V30-18

Question

In the early 19th century, significant advancements in the field of electricity paved the way for the development of the electric telegraph. The first major breakthrough came in 1800 when Italian physicist Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile, the first chemical battery that could produce a steady electric current. This innovation allowed for more systematic experiments with electricity. A second milestone occurred in 1820, when Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted demonstrated that electric currents create magnetic fields, an essential principle of electromagnetism. These discoveries spurred inventors across Europe and America to explore their applications in communication technology.
 
In England, Sir William Cooke and Sir Charles Wheatstone designed a telegraph system utilizing multiple magnetic needles that could point to letters on a board, significantly enhancing message clarity. Their design was quickly adopted for railroad signaling, improving communication speed and safety. Meanwhile, in the United States, Samuel Morse, initially a painter, became fascinated with electromagnetism after a sea voyage conversation. By the mid-1830s, aided by Leonard Gale and Alfred Vail, Morse developed a simpler, more efficient single-wire telegraph system. His design, which utilized a single key to complete the circuit, streamlined the transmission process and reduced installation costs, making it practical for widespread use.

Which statement best reflects the author’s perspective on the key discoveries that enabled the invention of the electric telegraph?

A. The discovery of electromagnetism alone was insufficient for developing the telegraph.
B. Morse’s use of an operator key was more critical than all other components in bringing telegraph technology into practical use.
C. The invention of the telegraph system using magnetic needles dramatically improved the railroad signaling system in Britain.
D. Collaboration between the British inventors and Morse’s team directly led to the final design of the single-circuit telegraph.
E. Morse began his experiments on the electric telegraph well before Oersted demonstrated the link between electricity and magnetism.

souvik101990 · Answer

Official Solution:

In the early 19th century, significant advancements in the field of electricity paved the way for the development of the electric telegraph. The first major breakthrough came in 1800 when Italian physicist Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile, the first chemical battery that could produce a steady electric current. This innovation allowed for more systematic experiments with electricity. A second milestone occurred in 1820, when Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted demonstrated that electric currents create magnetic fields, an essential principle of electromagnetism. These discoveries spurred inventors across Europe and America to explore their applications in communication technology.
 
In England, Sir William Cooke and Sir Charles Wheatstone designed a telegraph system utilizing multiple magnetic needles that could point to letters on a board, significantly enhancing message clarity. Their design was quickly adopted for railroad signaling, improving communication speed and safety. Meanwhile, in the United States, Samuel Morse, initially a painter, became fascinated with electromagnetism after a sea voyage conversation. By the mid-1830s, aided by Leonard Gale and Alfred Vail, Morse developed a simpler, more efficient single-wire telegraph system. His design, which utilized a single key to complete the circuit, streamlined the transmission process and reduced installation costs, making it practical for widespread use.
 
 Which statement best reflects the author’s perspective on the key discoveries that enabled the invention of the electric telegraph?

A. The discovery of electromagnetism alone was insufficient for developing the telegraph.
B. Morse’s use of an operator key was more critical than all other components in bringing telegraph technology into practical use.
C. The invention of the telegraph system using magnetic needles dramatically improved the railroad signaling system in Britain.
D. Collaboration between the British inventors and Morse’s team directly led to the final design of the single-circuit telegraph.
E. Morse began his experiments on the electric telegraph well before Oersted demonstrated the link between electricity and magnetism.

A) Correct Answer - This answer is correct because the passage mentions that both the invention of the battery and the discovery of electromagnetism were necessary developments that led to the invention of the electric telegraph. 
 
B) Incorrect - this answer choicemakes an overstatement about the operator key&rsquo;s importance, which is not supported by the text.
 
C) Incorrect - this is a trap answer. The passage indeed mentions that Cooke and Wheatstone&rsquo;s telegraph system "was soon being used for railroad signaling in Britain," but it does not provide evidence to support the claim that it dramatically improved the system. We only know that it was used but it is not stated that it has made improvements to the system or what they were or what the previous system is. It is a trap.
 
D) Incorrect - implies a collaboration between Cooke/Wheatstone and Morse/Gale, which the passage never mentions.
 
E) Incorrect. This answer choices dates Morse&rsquo;s initial experimentation before Oersted&rsquo;s 1820 demonstration, contrary to the timeline given in the text.

Answer: A

dabbu97 · Answer

I did not quite understand the solution. why not option c?

bb · Answer

Thank you for the question. It seems our explanation was pretty skimpy so I am providing a bit more details here:

C. The invention of the telegraph system using magnetic needles dramatically improved the railroad signaling system in Britain.

Choice (C) is a tricky trap. The passage indeed mentions that Cooke and Wheatstone’s telegraph system "was soon being used for railroad signaling in Britain," but it does not provide evidence to support the claim that it dramatically improved the system. We only know that it was used but it is not stated that it has made improvements to the system or what they were or what the previous system is. It is a trap.

Charlotte825 · Answer

I don’t quite agree with the solution. I would have taken C as the text states: In England, Sir William Cooke and Sir Charles Wheatstone designed a telegraph system utilizing multiple magnetic needles that could point to letters on a board,
=> significantly enhancing message clarity. Their design was quickly adopted for railroad signaling, improving communication speed and safety. 
as it improved speed, safety and clarity, I think one could ( should) argue that this invention dramatically improved the railroad system. In the end its a question of how you define dramatically in my opinion.

Sushi_545 · Answer

yes i agree with you C should be the answer.

Sushi_545 · Answer

The discovery of electromagnetism alone was insufficient for developing the telegraph. --> this statement although true but not the best that reflects the author’s perspective on the key discoveries that enabled the invention of the electric telegraph.

jeremthoisy · Answer

I don’t quite agree with the solution for (C). The explanation is inaccurate because the passage does more than state that the system was used, it explicitly says it “significantly enhanced message clarity” and that it was “quickly adopted for railroad signaling, improving communication speed and safety.” These are clear statements of improvement, not vague references to usage. The author does not need to compare it to a previous system to confirm it was a dramatic improvement; the phrasing directly highlights both its effectiveness and positive impact.

V30-18

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