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Difficulty: MediumEstablishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

The following is an excerpt from a passage about the history of computer programming:

[1] __________________________________________________ In the early decades of the twentieth century, programming required writing tedious, highly specific sequences of numbers that directly controlled a computer's hardware. Grace Hopper, a mathematician and U.S. Navy officer, believed there was a better way. She envisioned a system where programmers could write instructions using English-like commands, which a program would then translate into machine code. Despite widespread skepticism from her peers, Hopper went on to create the compiler, laying the foundation for modern programming languages.

Which of the following choices, if placed in the blank at [1], most effectively introduces the passage by establishing its central focus on Grace Hopper’s revolutionary contribution to computer programming?

  1. A
    Early computers were powerful, their utility was restricted by the complex numerical codes required to program them.
  2. B
    Although early computers were powerful; their utility was restricted by the complex numerical codes required to program them.
  3. Although early computers were powerful, their utility was restricted by the complex numerical codes required to program them—a challenge that one scientist was determined to overcome.Answer
  4. D
    While early computers are powerful, their utility was restricted by the complex numerical codes required to program them.

Answer

The option stating that although early computers were powerful, their utility was restricted by the complex numerical codes required to program them—a challenge that one scientist was determined to overcome.
The option that begins with 'Although early computers were powerful' is correct because it introduces both the initial obstacle of complex numerical coding and the central figure (the scientist) who would address it, setting up the rest of the passage smoothly and logically without any grammatical errors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the paragraph to determine what the missing sentence needs to introduce.
The passage discusses the tedious nature of early computer programming and how Grace Hopper revolutionized the field by introducing compilers.
An effective introduction must establish the main challenge of programming early computers and hint at the person who solved it.
2
Evaluate the grammar of the options to eliminate structurally incorrect choices.
Three options contain distinct errors: a comma splice, an improper semicolon separating a dependent clause, and an unnecessary tense shift.
ACT English questions require that introductory sentences conform to standard grammatical rules.
3
Select the grammatically correct option that best fulfills the rhetorical goal.
The option that introduces the challenge of numerical codes and the scientist's determination to overcome it is both grammatically correct and contextually appropriate.
It logically connects to the subsequent description of early programming and Hopper's later achievements.

Key Concept

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements
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Topics

Establishing Introductions and Thesis Statements

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