Question

Which sentence best states the controlling idea of the passage? Wyke used the technology available in the 1950s to tap cable. Caution and precision enabled Wyke’s cable-tapping success. Without Wyke, Americans could not have completed the tunnel. Wyke worked to avoid detection by the Soviets in East Berlin.

Answer 1

The answer is 'caution and precision enabled Wyke's cable-tapping success'.
This is because, the paragraph explains to us how, in spite of the lack of available resources, he was very precise about his activities and did them with the utmost sincerity. He was well versed in the area of physics that concerned him and applied his knowledge effectively. Further, he was very careful as to not be detected by the Soviet and took the necessary steps to prevent this all throughout. Thus, he can be seen as both cautious and precise and it makes the central idea of the passage.

Answer 2

Wyke used the technology available in the 1950s to tap cable. Caution and precision enabled Wyke’s cable-tapping success.

Without Wyke, Americans could not have completed the tunnel. Wyke worked to avoid detection by the Soviets in East Berlin.

The sentence which best states the controlling idea of this passage is Caution and precision enabled Wyke’s cable-tapping success.