During the 1700s and 1800s, major fighting during wars generally ceased for the winters and armies took up winter encampments. A

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问题     During the 1700s and 1800s, major fighting during wars generally ceased for the winters and armies took up winter encampments. As winter descended upon Pennsylvania in 1777, General George Washington chose Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, some eighteen miles west of Philadelphia as site of the winter encampment of the Continental Army. The area was far enough away from the British in Philadelphia to discourage surprise attacks and its location between high hills and the Schuylkill River made it easily defensible.
    The Continental Army, however, was in bad shape. Of the 12,000 soldiers, many lacked the supplies or clothing to Survive the winter and many others were starving at this point. At Valley Forge, defense lines were built along with over 1, 000 huts to provide some relief from the brutal elements. Moisture from rain and melting snow made it impossible for many soldiers to stay dry and allowed for the spread of disease. The only reliable food that the soldiers received was a mixture of flour and water known as "firecake". Occasionally, soldiers received meat and bread. Furthermore, many soldiers had inadequate supplies of clothing and were forced to endure the winter in tatters and without blankets. Many lacked shoes. Wounded soldiers often died from exposure to the elements. Unsanitary and crowded conditions led to the proliferation of diseases and sicknesses such as typhoid and pneumonia. Over 2, 000 people died from such sicknesses.
    On February 23 , 1778, former German General Baron von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge to train the Patriots how to march in formation, fire guns quickly, use bayonets and become soldiers. Though von Steuben spoke little English, he developed a training manual in French that would be translated on the grounds into English. Unlike many American generals, von Steuben worked directly with the soldiers, endearing him to the thousands suffering at Valley Forge. Von Steuben’s presence did much to improve the morale of the army during the bitter winter and also helped them develop into a more tactical, effective military machine, capable of fighting the British.
    On June 19, 1778, the Continental Army left Valley Forge in pursuit of the British who were moving north to New York.
What was probably the most important contributions made by Baron von Steuben?

选项 A、He helped transform the Continental Army into an army that could actually fight the British.
B、He taught the soldiers how to use bayonets.
C、He taught the soldiers that their Generals did not have to speak good English.
D、He provided the soldiers with things to laugh about.

答案A

解析 细节推断题。原文第三段简述了Baron von Steuben训练军队的过程。根据第三段尾句中helped,the British与选项A重现,尾句中develop into,capable of分别与选项A中的transform…into,could actually对应。故答案为A。而B、C、D项讲述的都属于具体的某个事例,不全面。
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