.

Answer choice A cannot be correct since a U boat is a submarine and an enemy submarine cannot give a "sense of security"; it brings fear.

Answer choice C is incorrect as you mentioned because the battle does not occur in 1939.

Answer choice D is also wrong because a ship that is similar to the others will not give Warburton-Lee an "altered picture" of the situation; it would only make him take it into account.

[quadalpha]

I had the right answer but the distinction between B and D is based on a false premise. The "false sense of security" has very little to do with the presence of U51, and more to do with the report U51 brought to Bonte (that Warburton-Lee was last seen steaming southwest). The passage would have been better punctuated, "to mislead any enemy who might see him - such as the U51, which duly led ..."

[admin]

Guest
PostPosted: 23 Feb 2010 03:15 pm

[jellywing_2058]

Yes, this passage is challenging due to all the information contained. I suggest you use the highlighter in order to find the answers more easily.

The identity of the U51 can be determined as an elimination process (see previous posts) and also this way:

[quadalpha]

I don't mean to harp on, but the point about U-51 being a powerful vessel and therefore providing a sense of security is still quite misleading to anyone who's read a bit of military history.