Question

Which two statements best identify the main themes of the passage?

A. Human’s technology progress has made sea travel entirely safe.
B. People can become overly confident in the capabilities of technology.
C. Human’s greatest technological accomplishment is safe and efficient travel.
D. Substantial preparation is necessary to exceed the prior feats of civilization.
E. The size of the craft is more likely to impress passengers than its luxurious ness.
F. The attractive design of the craft is intended to obscure its mediocre construction.

Answer 1

The main themes of the passage are the progress in technology and human overconfidence in it, as well as the importance of preparation in advancing civilization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main themes of the passage are associated with the progress and overconfidence in technology, as well as the need for recognizing the impact of technological advances on society and the environment. The two statements that best identify these main themes are:

• B. People can become overly confident in the capabilities of technology.
• D. Substantial preparation is necessary to exceed the prior feats of civilization.

These statements encapsulate the idea that while technological advancements have significantly transformed human society and made travel cheaper and faster, there is also a cautionary note about the limitations and potential consequences of these advancements, as well as the need for careful planning and consideration when pushing the boundaries of what has been achieved before.

Answer 2

The main themes of the passage are the overconfidence people might have in technology and the importance of preparation to surpass historical achievements, which are represented by statements B and D respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the context of the question, which is related to technological achievements and their impact on society and history, the two statements that best identify the main themes of the passage are:

• B. People can become overly confident in the capabilities of technology.
• D. Substantial preparation is necessary to exceed the prior feats of civilization.

These themes are evident as the passage discusses how technologies have evolved from early human societies to modern times, with specific reference to the cultural, physical, and economic impacts of these developments. For example, transatlantic voyages were made possible due to innovations in the fifteenth century, yet this did not solely make sea travel entirely safe. The history of technology shows that human confidence in technological progress can sometimes ignore the limitations and challenges inherent in pushing boundaries, hence statement B. Furthermore, the need for meticulous planning in order to achieve great feats, such as surpassing past accomplishments, is emphasized, thus reinforcing statement D.

The other statements either make absolute claims not supported by the passage (A and C) or seem irrelevant to the main themes identified (E and F).