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Difficulty: MediumTranslating Literal Statements to Paraphrases

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows.

In the late eighteenth century, French engineer Claude Chappe developed the semaphore telegraph, a visual communication system that revolutionized long-distance messaging. The network consisted of towers positioned within line of sight of one another, each topped with a mechanical apparatus featuring pivoting wooden arms. Operators manipulated these arms into various angles to represent specific letters, numbers, or control signals. Because weather conditions and topography could easily obstruct the view between stations, Chappe designed a codebook containing thousands of pre-defined phrases. This system allowed operators to transmit complex messages using only a few symbols, significantly reducing transmission time. Before the telegraph's deployment, sending a message from Paris to Lille took nearly a day by courier; Chappe’s optical system accomplished the task in under ten minutes, establishing the first nationwide data network.

According to the passage, which of the following is the reason Chappe created a codebook of pre-defined phrases for the semaphore telegraph?

  1. To counteract visibility limitations caused by local terrain and weather conditions.Answer
  2. B
    To resolve difficulties arising from the mechanical weight of the pivoting wooden arms.
  3. C
    To allow couriers to easily transport messages between towers during severe storms.
  4. D
    To serve as a complete replacement for the physical apparatus atop the towers.

Answer

The correct answer is that Chappe developed the codebook to counteract visibility limitations caused by local terrain and weather conditions.
The passage explicitly links the creation of the codebook to the fact that 'weather conditions and topography could easily obstruct the view between stations.' The correct option accurately paraphrases this statement by identifying the reason as counteracting 'visibility limitations' (obstructing the view) caused by 'local terrain' (topography) and 'weather conditions.'

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the portion of the passage that explains the creation of the codebook.
The fourth sentence states: 'Because weather conditions and topography could easily obstruct the view between stations, Chappe designed a codebook...'
To identify the exact literal cause stated in the text.
2
Paraphrase the identified literal statement and compare it to the options.
'Weather conditions and topography' corresponds to 'local terrain and weather conditions,' while 'obstruct the view' corresponds to 'visibility limitations.' The choice stating that it counteracted visibility limitations caused by local terrain and weather conditions is the correct paraphrase.
To match the meaning of the original sentence without introducing distortions or external assumptions.

Key Concept

Translating literal statements from a passage into accurate paraphrases by recognizing synonyms that preserve the original meaning.
Estimated Time:1m 5s
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Topics

Translating Literal Statements to Paraphrases

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