Question

david lloyd george was a member of the british parliament during world war i. this is an excerpt from his memoirs.
the nations slithered over the brink into the boiling cauldron of war without any trace of apprehension or dismay. . . . amongst the rulers and statesmen who alone could give the final word which caused the great armies to spring from the ground and march to and across frontiers, one can see now clearly that not one of them wanted war; certainly not on this scale.
—war memoirs of david lloyd george, 1933
what is david lloyd george’s point of view on world war i?
○ nations were racing toward war with a clear sense of caution.
○ nations wanted to participate in war on a very grand scale.
○ nations did not understand how extensive the effects of the war would be.
○ nations participated in this war only to enhance their armies.

Explanation:

To determine David Lloyd George's viewpoint, we analyze the excerpt:

• The first option is incorrect as the excerpt says nations entered war "without any trace of apprehension or dismay" but also that they didn't want war, so "clear sense of caution" is wrong.
• The second option is wrong because the excerpt states "not one of them wanted war; certainly not on this scale", so they didn't want to participate on a grand scale.
• The third option is correct. The nations "slithered over the brink" (implying they didn't fully understand the consequences) and "not one of them wanted war; certainly not on this scale" shows they didn't anticipate the extent of the war's effects.
• The fourth option is incorrect as there's no mention of nations participating to enhance their armies.

Answer:

C. Nations did not understand how extensive the effects of the war would be.