Question

Which textual example from Churchill’s speech, “We Shall Fight on the Beaches,” BEST creates a tone of urgency?

Question 10 options:

"We have found it necessary to take measures of increasing stringency, not only against enemy aliens and suspicious characters of other nationalities, but also against British subjects who may become a danger…"

"We are told that Herr Hitler has a plan for invading the British Isles."

"The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil…"

"When, a week ago today, I asked the House to fix this afternoon as the occasion for a statement, I feared it would be my hard lot to announce the greatest military disaster in our long history."

Answer 1

I would say that the sense of urgency would be for warning that Hitler had a plan to invade Britain since such an event would be extremely serious and would require all the armed force to be marshalled to prevent this and to fight the Nazis in the air, on the ground and at sea to repel them and show the resolve of the people of Britain.

Answer 2

The statement that "We are told that Herr Hitler has a plan for invading the British Isles" certainly creates the greatest tone of urgency of these statements. By planting a stake in the ground and making it clear that the homeland is in peril, Churchill moves to spur the British people to immediate action.