Hedy Lamarr, the Inventor
Hedy Lamarr was a woman of many talents. She was first known as a European film actress in the 1930s. She began starring in American films with MGM Studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Some of her more popular films included Boom Town (1940) and White Cargo (1942); however, her roles generally did not include very many spoken lines and she became bored. To relieve this boredom, Lamarr took up inventing.
Hedy Lamarr did not have any formal training, but she did not allow that to stop her from teaching herself in her spare time. Although she had a number of failed inventions, such as an improved traffic light and a carbonated drink, Lamarr did not stop coming up with ideas. She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon.
During World War I, Lamarr learned that one of the military’s new technologies, radio-controlled torpedoes, were too easily jammed and redirected. She came up with a type of radio signal that changed, or “hopped, frequencies and was unable to be tracked or disrupted. With the assistance of her friend George Anthell, she was able to design the system and patent it in August 1942.
Unfortunately, the United States Navy was not interested. The technology of the era wasn’t quite good enough to easily implement Lamarr’s system, and the Navy was not particularly interested in civilian inventions at the time. It wasn’t until 20 years later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that a version of Lamarr’s system began appearing on Navy ships.
The work Lamarr and Antheil did creating this frequency-hopping system led to many technologies that are often taken for granted today. Their work led to the development of cell phones, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Just think, we might not have any of those things if Hedy Lamarr had been given more interesting roles
Which of the following sentences contains information that is important enough to be included in a summary of the passage?
A.
She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes.
B.
Some of her more popular films included Boom Town (1940) and White Cargo (1942).
C.
She came up with a type of radio signal that changed, or “hopped,” frequencies.
D.
Unfortunately, the US Navy was not interested.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct sentence to include in a summary of the passage is:
C. She came up with a type of radio signal that changed, or “hopped,” frequencies.
Explanation
In summarizing a passage, it is crucial to capture the main points that highlight the significance and impact of the subject matter. Here’s why sentence C is the most important for inclusion in a summary:
- Central Contribution: Sentence C directly addresses Hedy Lamarr’s pivotal contribution to technology—the invention of frequency-hopping radio signals. This is the crux of her impact as an inventor and the main focus of the passage. Without this detail, the summary would miss the essence of Lamarr’s innovative work and its relevance.
- Technological Impact: The passage emphasizes that Lamarr’s invention led to technologies like cell phones, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Sentence C captures this innovation, linking her work to its eventual significance in modern technology. Including this information in a summary provides a clear understanding of Lamarr’s enduring legacy.
- Relevance to the Passage: While sentence A provides interesting background information about Lamarr’s association with Howard Hughes, and sentence B highlights her film career, these details are secondary to the main narrative about her invention. Sentence D, though related to her invention, does not convey the importance of her work as clearly as sentence C does.
In essence, sentence C encapsulates the core achievement of Hedy Lamarr’s career as an inventor and connects her historical contribution to contemporary technological advancements. This focus is crucial for a concise and meaningful summary of the passage.