سؤال قراءة ستيب محلول — المفردات في السياق (تدريب 4868)

(1) Modern wars bring death and destruction wherever they occur. Sophisticated weapons have been developed that can wipe out a whole city. The most destructive war in history is World War II, fought from 1939 to 1945. World War II involved gigantic struggles not only in Europe but in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific as well. More than 25 million military personnel and 30 million civilians were killed in the war. Its conduct strained the economic capabilities of the major nations and left many countries on the edge of collapse. World War II cost more than any three previous wars combined. (2) Disasters continued even after the war ended. Damage to communication networks disrupted the transport of raw materials and finished products. The irregularity of supplies to industry and the destruction inflicted on the production apparatus resulted in a considerable number of temporary layoffs. Even in the victorious countries. food rationing continued well after the end of the war. Crime and law-breaking increased. The simultaneous reconstruction of accommodation, industry and the transport infrastructure stifled national economies. Under these conditions, people were first and foremost preoccupied with the restrictions affecting everyday life and often had difficulty in thinking about their long-term future. The shortage of coal in the very hard winter of 1946-1947 led to widespread strikes and mass demonstrations.