Question

In today's world, we are surrounded by advanced technology that allows us to communicate in ways that were unimaginable in the past. Samuel Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph, could never have envisioned the smartphones we use today. Our signals travel through the air, carrying photos and videos, and even young children can navigate iPhones with ease. However, this inability to imagine goes both ways - not only can we not fathom what the future holds, but it is also difficult for us to truly understand what life was like in the past.

Author Isabel Allende reminds us that people in earlier times were not any less intelligent than we are today; they simply lacked the technological advancements that we now take for granted. It is important not to forget that those who lived in the past were just as complex as we are, despite their lack of cellphones or modern medicine. This failure of imagination when it comes to the past is more subtle than our uncertainty about the future. We know too much about what has happened since then, making it seem as though living in the past was worse than it actually was because we are missing our familiar technology.

This problem of imagination is not limited to distant historical periods. Even in our own lives, we can see how rapidly technology changes. Children today may find it amusing to watch videos of kids reacting to old rotary phones or making fun of early cellphones. However, we must remember that those who grew up with rotary phones did not view them as inferior cellphones; they simply saw them as regular phones. The introduction of flip-phones was met with excitement because of their slim design, not because they were lacking anything. It is crucial to recognize that people in the past were just like us, but with less technology, and in the future, people will be like us, but with even more advanced technology.

As we continue to progress technologically, it is essential to maintain a sense of empathy and understanding towards those who came before us. They navigated their lives with the tools available to them at the time, just as we do now. By acknowledging the complexity and intelligence of people throughout history, we can bridge the gap between the past and the present. So, let us appreciate the incredible advancements we have today while also recognizing the ingenuity and resilience of those who paved the way for us.

Which TWO statements best describe the central ideas of the argument?
A. People are always searching for ways to improve their technology.
B. It is easier to imagine the technology of the future than the technology of the past.
C. People in the past were no less sophisticated than people today.
D. It is important to recognize our inability to fully imagine the past.
E. No matter how quickly technology advances, it doesn't really change anything.
F. As technology advances, it will be easier to imagine the past.

Answer 1

The two statements that best describe the central ideas of the argument are:

C. People in the past were no less sophisticated than people today.
D. It is important to recognize our inability to fully imagine the past.

These options encapsulate the author's emphasis on the complexity and intelligence of people in the past, as well as the difficulties we face in fully understanding their experiences due to our modern perspective.