B2: The History of the Hand Salute

Below is a B2 level English reading task about the history of the salute. Good luck and enjoy!

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Reading Lesson: The History of the Military Salute (CEFR B2)

Reading Passage: The History of the Military Salute

Across many countries and time periods, soldiers have used special gestures to show respect and recognize authority. One of the most recognizable of these gestures is the military salute. Although it may look simple, the salute has a complex and uncertain history, and several different theories try to explain how it began .

One widely accepted idea is that the salute developed from the behavior of medieval knights. Knights wore heavy armor, including helmets with movable face covers called visors. When a knight approached a person of higher rank, he would lift his visor to show his face. This action signaled that he came in peace and that he was not trying to hide his identity. Over time, the repeated movement of raising the hand toward the head may have turned into a more formal gesture: the salute used in modern armies .

Another theory links the salute to older customs of removing hats. In past centuries, it was polite for men to take off their hats when greeting someone important. For soldiers, however, taking off a hat or helmet during work or in battle was not always practical or safe. Instead, they might briefly touch the brim or raise a hand toward the head as a shorter, safer version of the same respectful greeting. This shorter motion is thought by some historians to be another possible origin of the salute .

Beyond its historical roots, the salute has clear practical functions in today’s armed forces. It offers a non‑verbal way to recognize rank and show discipline, even in noisy environments where spoken words might not be heard. Typically, the person of lower rank initiates the salute, and the higher‑ranking person returns it. This exchange shows that respect is not just demanded from above but also acknowledged from above, creating a sense of mutual professional respect .

The style of the salute is not identical in every country. Some armed forces salute with the palm facing downward, while others show the palm outward. In certain navies, the palm‑down position developed partly for practical reasons: sailors often had dirty hands from working on ships and did not want to show them directly to officers. Differences like these illustrate how traditions can be shaped by everyday working conditions as well as by official rules .

Even though historians may never agree completely on the salute’s exact origin, the meaning of the gesture in the modern military is relatively clear. The salute represents honor, discipline, and trust within the chain of command. When a soldier raises a hand in salute, that action links present‑day service members with centuries of military tradition and reminds them of the responsibility they share toward each other and their country .

Student Directions

Read the passage “The History of the Military Salute” carefully. Then answer the questions below.

Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D) for each question.
Base your answers only on the information in the text.
There is one correct answer for each question.
Answer all questions before you turn in your work.

B2 Reading Comprehension Quiz

“The History of the Military Salute”

What is the main focus of the passage?
A. Describing famous battles where salutes were used
B. Explaining how the military salute may have developed and what it represents
C. Comparing different modern military uniforms
D. Arguing that salutes should no longer be used in today’s armies
What can be inferred about the gesture of lifting a visor in medieval times?
A. It was mainly done to improve the knight’s vision in battle.
B. It was a risky action that knights tried to avoid.
C. It functioned as a sign of openness and peaceful intentions.
D. It showed that the knight disagreed with his commander’s orders.
Why does the author mention the custom of removing hats in earlier centuries?
A. To show that hats were more important than helmets
B. To provide another possible explanation for the origin of the salute
C. To criticize old‑fashioned social rules
D. To prove that soldiers preferred not to follow traditions
According to the passage, what is one practical advantage of the military salute?
A. It replaces the need for written orders.
B. It allows soldiers to show respect even when verbal communication is difficult.
C. It makes military uniforms easier to design.
D. It helps commanders identify enemy soldiers.
What does the passage suggest about the relationship between rank and respect in a salute?
A. Only higher‑ranking officers are required to salute.
B. The salute is a one‑sided sign of power from the top down.
C. The salute is mainly a test to see who remembers the rules.
D. The person of lower rank initiates the salute, but the exchange expresses mutual respect.
Why do some navies historically perform the salute with the palm facing downward?
A. To hide hands that might be dirty from ship work
B. To show they are stronger than armies on land
C. To follow the exact style of medieval knights
D. To make the gesture more complicated and formal
Which statement best reflects the author’s overall attitude toward the salute?
A. It is an old‑fashioned custom with no place in modern society.
B. It is a confusing tradition that most soldiers do not understand.
C. It is a meaningful symbol that connects present‑day soldiers with a long military history.
D. It is mainly useful as a way to punish soldiers who make mistakes.

Answer Key (B2 Level)

B
C
B
B
D
A
C

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