Question

Difficulty: MediumInferring Author Purpose and Intent

Read the following passage:

Modern aircraft rely on pitot-static systems to measure airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed by sampling external ambient and dynamic air pressures. During flight through freezing moisture or sub-zero cloud layers, ice accumulation can rapidly obstruct the narrow pitot tube opening, causing the airspeed indicator to give dangerously erroneous readings or drop to zero. To prevent this hazard, pilots engage electrical heating elements embedded directly inside the probe before entering icing conditions. Rather than serving as a de-icing mechanism to clear heavy existing ice, the primary operational doctrine of pitot heat is anti-icing—maintaining a surface temperature above freezing so that ice crystals never form in the first place.

Statement: The author's primary purpose in writing this passage is to explain that pitot heat is designed as a proactive preventive measure rather than a reactive clearing tool.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True (The author's primary purpose is to explain that pitot heat functions proactively to prevent ice from forming rather than reactively clearing existing ice).
The author focuses on explaining the operational philosophy of pitot heat, explicitly emphasizing in the final sentence that its primary function is anti-icing (proactive prevention) rather than de-icing (reactive remediation).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage structure and concluding focus
The text introduces the critical role of pitot probes, describes the hazard of ice blockage, and concludes with a definitive statement about the system's operational doctrine.
Determining where the author places emphasis reveals the main intent behind the passage.
2
Evaluate the author's central distinction between anti-icing and de-icing
The author contrasts proactive prevention ('anti-icing') against reactive clearing ('de-icing') to clarify why pilots engage the system prior to entering icing conditions.
The contrast directly supports the overarching purpose of explaining how and why the equipment is intended to be used.
3
Compare the evaluation statement to the author's main communicative goal
The statement accurately reflects the passage's primary intent.
Verifying alignment ensures the True evaluation is completely supported by textual evidence.

Key Concept

Inferring Author Purpose and Intent
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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