OpenSAT

Question #N1007

The history of the development of computers is often told as a series of innovations, each building on the last. However, that story is incomplete without considering the many women who made significant contributions to the field. For example, Grace Hopper is credited with developing the first compiler, a program that translates human-readable code into machine-readable code. Hopper’s invention made it possible for programmers to use high-level languages, which are easier to understand and use than low-level languages. What is the most likely reason why the author includes the example of Grace Hopper?

The author likely included the example of Grace Hopper to

A. provide a counterargument to the idea that the history of computer development is a straightforward progression.

B. highlight the importance of Hopper’s invention in the development of computer programming.

C. illustrate that the development of computers was a collaborative effort.

D. emphasize the difficulty of learning to program in low-level languages.

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Correct Answer is: C

The author includes the example of Grace Hopper to show that the development of computers was a collaborative effort, not a linear progression. The passage suggests that the development of computers was driven by a series of innovations, but the author points out that the story of those innovations is incomplete without considering the contributions of women like Grace Hopper. Thus, the author is showing that the development of computers was a collaborative effort, not a straightforward progression. Thus, the author includes Hopper’s work to illustrate that the development of computers was a collaborative effort.