Read this excerpt from a leaflet that the United States circulated in Japan in 1945. Then answer the question that follows.
The Soviet Union, because of this rejection on the part of the military, has notified your Ambassador Sato that it has declared war on your nation. Thus, all powerful countries of the world are now at war with you.
Also, because of your leaders' refusal to accept the surrender declaration that would enable Japan to honorably end this useless war, we have employed our atomic bomb.
A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s could have carried on a single mission. Radio Tokyo has told you that with the first use of this weapon of total destruction, Hiroshima was virtually destroyed.
Before we use this bomb again and again to destroy every resource of the military by which they are prolonging this useless war, petition the emperor now to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender. We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building a new, better, and peace-loving Japan.
Based on the excerpt, which sentence best summarizes the Allies reason for using the atomic bomb on Japan?
A.
The United States wanted to make Japan surrender before the Soviets arrived.
B.
Japan was prolonging a terrible and bloody war that had an inevitable outcome.
C.
An atomic bomb caused damage more efficiently than B-29 bombers.
D.
Nations that failed to surrender to the Allies were asking for a nuclear attack.
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1 answer
The sentence that best summarizes the Allies' reason for using the atomic bomb on Japan, based on the excerpt, is:
B. Japan was prolonging a terrible and bloody war that had an inevitable outcome.
This choice encapsulates the idea that the continued conflict was seen as unnecessary and detrimental, leading to the use of the atomic bomb as a method to force an end to the war.
