Hedy Lamarr was a woman of many talents. She was first known as a European film actress in the 1930s. She began starring in American films with MGM Studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Some of her more popular films included Boom Town (1940) and White Cargo (1942); however, her roles generally did not include very many spoken lines and she became bored. To relieve this boredom, Lamarr took up inventing.

Hedy Lamarr did not have any formal training, but she did not allow that to stop her from teaching herself in her spare time. Although she had a number of failed inventions, such as an improved traffic light and a carbonated drink, Lamarr did not stop coming up with ideas. She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon.

During World War II, Lamarr learned that one of the military’s new technologies, radio-controlled torpedoes, was too easily jammed and redirected. She came up with a type of radio signal that changed, or “hopped,” frequencies and was unable to be tracked or disrupted. With the assistance of her friend George Antheil, she was able to design the system and patent it in August 1942.

Unfortunately, the United States Navy was not interested. The technology of the era wasn’t quite good enough to easily implement Lamarr’s system, and the Navy was not particularly interested in civilian inventions at the time. It wasn’t until 20 years later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that a version of Lamarr’s system began appearing on Navy ships.

The work Lamarr and Antheil did create this frequency-hopping system led to many technologies that are often taken for granted today. Their work led to the development of cell phones, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Just think, we might not have any those things if Hedy Lamarr had been given more interesting roles!

1. Which of the following conclusion can be drawn about Hedy Lamarr’s act career?

a. Hedy Lamarr wanted more opportunities to speak while acting

b. Hedy Lamarr was the first European actress of the 1930s

c. Hedy Lamarr worked in America films with MGM Studios

d. Hedy Lamarr was content with her contribution to film.

2. Which of the following can be reader infer about the author’s point of view when they state: “The work Lamarr and Antheil did create this frequency-hopping system led to many technologies that are often taken for granted today.”?

a. The author believes we spend too much time using technologies derived from Lamarr’s work.

b. The author believes that the frequency-hopping systems has damaged the potential of modern electronics.

c. The author believes that the work of Lamarr and Anthiel was instrumental to the victory in World War II.

d. The author believes that we have underestimated the value of the contributions of lesser-known inventors.

3. Which of the following lines from the passage supports the infer that Hedy Lamarr worked earnestly to achieve her goals?

a. “… but she did not allow that to stop her from teaching herself in her spare time.”

b. “She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon.”

c. “… her roles generally did not include very many spoken lines and she became bored.”

d. “She began starring in American films with MGM Studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s.”

4.) Which of the following sentences contain information that is important enough to be included in a summary of the passage ?

a) She came up with a type of radio signal that changed or hopped frequencies.

b) Some of her more popular films included Boom Town(1940) and White Cargo(1942)

c) Unfortunately, the U.S. Navy was not interested.

d) She even spent time with scientific engineering team employed by Howard Hughes.

5.) Which of the following conclusions can be drawn by why the U.S. was not interested in Lammar's invention?

a) The military was to preoccupied to consider new inventors.

b) Hollywood was known to contain spies.

c) The Navy preferred to use the work of military engineers.

d) They suspected her patent was invalid.

6.) Which of the following supports the claim that Hedy Lamar made significant contributions to the advancement of technology?

a) She spent time working with science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon.

b) She had many failed inventions, as an improved traffic light and a carbonated drink.

c) The technology of the era wasn't good enough to easily implement Lammar's system.

d) Her work helped in the future development of cellular phones, Bluetooth and wifi.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

The detailed answer for the above question is provided below 1 Answer A Hedy Lamarr wanted more opportunities to speak while acting Hedy Lamarr was first known as a European film actress in the 1930s ... View the full answer