Set 10: Rhetorical Synthesis (Intermediate)
Explanation
PASSAGE
A student is writing about the ethics of climate engineering. The student wants to weigh potential benefits against moral hazards and governance challenges. Notes: - Solar geoengineering could rapidly cool the planet. - It might reduce urgency to cut emissions (moral hazard). - Effects would cross national borders, raising governance questions. - Termination shock: stopping suddenly could cause rapid warming.
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 BENEFITS vs. MORAL HAZARDS and GOVERNANCE. Cooling (benefit) vs. reduced urgency (moral hazard), cross-border issues (governance), termination shock. 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:
• "weigh potential benefits against moral hazards and governance challenges"
• "could rapidly cool the planet"
• "reduce urgency to cut emissions (moral hazard)"
• "Effects would cross national borders, raising governance questions"
• "Termination shock"
Why others are wrong: B (Not in notes; calls for research, not weighing ethics.), C (States benefit only; no moral hazards or governance.), A (Notes governance need but doesn't weigh benefits and hazards.).
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