Technology: Historic Inventions 4

– The Invention of the GPS System –

“The advent of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the latter half of the twentieth century has been an underappreciated milestone in human progress. Initiated by the United States Department of Defense in 1973, the objective was to provide accurate, real-time location data for military operations. But by the mid-1990s, GPS had far surpassed its military origins, becoming a civil and commercial tool of immeasurable value.

The system, constituting 24 satellites orbiting Earth, empowers modern navigation, significantly improving the precision of map-making and directions. From enabling hikers to pinpoint their location in remote wilderness, to guiding deliveries to your doorstep, the influence of GPS is ubiquitous. It also underpins industries such as fishing and farming, where location-specific data can optimize productivity.

The technological wonder of GPS, offering a previously unattainable level of locational certainty, has genuinely revolutionized numerous aspects of our lives. Even with advancements in the offing like the European Union’s Galileo, GPS remains a pivotal technological development of the modern era.”

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.

The Global Positioning System was developed to provide accurate, _________ location data.
By the mid-1990s, GPS had evolved into a(n) _________ and commercial instrument of considerable worth.
This system, composed of 24 orbiting satellites, strengthens modern ___________.
The GPS allows outdoor enthusiasts to ascertain their _________ in far-off wilderness areas.
Certain industries, like fishing and farming, depend on GPS as location-specific data can boost their ___________.
The European Union’s Galileo is an ___________ in the field of location technology.

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.

Initiated in 1973, GPS was originally a project by the United States Department of Defense aimed at offering precise, _________ location details. Yet, by the 1990s, it transcended its military roots, emerging as a _________ and commercial asset of paramount importance. This satellite network, a collection of 24 objects in Earth’s orbit, bolsters contemporary _________. Whether enabling adventurers to identify their _________ in the most isolated natural regions, or assisting in doorstep deliveries, GPS’s impact is omnipresent. Industries like fishing and farming leverage it, as location-dependent data can enhance _________. Despite the upcoming arrival of the European Union’s Galileo, GPS still stands as a vital _________ in today’s technology.

Vocabulary Builder

Find the synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) to these 9 words from the original passage.

Original Word	Variants Used
real-time	____________________
military	____________________
civil	____________________
navigation	____________________
location	____________________
ubiquitous	____________________
underpins	____________________
productivity	____________________
advancements	____________________

Reveal answer (3 More Words)

Original Word	Variants Used
real-time	contemporaneous
military	defense
civil	non-military
navigation	direction-finding
location	position
ubiquitous	omnipresent
underpins	bolsters
productivity	output
advancements	arrival