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Set 11: Rhetorical Synthesis

Explanation

Answer: D

PASSAGE

A student is writing about social media's impact on news consumption. The student wants to highlight both benefits and drawbacks. Notes: - Social media enables rapid news sharing worldwide. - Users can access diverse perspectives and sources. - Misinformation spreads quickly on social platforms. - Algorithms may create 'echo chambers' reinforcing existing beliefs.

Which choice most effectively uses information from the notes to accomplish the student's goal?

A. Many news organizations now have active social media presences.
B. Misinformation on social media is a growing concern for democratic societies.
C. Social media has fundamentally changed how people consume news in the digital age.
D. While social media enables rapid global news sharing and access to diverse sources, it also facilitates misinformation and can trap users in algorithm-driven echo chambers.✓ Correct

Detailed Answer Explanation

This question asks you to effectively combine information to achieve a goal. The goal requires BOTH benefits AND drawbacks. Rapid sharing/diverse sources (benefits) vs. misinformation/echo chambers (drawbacks). 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:

• "benefits and drawbacks"

• "rapid news sharing"

• "diverse perspectives"

• "Misinformation spreads"

• "echo chambers"

Why others are wrong: A (Not in notes; describes adoption, not impact.), B (Only presents drawback (misinformation).), C (General statement; doesn't specify benefits or drawbacks.).

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