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“The introduction of commercial jet aircraft in the late twentieth century did more than just speed up travel; it shrunk geographic distances in a way that transformed how corporations managed their global supply chains. Managers could visit manufacturing plants on another continent with ease, and high-value, time-sensitive cargo could be transported worldwide in less than 24 hours. The resulting network of rapid transport became a physical backbone of the modern global economy.”

Which of the following developments in the late twentieth century was most directly facilitated by the technology described in the passage?

  1. A
    The initial transition from sailing vessels to coal-powered steam engines in global shipping.
  2. The rapid integration of global trade networks and the growth of transnational corporation logistics.Answer
  3. C
    The complete homogenization of global cultures and the total erasure of local traditions.
  4. D
    The revival of mercantilist economic policies to establish self-sufficient state economies.

Answer

The rapid integration of global trade networks and the growth of transnational corporation logistics.
The correct answer is correct because commercial jet aircraft allowed for the rapid transport of personnel and high-value cargo across great distances in under 24 hours. This development significantly lowered geographic barriers, allowing transnational corporations to coordinate complex global supply chains and integrate global markets more deeply than ever before.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus passage to identify the key technology and its described impact.
The technology is commercial jet aircraft in the late twentieth century, which is described as speeding up travel, shrinking distances, facilitating global supply chain management for corporations, and forming the physical backbone of the modern global economy.
This establishes the historical and technological context of the question.
2
Evaluate each option to see which one matches the impact of late twentieth-century commercial aviation described in the passage and aligns with historical developments in the same era.
The integration of global trade networks and transnational corporation logistics matches both the passage's description of supply chain management and the historical reality of late twentieth-century globalization.
This identifies the correct option based on evidence and course knowledge.
3
Verify why the incorrect options are wrong based on historical timeline and concepts.
The transition to steam engines occurred in the nineteenth century, mercantilism is an early modern concept, and cultural homogenization is a misconception because local cultures did not completely disappear.
This ensures the distractors are ruled out systematically.

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