The development of modern computer science owes much to Ada Lovelace's nineteenth-century insights into mechanical computation, but her pioneering wor...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The development of modern computer science owes much to Ada Lovelace's nineteenth-century insights into mechanical computation, but her pioneering work on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine has historically been overshadowed by the contributions of male mathematicians and engineers from later eras. Unlike more recent figures such as Alan Turing and John von Neumann, whose computational theories gained immediate recognition and widespread study, Lovelace's visionary ideas about machine programming remained largely unacknowledged until the mid-twentieth century. The delayed recognition of her foundational concepts has meant that many people remain unaware of her role as arguably the world's first computer programmer.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Lovelace's computational theories were more advanced than those developed by Turing and von Neumann.
Lovelace collaborated with Babbage to create more sophisticated machines than later inventors produced.
Lovelace's pioneering contributions to computer science have been historically underrecognized compared to the acknowledgment given to later male figures in the field.
The Analytical Engine represented a more significant breakthrough than subsequent computational devices.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The development of modern computer science owes much to Ada Lovelace's nineteenth-century insights into mechanical computation,' |
|
| 'but her pioneering work on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine has historically been overshadowed by the contributions of male mathematicians and engineers from later eras.' |
|
| 'Unlike more recent figures such as Alan Turing and John von Neumann, whose computational theories gained immediate recognition and widespread study,' |
|
| 'Lovelace's visionary ideas about machine programming remained largely unacknowledged until the mid-twentieth century.' |
|
| 'The delayed recognition of her foundational concepts has meant that many people remain unaware of her role as arguably the world's first computer programmer.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Ada Lovelace's foundational contributions to computer science have been historically underrecognized compared to the immediate acknowledgment given to later male figures in the field.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer should capture that this passage is fundamentally about a historical recognition problem
- The key elements are:
- Lovelace made important early contributions to computer science
- These contributions were not properly recognized historically
- Later male figures received immediate recognition
- This created an unfair disparity in acknowledgment
Lovelace's computational theories were more advanced than those developed by Turing and von Neumann.
✗ Incorrect
- Incorrect - Claims her theories were 'more advanced' than Turing's and von Neumann's
- The passage never makes this comparative claim about advancement
Lovelace collaborated with Babbage to create more sophisticated machines than later inventors produced.
✗ Incorrect
- Incorrect - Focuses on collaboration with Babbage and machine sophistication
- The passage mentions her work on Babbage's engine but doesn't compare machine sophistication
- Misses the central theme about historical recognition
Lovelace's pioneering contributions to computer science have been historically underrecognized compared to the acknowledgment given to later male figures in the field.
✓ Correct
- Correct - Directly captures both key elements: her pioneering contributions AND the historical underrecognition
- Matches our prethinking about the recognition disparity
The Analytical Engine represented a more significant breakthrough than subsequent computational devices.
✗ Incorrect
- Incorrect - Claims the Analytical Engine was more significant than later devices
- The passage doesn't make claims about machine superiority
- Focuses on technological comparison rather than recognition issues