Set 12: Rhetorical Synthesis
Explanation
PASSAGE
A student is writing about scientific reductionism. The student wants to examine both its power as an explanatory strategy and its limitations. Notes: - Reductionism explains complex phenomena through simpler components. - It has produced breakthroughs in physics, chemistry, and molecular biology. - Critics argue some properties cannot be reduced to parts. - Consciousness and social phenomena resist purely reductive explanations.
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 requires BOTH power AND limitations. Breakthroughs (power) + consciousness/social resistance (limitations). 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:
• "power as an explanatory strategy and its limitations"
• "produced breakthroughs"
• "some properties cannot be reduced"
• "Consciousness and social phenomena resist"
Why others are wrong: A (Mentions one limitation but not the power of reductionism.), C (Notes dominance but not power/limitations balance.), D (Not in notes; general statement about methodology.).
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