V24-18

Question

Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance, direction, and speed of objects. It comprises a transmitter that produces electromagnetic waves, a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna (often the same for both functions), and a receiver and processor to analyze the object's properties.
 
The development of radar began in 1895 when Alexander Popov, a physics instructor in Russia, created a device to detect distant lightning using a coherer tube. In 1897, while testing communication between two ships, Popov noticed interference from a third ship and suggested it could be used for object detection, though he did not pursue this idea further.
 
In 1922, U.S. Navy researchers A. Hoyt Taylor and Leo C. Young placed a transmitter and receiver on opposite sides of the Potomac River and observed that passing ships caused the signal to fade. Taylor reported that this could help detect ships in low visibility, but the Navy did not pursue the idea at that time. Eight years later, Lawrence A. Hyland at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) noticed similar signal fading caused by passing aircraft, leading to a patent application.
 
These early observations laid the foundation for the development of radar, which would later become a critical technology during World War II for detecting objects under various conditions, and especially in military applications.

Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

A. The passage introduces a scientific concept, discusses its early theoretical development, and then highlights its practical applications over time.
B. The passage presents a historical overview of a technology, focusing on key developments and the gradual recognition of its potential.
C. The passage defines a technology, traces its development through a chronological sequence of discoveries, and concludes with its current applications.
D. The passage discusses a scientific principle, describes the challenges in its early implementation, and outlines the steps taken to overcome these challenges.
E. The passage introduces a concept, contrasts the contributions of different researchers, and concludes with a discussion of the technology's modern-day relevance.

bb · Answer

Official Solution:

Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance, direction, and speed of objects. It comprises a transmitter that produces electromagnetic waves, a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna (often the same for both functions), and a receiver and processor to analyze the object's properties.
 
The development of radar began in 1895 when Alexander Popov, a physics instructor in Russia, created a device to detect distant lightning using a coherer tube. In 1897, while testing communication between two ships, Popov noticed interference from a third ship and suggested it could be used for object detection, though he did not pursue this idea further.
 
In 1922, U.S. Navy researchers A. Hoyt Taylor and Leo C. Young placed a transmitter and receiver on opposite sides of the Potomac River and observed that passing ships caused the signal to fade. Taylor reported that this could help detect ships in low visibility, but the Navy did not pursue the idea at that time. Eight years later, Lawrence A. Hyland at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) noticed similar signal fading caused by passing aircraft, leading to a patent application.
 
These early observations laid the foundation for the development of radar, which would later become a critical technology during World War II for detecting objects under various conditions, and especially in military applications.
 
 Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

A. The passage introduces a scientific concept, discusses its early theoretical development, and then highlights its practical applications over time.
B. The passage presents a historical overview of a technology, focusing on key developments and the gradual recognition of its potential.
C. The passage defines a technology, traces its development through a chronological sequence of discoveries, and concludes with its current applications.
D. The passage discusses a scientific principle, describes the challenges in its early implementation, and outlines the steps taken to overcome these challenges.
E. The passage introduces a concept, contrasts the contributions of different researchers, and concludes with a discussion of the technology's modern-day relevance.

A. Incorrect. This is incorrect because the passage does not discuss the practical applications of radar technology over time; it focuses on the historical discoveries that led to its development.
 
B. Correct Answer. The passage provides a historical account of radar technology, highlighting significant discoveries by Popov, Taylor, Young, and Hyland, and how these observations contributed to the eventual development of radar. The focus is on the progression of key developments and how the potential of radar was recognized over time.

C. Incorrect. This answer may seem attractive. However, there is a flaw - the passage does not conclude with a discussion of its current applications; only Radar's potential for military applications is mentioned in the context of 1930's, not current time.
 
 D. Incorrect. The passage does not focus on challenges in implementing radar or on steps taken to overcome these challenges; it focuses on key historical observations.
 
E. Incorrect. The passage does not contrast the contributions of different researchers or discuss modern-day relevance; it simply presents the historical development of radar technology.

Answer: B

rdundar · Answer

I think this is a  poor-quality  question and I don't agree with the explanation.

bb · Answer

I see you picked C.

That is incorrect as the passage does not talk about current applications or conclude with them. Let me know if you disagree.

P.S. I went ahead and added World War II to make it clearer / wronger that the applications are not current.

Sushi_545 · Answer

I think option would be A . B is misleading

hr1212 · Answer

Hi  Sushi_545 ,

Option A is incorrect because it’s just not theoretical development we are discussing but practical inferences through experiments and I feel B is better structured than A highlighting this structure.

bb · Answer

What we think is not important, rather WHY we think is. Why do you think A is correct? Do you feel the passage talks about the  radar's  applications over time?   
There is nothing that talks about its application over multiple spans of time.

Sunny3897 · Answer

bb 
Without knowing when this article was written, how do we know that WWII was not a current application? Say, if this article was written in 1946, would that not be counted as a recent application

BhardwajS · Answer

Sunny3897  "when the article is written" is an outside information/assumption which do not required to answer this question ,question is about structure of the article and if we read it ,we can clearly understand first talked about what is radar ,then attempt of discoveries and when finally discovered then its usage in WW2 so there is no info about its modern application such as weather forecasting or air traffic control and one more thing if we read the language of the last line : "  These early observations laid the foundation for the development of radar, which would later become a critical technology during World War II for detecting objects under various conditions, and especially in military applications "-feels like author is retrospecting ,looking back at the past from 1895 till WW2 so option B is the suitable answer choice. 
 Hope this helps!:)

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