A misunderstanding led the Light Brigade to be ordered to do what?

• A. They were ordered to advance into a valley surrounded by enemies
• B. They were ordered to retreat from a valley
• C. They attacked a fortified city by river
• D. They used artillery to break through defenses

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is understanding how a misread order sent the Light Brigade into a deadly trap. In the Balaclava action, the cavalry were supposed to move forward to attack the Russian artillery, but the command was misinterpreted and they rode into a narrow valley that was surrounded by enemy forces and guns. That setup—advancing into a defensible position with heavy fire all around—is why the charging brigade faced such catastrophic resistance, a moment Tennyson captures as riding into the “valley of Death.” The other options don’t fit the event: they weren’t ordered to retreat, they didn’t attack a fortified city by river, and they weren’t using artillery to break through defenses.