Passage 3
Black Americans have served with honor in every American military action,
though this fact is often omitted in history books. Even though black men almost
had to beg to be allowed to serve in the Revolutionary War, they went on to serve
well. Two black men, Oliver Cromwell and Prince Whipple, were with Washington
when he crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day, 1776, to attack the British at
Trenton. A black man named Prince Estabrook captured the Royal Army’s General
Prescott Newport, and Peter Salem, a black, killed Major Pitcairn as he was
savoring his expected victory at bunker Hill.
Even though they were forced to serve in segregated units, black soldiers
distinguished themselved I combat. This was despite the fact that whites had long
believed that blacks could neither command nor use firearms. In 1863, William
Carney of the Massachusetts Colored Infantry received the Congressional Medal
of Honor for his role in batles with the Plains Indians. Isaiah Dorman, Coster’s
black scout, served and died at the Little Big horn in 1876. Henry Flipper was
the first black graduate of West Point in 1877.
In World War I, 40,000 black American combat soldiers served with the French
command. Neither U.S. nor British commanders use these men. But Henry Johnson
and Needham Roberts, soldiers in the 369th Infantry’s black ”Hellfighters”
were still the first Americans to win the Croix de Guerre, France’s top military
award.
During World War II over 400,000 balck men and women served in the armed forces,
including some 500,000 who served overseas. Dorie Miller, a black mess attendant
in the navy, was one of our first heroes in this war. At Pearl Harbor during the
Japanese sneak attack, he manned a machine gun and shot down four planes. The
black fighter piots of Benjamin davis, Jr. distinguished themselves throughout
the war. They served most courageously during the Italian campaign. During the
war in Victnam, mainly because of vilil rights pressures in American but also
owing to the fine record of black military units, all American forces were fully
integrated. Once again blacks played vital roles. And 13.2 percent of all war
deaths were of black, even though blacks constitute only 11 percent of all American
soldiers continue to serve their land well.
7)The main idea of the passage is that _______________.
A. Black Americans served admirably during the Revolutionary War
B. Black Americans have served their country admirably in at least five wars
C. Black Americans served under the French in World War I
D. Black Americans constituted a larger portion of war deaths in Vietnam than
did any other minority group.
8)We can conclude from the passage that ______________.
A. blacks made excellent scouts
B. blacks were instrumental in the successful defense of Pearl Habor
C. blacks never rose to hold high ranks in the military service
D. blacks have always felts a sense of patriotism for their conntry.
9)The passage suggests that ______________.
A. black slaves were forced to fight in the revolution
B. blacks went into the military service because they had difficulty in finding
civilian jobs
C. blacks received only menial assignments in the military service
D. history has kept Americans ignorant of the role that blacks have played in
America’s military history
10)As used in the passage, the word savoring means _____________.
A. requiring
B. exploring
C. enjoying
D. assured of
Black Americans have served with honor in every American military action,
though this fact is often omitted in history books. Even though black men almost
had to beg to be allowed to serve in the Revolutionary War, they went on to serve
well. Two black men, Oliver Cromwell and Prince Whipple, were with Washington
when he crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day, 1776, to attack the British at
Trenton. A black man named Prince Estabrook captured the Royal Army’s General
Prescott Newport, and Peter Salem, a black, killed Major Pitcairn as he was
savoring his expected victory at bunker Hill.
Even though they were forced to serve in segregated units, black soldiers
distinguished themselved I combat. This was despite the fact that whites had long
believed that blacks could neither command nor use firearms. In 1863, William
Carney of the Massachusetts Colored Infantry received the Congressional Medal
of Honor for his role in batles with the Plains Indians. Isaiah Dorman, Coster’s
black scout, served and died at the Little Big horn in 1876. Henry Flipper was
the first black graduate of West Point in 1877.
In World War I, 40,000 black American combat soldiers served with the French
command. Neither U.S. nor British commanders use these men. But Henry Johnson
and Needham Roberts, soldiers in the 369th Infantry’s black ”Hellfighters”
were still the first Americans to win the Croix de Guerre, France’s top military
award.
During World War II over 400,000 balck men and women served in the armed forces,
including some 500,000 who served overseas. Dorie Miller, a black mess attendant
in the navy, was one of our first heroes in this war. At Pearl Harbor during the
Japanese sneak attack, he manned a machine gun and shot down four planes. The
black fighter piots of Benjamin davis, Jr. distinguished themselves throughout
the war. They served most courageously during the Italian campaign. During the
war in Victnam, mainly because of vilil rights pressures in American but also
owing to the fine record of black military units, all American forces were fully
integrated. Once again blacks played vital roles. And 13.2 percent of all war
deaths were of black, even though blacks constitute only 11 percent of all American
soldiers continue to serve their land well.
7)The main idea of the passage is that _______________.
A. Black Americans served admirably during the Revolutionary War
B. Black Americans have served their country admirably in at least five wars
C. Black Americans served under the French in World War I
D. Black Americans constituted a larger portion of war deaths in Vietnam than
did any other minority group.
8)We can conclude from the passage that ______________.
A. blacks made excellent scouts
B. blacks were instrumental in the successful defense of Pearl Habor
C. blacks never rose to hold high ranks in the military service
D. blacks have always felts a sense of patriotism for their conntry.
9)The passage suggests that ______________.
A. black slaves were forced to fight in the revolution
B. blacks went into the military service because they had difficulty in finding
civilian jobs
C. blacks received only menial assignments in the military service
D. history has kept Americans ignorant of the role that blacks have played in
America’s military history
10)As used in the passage, the word savoring means _____________.
A. requiring
B. exploring
C. enjoying
D. assured of