Read the excerpt from The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles . Yet, by the time Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses Grant at Appomattox, Virginia, some four years later, about 620,000 soldiers had died on the battlefields, more than American battle deaths in all other wars from the Revolution through the Vietnam War. What is the author’s primary purpose for including this detail?
Answer
A
to encourage readers to visit battlegrounds in Appomattox, Virginia
B
to entertain readers with tales from behind the lines of battle
C
to inform readers about the differences between three military conflicts
D
to persuade readers of the seriousness of the American Civil War
Explanation
The author emphasizes that about 620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War—more than the American battle deaths in all the other wars listed combined. This comparison highlights the enormous loss of life and shows how serious and devastating the Civil War was. The detail is not mainly an invitation to visit Appomattox or a comparison of three conflicts.
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