Question

Which of the following statements are supported by the information in the text?

The scientists were in agreement on their position regarding the use of the bomb.

The scientists felt that saving American lives had to take priority in the war.

No scientist believed that the use of atomic weapons in warfare should be outlawed.

Most of the scientists believed using the bomb to force a surrender was the only option.
You have asked us to comment on the initial use of the new weapon. . . . [W]e recognize our obligation to our nation to use the weapons to help save American lives in the Japanese war.

The opinions of our scientific colleagues on the initial use of these weapons are not unanimous: they range from the proposal of a purely technical demonstration to that of the military application best designed to induce surrender. Those who advocate a purely technical demonstration would wish to outlaw the use of atomic weapons, and have feared that if we use the weapons now our

Answer 1

Answers:

- The scientists were in agreement on their position regarding the use of the bomb. — Not supported. The text explicitly says the opinions "are not unanimous" and "range from" a demonstration to military use.

- The scientists felt that saving American lives had to take priority in the war. — Supported. The passage states they "recognize our obligation to our nation to use the weapons to help save American lives in the Japanese war."

- No scientist believed that the use of atomic weapons in warfare should be outlawed. — Not supported. The passage says those who advocate a purely technical demonstration "would wish to outlaw the use of atomic weapons," so at least some did.

- Most of the scientists believed using the bomb to force a surrender was the only option. — Not supported. The text gives a range of views and does not say most endorsed forcing surrender or that it was the only option.