Reading Comprehension Passage:
How a Regional Conflict Snowballed Into World War I
When Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in 1914, each of their allies quickly joined the fight.
BECKY LITTLEUPDATED:FEB 10, 2022ORIGINAL:FEB 4, 2022
[excerpt from https://www.history.com/news/regional-conflict-world-war-i-beginning]
On June 28, 1914, a member of the revolutionary group Young Bosnia assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The archduke was the presumptive heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, which had annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina several years before. Young Bosnia was trying to overthrow Austria-Hungary’s rule of the region, and had acquired weapons for a revolution with the help of Serbian nationalists. Austria-Hungary discovered this connection, and declared war on Serbia a month after the assassination.
The reason this regional conflict escalated into World War I—which killed some 20 million soldiers and civilians—is something people have been debating since it ended. Though there’s no one answer, part of the reason the war grew so large has to do with a complicated network of alliances that European nations made with and against each other in the decades leading up to the war.
These alliances created a balance of power in Europe that some hoped would actually prevent war. Yet for many countries, the alliances made them feel like they had no choice but to join a growing international conflict.
World War I had two main factions: the Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire; and the Allies, which included France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan and later, the United States. With the exception of Italy—which switched sides—most of these alliances had roots in prewar agreements.
A lot of the animosity behind the two World War I camps dates back to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, in which German states (led by Prussia) thwarted France’s attempt to reassert dominance on the continent. After the war, Prussia and other German states united to form the German Empire, and allied itself with the neighboring Austria-Hungary. In 1882, the newly-unified state of Italy joined Germany and Austria-Hungary, forming the Triple Alliance.
Over the next few decades, European empires continued to create alliances and informal agreements as they competed for power and colonial territories around the globe.
Reading Comprehension Questions on Chronology:
- Which event occurred first?
A. The alliances created a balance of power in Europe.
B. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
C. The Franco-Prussian War.
D. Italy joining Germany and Austria-Hungary to form the Triple Alliance.
The answer is C. The Franco-Prussian War because the text states in the fifth paragraph that "the Franco-Prussian War" took place in "1870" which is the earliest events of all listed. Answer A. took place after World War I had started. Answer B. took place in 1914. Answer D. took place in 1882.
- What happened before Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia?
A. Italy switched sides.
B. Young Bosnia acquired weapons for a revolution.
C. European empires competed for power and colonial territories.
D. 20 million soldiers and civilians were killed.
The answer is B. Young Bosnia acquired weapons for a revolution because it is the only answer choice listed that takes place in the text before the mentioning of Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia. In reading the first paragraph, note the last two sentences of that paragraph: "Young Bosnia was trying to overthrow Austria-Hungary’s rule of the region, and had acquired weapons for a revolution with the help of Serbian nationalists. Austria-Hungary discovered this connection, and declared war on Serbia a month after the assassination." All other answer choices listed for this question take place AFTER the last sentence of the first paragraph.