8.2 MCQs: Dawn of the Atomic Age
"We have been made strongly aware of the dangers inherent in the mishandling of this tremendous force by the peoples of the world. We have seen in the case of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that one crude, pioneering atomic bomb is sufficient to destroy a city of medium size. It is certain that further development will result in bombs of vastly greater destructive potential. The Pearl Harbor attack which destroyed most of Pacific Fleet may be dwarfed in a future war by a disaster in which as much as a quarter of our population and the major part of our industry will suddenly disappear. This may even be a conservative estimate of the damage that will occur before we are in a position to retaliate, if retaliation be any longer possible. It will be a small consolation to have the largest supply of the world’s best bombs; it may be too late to use them. It is possible that we may not even know who our attackers are."
Preliminary Statement of the Association of Manhattan District Scientists, August 1945
Question 1
The Association of Manhattan District Scientists' statement reflects a concern primarily about:
The superiority of American military strategy in conventional warfare.
The potential for catastrophic destruction with atomic weapons.
The immediate need to increase the production of atomic bombs.
The economic benefits of atomic energy for industrial purposes.
Question 2
The reference to Pearl Harbor in the statement serves to:
Highlight the potential for a surprise attack of even greater magnitude with atomic weapons.
Suggest that Japan would be the likely perpetrator of a future atomic attack.
Argue for the necessity of maintaining a strong naval presence in the Pacific.
Illustrate the effectiveness of conventional military tactics over atomic warfare.
Question 3
The statement implies that retaliation with atomic bombs might not be possible because:
The initial atomic attack could be so devastating that a counterattack might not be feasible.
The technology to deliver atomic bombs effectively would not be developed in time.
Allies of the United States would prevent it from retaliating with atomic weapons.
The United States would have moral reservations about using such weapons.
Question 4
The phrase 'it may be too late to use them' suggests that the scientists were worried about:
The ethical implications of using atomic bombs in warfare.
The diplomatic consequences of a preemptive atomic strike by the U.S.
The possibility of an atomic attack occurring before the U.S. could respond.
The eventual obsolescence of atomic weapons technology.
Question 5
The uncertainty about 'who our attackers are' indicates the scientists' concern about:
The difficulty in identifying the aggressor in a potential atomic conflict.
The challenges in forming alliances in the post-World War II era.
The lack of intelligence capabilities to detect conventional military threats.
The need for international agreements on the use of atomic energy.
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