What best summarizes the central idea of the passage from "how the internet and other technologies came about"? technological advancement is a side effect of military efforts to win wars. technological advancement is a side effect of academic competition between countries. technological advancement is a side effect of economic competition between countries. technological advancement is a side effect of profit-driven corporations.

A. Technological advancement is a side effect of military efforts to win wars.

In the passage “How the Internet and Other Technologies Came About,” readers are presented with the rationale for the development of the internet, virtual reality, and GPS.  A type of communications web (or net) was developed, broken down into pieces across the nation, so communication could remain intact should a nuclear war destroy one component (or geographic location).  Flight simulators were developed in order to help train pilots to fly in conditions brought about by nuclear war.  Guidance satellites were developed in order to guide missiles to targets.  All of these advancements were a side effect of military efforts to win wars—the communications web became the internet, flight simulators became virtual reality, and guidance satellites developed into GPS.

sorry but whats the question?