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Set 16: Rhetorical Synthesis

Explanation

Answer: D

PASSAGE

A student is writing about Bee Pollination. The student wants to emphasize economic value. Notes: - Bees pollinate 75% of flowering plants - Pollination contributes $15 billion annually to US crops - One bee visits 5,000 flowers daily - Colony collapse reduced populations 40%

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

A. The fact that "Colony collapse reduced populations 40%" accomplishes the student's goal.
B. The fact that "One bee visits 5,000 flowers daily" accomplishes the student's goal.
C. The fact that "Bees pollinate 75% of flowering plants" accomplishes the student's goal.
D. The data showing "Pollination contributes $15 billion annually to US crops" most directly supports the goal to emphasize economic value.✓ Correct

Detailed Answer Explanation

The goal is to emphasize economic value. The note "Pollination contributes $15 billion annually to US crops" most directly addresses this goal because it provides specific evidence of economic value. Effective synthesis means selecting and combining the most relevant information to achieve a specific purpose. Read the goal carefully and ask: which note provides the strongest, most direct support for this particular objective? Eliminate notes that address different aspects of the topic.

Key Evidence:

• "Pollination contributes $15 billion annually to US crops"

• "Goal: emphasize economic value"

Why others are wrong: A (This option describes ecological function rather than economic contribution), B (This option highlights decline or problems instead of positive economic impact), C (This option mentions quantity without connecting to monetary value).