The function of the first paragraph in relation to the passage as a whole is to:
B
introduce a discussion of how knowledge of Earth's position
relative to the Sun was gained in the process of advances in
timekeeping
establish that longitude calculations are necessary to determine
time in two different places at once
orient the reader to the subject of longitude by explaining how
longitude is determined at sea.
explain the political significance of developing an accurate way of
determining longitude.
с
D