story name : "A Mechanical Genius" by Barbara D. Krasner, Cobblestone.
Select the two sentences that best reflect the central idea of this paragraph from the passage.
In England, Ericsson saw the importance of the British navy. The first half of the 19th century was an exciting time for maritime inventions. The introduction of steam engines to power ships forced major redesigns, as did a new kind of weapon called the shell gun. Ericsson studied those powerful guns. He found that they could inflict serious damage on wooden ships, which were easily smashed by explosive shells. Ships had been built with iron hulls before, but Ericsson proposed a revolutionary kind of vessel, one that would be completely wrapped in iron plates. The type of ship that emerged from the design became known as an ironclad. (paragraph 2)
Answer choices for the above question
A. Ericsson used the introduction of steam engines to encourage maritime inventions like the shell gun and the ironclad ship.
B. With a deep interest in a new kind of weapon called the shell gun, Ericsson encouraged the destruction of wooden ships.
C. Ericsson was a great inventor who introduced steam engines to power ships, and designed the ironclad ship.
D. With a keen awareness of the significance of the British fleet, Ericsson encouraged innovation and invention.
E. Ericsson focused the technological advancements of the early 19th century towards re-inventing ship hulls.
B. With a deep interest in a new kind of weapon called the shell gun, Ericsson encouraged the destruction of wooden ships.
D. With a keen awareness of the significance of the British fleet, Ericsson encouraged innovation and invention.