Knowing what time it was as one traveled across the vast North American continent before 1883 was more art than science. Most towns had their own local time, generally based on the sun's position at its zenith, which wreaked havoc on the railroad industry.

Question

Knowing what time it was as one traveled across the vast North American continent before 1883 was more art than science. Most towns had their own local time, generally based on the sun's position at its zenith, which wreaked havoc on the railroad industry.

Imagine having to plan shipping and transportation across thousands of miles of tracks spanning an entire continent. Now imagine doing this when no one could even agree on what time it was! The powerful railroad companies solved this conundrum by dividing the continent into four different time zones, creating the universal time-keeping system in use
today.
What technique often used in fiction helps the reader better understand the need for uniform time zones?
1
alluding to the railroads as if they were protagonists in an adventure
employing imagery to establish the setting before describing the conflict
asking the reader to put him or herself in the situation of a character

Answer 1

The technique often used in fiction that helps the reader better understand the need for uniform time zones in this scenario is employing imagery to establish the setting before describing the conflict. By evoking the image of planning shipping and transportation across thousands of miles of tracks spanning an entire continent, the reader can comprehend the complex logistical challenges faced by the railroad industry due to the lack of standardized time.

Answer 2

The technique often used in fiction that helps the reader better understand the need for uniform time zones in this context is asking the reader to put him or herself in the situation of a character.

Answer 3

The technique often used in fiction to help the reader better understand the need for uniform time zones in this context would be employing imagery to establish the setting before describing the conflict. By vividly describing the challenges faced by the railroad industry in planning shipping and transportation across vast distances, the writer can help the reader visualize the chaotic and impractical nature of the situation without a system of uniform time. This can make the need for time zones more apparent and understandable to the reader.