Which statement about the first U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is true?

• A. It was designed as an aircraft carrier only after World War II.
• B. It was the first carrier built in the 1960s.
• C. It was the USS Langley (CV-1).
• D. It was never used for combat operations.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is knowing which ship started U.S. Navy carrier aviation. The first carrier was the USS Langley (CV-1). She isn’t a product of postwar design or the 1960s—she began life as the collier Jupiter and was converted into a aircraft carrier in the early 1920s, becoming the Navy’s first true carrier and proving the concept of operating airplanes from ships. This established the carrier era and set the pattern for future ships. While Langley did not participate in major combat operations, her significance lies in being the inaugural carrier, which is why identifying her by name is the correct answer. The other statements misstate her origin or era, so they’re not accurate descriptions of the first U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.