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Question

Difficulty: MediumAuthor's Primary Purpose

Passage:
Despite the precision and global reach of satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, modern naval forces have reinstated formal training in manual celestial navigation using traditional sextants. In high-intensity electronic warfare environments, satellite signals are vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, and cyber interference, which can render digital navigation suites unreliable or entirely inoperative. By maintaining proficiency in measuring the angle between celestial bodies and the horizon, bridge crews retain an unjammable, self-contained method to determine geographic coordinates anywhere at sea. Reintroducing these historical techniques ensures vessels can execute their missions safely even when digital systems fail.

What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?

  1. A
    to outline the complete history of maritime electronic warfare and communication interference
  2. to explain why naval forces have revived manual navigation methods as a backup for vulnerable satellite systemsAnswer
  3. C
    to describe how a sextant measures the angular distance between celestial bodies and the horizon
  4. D
    to argue that modern satellite navigation systems should be permanently replaced by celestial techniques

Answer

to explain why naval forces have revived manual navigation methods as a backup for vulnerable satellite systems
The correct answer accurately synthesizes the passage's primary intent: explaining the strategic rationale for reintroducing traditional celestial navigation training as a reliable failsafe against satellite vulnerabilities in electronic warfare environments.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the passage structure and central thesis
The opening sentence establishes that naval forces have brought back manual celestial navigation despite existing GPS technology.
Identifying the central claim provides the anchor for determining the author's objective.
2
Evaluate the supporting points and context
The author explains the vulnerability of digital satellite systems to electronic jamming and concludes that manual methods provide an unjammable backup for mission safety.
Understanding how supporting points connect to the thesis reveals why the author wrote the passage.
3
Select the option that captures the overarching intent
The option stating the purpose is to explain why naval forces revived manual navigation methods as a backup matches the entire scope of the passage.
The primary purpose must reflect the complete passage rather than an isolated detail or an exaggerated claim.

Key Concept

Author's Primary Purpose
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Author's Primary Purpose

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