The Outbreak of World War 2 Reading Answers

Dec 17, 2025

The Outbreak of World War 2 Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. The Outbreak of World War 2 Reading Answers has a total of 7 IELTS questions, such as Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR A WORD AND NUMBER.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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The Outbreak of World War 2 Reading Answers

Section 1

THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR II

World War I was the biggest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. Sparked by the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland, the war dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945.

By the early part of 1939, the German dictator Adolf Hitler had become determined to invade and occupy Poland. Poland, for its part, had guarantees of French and British military support should it be attacked by Germany. Hitler intended to invade Poland anyway, but first he had to neutralize the possibility that the Soviet Union would resist the invasion of its western neighbour. Secret negotiations led on August 23 to the signing of the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact in Moscow. In a secret protocol of this pact, the Germans and the Soviets agreed that Poland should be divided between them, with the western third of the country going to Germany and the eastern two-thirds being taken over by the U.S.S.R. Having achieved this cynical agreement, the other provisions of which stupefied

Europe, even without divulgence of the secret protocol, Hitler thought that Germany could attack

Poland, with no danger of Soviet or British intervention and gave orders for the invasion to start on August 26. News of the signing, on August 25, of a formal treaty of mutual assistance between Great Britain and Poland (to supersede a previous though temporary agreement) caused him to postpone the start of hostilities for a few days. He was still determined, however, to ignore the diplomatic efforts of the Western powers to restrain him. Finally, at 12:40 PM on August 31, 1939, Hitler ordered hostilities against Poland to start at 4:45 the next morning. The invasion began as ordered. In response, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, at 11:00 AM and at 5:00 PM, respectively. World War II had begun.

Questions 14 - 20

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR A WORD AND NUMBER.

• The Second World War lasted for (14) ………….years.

Answer: six years

Supporting statement: the war dragged on for six bloody years until the Allies defeated Nazi Germany and Japan in 1945.

Keywords: dragged on, six bloody years

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The text explicitly states that the duration of the war was six years.

• Poland had an assurance of assistance from (15)............ and (16)...........

Answer: France

Supporting statement: Poland, for its part, had guarantees of French and British military support should it be attacked by Germany.

Keywords: guarantees, support

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 2

Explanation: The text mentions both France and Great Britain as the powers providing military guarantees to Poland.

Answer: Great Britain

Supporting statement: Poland, for its part, had guarantees of French and British military support should it be attacked by Germany.

Keywords: guarantees, support

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 2

Explanation: The text mentions both France and Great Britain as the powers providing military guarantees to Poland.

• Germany and the Soviet Union agreed on a treaty not to attack each Other on (17)...............

Answer: August 23

Supporting statement: Secret negotiations led on August 23 to the signing of the German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact in Moscow.

Keywords: signing, Non-aggression Pact

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 5

Explanation: The Non-aggression Pact (a treaty not to attack each other) was signed on this specific date in 1939.

• As per their secret agreement, the Soviet Union and Germany would occupy Poland; the former would retain (18).............. of Polish territory.

Answer: two-thirds

Supporting statement: with the western third of the country going to Germany and the eastern two-thirds being taken over by the U.S.S.R.

Keywords: eastern, U.S.S.R

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 8

Explanation: The "former" refers to the Soviet Union (mentioned first in the question prompt logic), which was allocated the eastern two-thirds of the territory.

• Although Hitler wanted to invade Poland on August 26, 1939, he delayed it because of an event that took place on (19)..................

Answer: August 25

Supporting statement: News of the signing, on August 25, of a formal treaty of mutual assistance between Great Britain and Poland... caused him to postpone the start of hostilities for a few days.

Keywords: postpone, news of signing

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The treaty signed on August 25 was the catalyst for Hitler delaying the invasion originally planned for the 26th.

• Hitler started the war against Poland on (20)...................

Answer: September 1

Supporting statement: Finally, at 12:40 PM on August 31, 1939, Hitler ordered hostilities against Poland to start at 4:45 the next morning. The invasion began as ordered. In response, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, at 11:00 AM and at 5:00 PM, respectively. World War II had begun.

Keywords: ordered hostilities, next morning

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 7-8

Explanation: Since Hitler gave the order on August 31 for the attack to begin the "next morning," the start date was September 1, 1939.

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