Question 59·Medium·Central Ideas and Details
Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton led the team that developed the onboard flight software for NASA’s Apollo program, work that was essential to landing astronauts on the Moon. Yet Hamilton’s achievements remained largely uncelebrated for decades because news coverage and popular histories of the missions focused almost exclusively on the astronauts themselves.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
For main-idea questions, first quickly paraphrase the passage in one sentence, focusing on what is true across the entire text, not just a single phrase. Then scan the choices and eliminate any that introduce new, specific details or claims not mentioned, even if they sound plausible. Finally, choose the option that captures both sides of any contrast or cause-and-effect presented in the passage, especially signaled by words like "yet," "however," or "because."
Hints
Locate the key contrast
Look at how the second sentence begins with the word "Yet". What is being contrasted with what?
Combine both sentences into one idea
Ask yourself: if you had to explain these two sentences in one short sentence to a friend, what would you say?
Beware of extra information
Check each answer choice and ask: Does the passage actually say this, or is it adding something new that isn’t mentioned? Eliminate choices that introduce new facts or details.
Match both importance and recognition
Make sure the choice you pick reflects both how important Hamilton’s work was and how it was treated in terms of attention or celebration.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the task: main idea
The question asks: "Which choice best states the main idea of the text?"
For main-idea questions, you should:
- Focus on the overall point of the whole passage, not a small detail.
- Pay special attention to the first and second sentences, because this is a short passage and both are likely central.
Summarize each sentence in your own words
Break the passage into its two sentences and restate them simply:
-
"Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton led the team that developed the onboard flight software for NASA’s Apollo program, work that was essential to landing astronauts on the Moon."
- This tells us who Hamilton is and that her software work was essential to landing on the Moon.
-
"Yet Hamilton’s achievements remained largely uncelebrated for decades because news coverage and popular histories of the missions focused almost exclusively on the astronauts themselves."
- This says that even though her work was crucial, her achievements were not celebrated, since the attention went to the astronauts instead.
Together, the key idea is: crucial work by Hamilton, but little recognition because focus was on astronauts.
Translate the combined idea into a general statement
Combine the two sentence summaries into one central idea:
- Her contribution was indispensable/essential to the Apollo missions.
- However, it did not receive much public attention because people mostly focused on the astronauts.
So we are looking for an answer that captures both:
- The importance of her work.
- The fact that it received far less recognition than the astronauts.
Eliminate answer choices that add information not in the text
Now quickly check each option against the passage:
- Choice A: Talks about astronauts having stronger technical abilities than engineers. The passage never compares skills; it only says whose work was highlighted.
- Choice B: Claims Hamilton changed jobs from mathematician to software engineer. The passage never mentions that.
- Choice C: Says NASA now trains employees in her coding methods to honor her. The passage doesn’t mention anything about current NASA training or commemorations.
All three add new information not supported by the text, so they do not state the main idea.
Confirm the remaining choice matches the passage’s focus
The remaining option, Choice D, says that Hamilton’s indispensable contribution to the Apollo missions has attracted far less public attention than the astronauts’ exploits.
This directly matches the passage:
- Her work was “essential to landing astronauts on the Moon” → indispensable contribution.
- Her achievements “remained largely uncelebrated” because focus was on the astronauts → far less public attention than the astronauts’ exploits.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
D) Hamilton’s indispensable contribution to the Apollo missions has attracted far less public attention than the astronauts’ exploits.