Choose which piece of information from a set of notes best accomplishes a specific rhetorical goal.
16 original rhetorical synthesis questions in the SAT Ranker bank, with instant scoring and an Elo-based rank once you sign up. Below are a few free samples with full explanations.
A student has researched the following notes about the transition from silent films to sound: (1) The first commercially successful sound film premiered in 1927. (2) Many silent film actors had voices or accents considered unsuitable for the new format. (3) Some of the era's biggest stars saw their careers end within just a few years of sound's introduction. The student wants to illustrate how quickly the shift to sound upended established careers. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The goal is to show how quickly the shift upended careers. Only the third choice ties the specific short timeframe to the collapse of major careers, directly addressing that goal.
A student researching wind power took these notes: - A single modern wind turbine can power hundreds of homes. - Wind farms take up large areas of land. - The land between turbines can still be farmed or grazed. - Wind power produces no direct carbon emissions.
The student wants to address a potential drawback of wind farms and respond to it. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The goal is to raise a drawback and respond to it. The first choice names the drawback (large land use) and answers it (the land can still be farmed or grazed). The others state a single fact without pairing a drawback with a response.
A student researching vertical farming took these notes: - Vertical farms grow crops in stacked layers indoors. - They can operate year-round, regardless of weather. - They use far less water than conventional field farming. - Their high energy use for lighting remains a challenge.
The student wants to emphasize an environmental advantage of vertical farming. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The goal is an environmental advantage. Using far less water is such an advantage. The stacked-layers note is a neutral description, the energy note is a drawback, and year-round operation is a practical rather than specifically environmental benefit.
A student studying a historic canal took these notes: - The canal opened in 1825 and cut shipping costs dramatically. - Towns along its route grew rapidly into cities. - Railroads later drew traffic away from the canal. - Parts of the canal are now restored as recreational trails.
The student wants to highlight the canal's economic impact when it opened. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
To highlight the canal's economic impact at its opening, the best choice pairs the drop in shipping costs with the rapid growth of towns into cities. The others describe the canal's decline, its later recreational use, or just its opening date without the economic effect.
A student researching urban gardens took these notes: - Community gardens provide fresh produce in neighborhoods with few grocery stores. - They also give residents a shared outdoor space. - Some cities lease vacant lots to garden groups for a nominal fee. - Maintaining a garden requires ongoing volunteer labor.
The student wants to acknowledge a challenge of community gardens. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The goal is to acknowledge a challenge. Only the first choice names a difficulty (the need for ongoing volunteer labor). The other options state benefits or neutral facts rather than a challenge.