Set 15: Rhetorical Synthesis (Advanced)
Explanation
PASSAGE
A student is writing about the Panama Canal. The student wants to emphasize its impact on global trade. Notes: - The canal reduced the New York to San Francisco sea route by 8,000 miles. - Construction took 10 years and cost $375 million. - About 14,000 ships pass through annually. - The canal employs over 9,000 workers.
Which choice most effectively uses information from the notes to accomplish the student's goal?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question asks you to effectively combine information to achieve a goal. The goal is impact on global trade. The 8,000-mile reduction and 14,000 annual ships demonstrate trade significance. The correct synthesis will use relevant details from the notes in a logical, purposeful way. Focus on what the question asks you to accomplish, then choose the answer that best achieves that goal using the provided information. Effective synthesis requires selecting and combining the most relevant information to achieve a specific purpose. Not all provided notes may be equally useful. Focus on what best accomplishes the stated goal while maintaining logical coherence.
Key Evidence:
• "emphasize its impact on global trade"
• "reduced by 8,000 miles"
• "14,000 ships pass through annually"
Why others are wrong: C (General statement about engineering; doesn't address trade.), B (Discusses construction, not trade impact.), D (Discusses employment, not trade impact.).
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