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One of the legacies of the Roman legions was discipline. In the legions, military law prevailed and discipline was brutal. Discipline on the battlefield kept units obedient, intact, and fighting, even when the odds and conditions were against them. Which one of the following statements best sums up the meaning of the above passage?

1. Thorough regimentation was the main reason for the efficiency of the Roman legions even in adverse circumstances.
2. The legions were treated inhumanly as if the men were war animals.
3. Discipline was the armies' inheritance from their seniors.
4. The harsh discipline to which the legions were subjected led to the odds and conditions being against them.

Correct answer: Thorough regimentation was the main reason for the efficiency of the Roman legions even in adverse circumstances.

Solution

The passage says discipline kept the Roman units obedient, intact, and fighting even in difficult conditions. So the best summary is that strict regimentation was the key to their effectiveness.

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