Question

page 1
read this excerpt from admiral rickover’s book how the battleship maine was destroyed. in it, he describes captain sigsbee’s testimony during the first investigation.
page 2
which statement best describes admiral rickover’s opinion of sigsbee’s account?
○ it is unreliable because the captain’s knowledge of the ship was limited
○ it is unreliable because it does not provide enough details of the explosion
○ it is reliable because the captain was a naval and engineering expert
○ it is reliable because it is a firsthand account of the ship’s sinking

Explanation:

To determine Admiral Rickover’s opinion of Sigsbee’s account, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: There's no indication Sigsbee's ship knowledge was limited. Eliminate.
• Option 2: The excerpt doesn't suggest lack of explosion details makes it unreliable. Eliminate.
• Option 3: The problem doesn't state Sigsbee was a naval/engineering expert. Eliminate.
• Option 4: Sigsbee was the captain, so his account is firsthand (he was present during the sinking). This aligns with reliability from firsthand experience.

Answer:

D. It is reliable because it is a firsthand account of the ship’s sinking (assuming the options are labeled A - D in order, with the last option being D here)