The Chappe optical semaphore network across eighteenth-century France transformed state communication by using relay towers equipped with pivoting wooden arms. Although these mechanical stations were rendered useless by dense fog and demanded constant, exhausting labor from operators, their capacity to convey dispatches across hundreds of miles in mere hours fundamentally reshaped strategic defense. Despite its obvious operational limitations, the network was an ingenious feat of practical engineering.
Which of the following best describes the author's attitude toward the optical semaphore network?
- ACritical of the exhausting labor and severe weather vulnerabilities of the relay stations
- Appreciative of the system's innovative engineering despite its practical drawbacksAnswer
- CSkeptical about whether the relay towers provided any meaningful military advantage
- DConvinced that mechanical telegraphy remains superior to modern communication technologies
Answer
Appreciative of the system's innovative engineering despite its practical drawbacks
The author characterizes the semaphore network as having 'transformed state communication', having 'fundamentally reshaped strategic defense', and being an 'ingenious feat of practical engineering'. While limitations like fog and heavy labor are acknowledged, they are framed with qualifying transitions ('Although', 'Despite') that emphasize admiration for the engineering triumph despite those obstacles.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Inferring Author Tone and Attitude
Estimated Time:1m 0s