Set 8: Rhetorical Synthesis
Explanation
PASSAGE
A student is writing about the grandmother hypothesis in human evolution. The student wants to explain how menopause might offer evolutionary advantages. Notes: - Menopause is rare in the animal kingdom. - Grandmothers can help raise grandchildren, increasing their survival. - Post-reproductive women freed from childbearing can aid descendants. - This 'grandmother effect' may explain human longevity past reproductive age.
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 HOW menopause offers EVOLUTIONARY advantages. Freed from childbearing, grandchild help, survival increase, and longevity explanation. 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:
• "explain how menopause might offer evolutionary advantages"
• "Grandmothers can help raise grandchildren"
• "increasing their survival"
• "freed from childbearing can aid descendants"
• "explain human longevity past reproductive age"
Why others are wrong: D (Not in notes; discusses life expectancy increase, not evolutionary advantage.), C (States menopause uniqueness but not evolutionary advantage.), A (General statement; doesn't explain menopause's evolutionary role.).
🎯 Keep Practicing!
Master all sections for your best SAT score