Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science

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Enhance your readiness for the AP Computer Science exam with insightful quizzes. Deepen your understanding and master key concepts as you prepare for a successful test experience!

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What major project first developed the Internet?

ARPA
NASA
NSA
ICANN

The correct answer is: ARPA

The correct choice identifies ARPA, which stands for the Advanced Research Projects Agency. This U.S. Department of Defense agency played a pivotal role in the early development of the Internet by funding and facilitating research projects that eventually led to the creation of ARPANET, the predecessor of the modern Internet. ARPANET was established in the late 1960s and allowed multiple computers to communicate with each other over long distances, which was revolutionary at that time. This project was foundational as it demonstrated the feasibility of packet-switching, a method of breaking data into smaller packets for transmission, which is a key principle behind Internet architecture today. The emphasis on decentralization and robustness in ARPANET directly influenced how the Internet evolved, leading to protocols and technologies that are still in use. The other agencies mentioned had different roles or focuses. NASA is primarily focused on space exploration and research, the NSA is concerned with national security and intelligence, and ICANN is a later organization that manages Internet domain names and IP addresses but was not involved in the initial development of the Internet itself.