Set 16: Rhetorical Synthesis
Explanation
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?
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. On the SAT, rhetorical synthesis tests your ability to purpose-match information. First, identify exactly what the student wants to accomplish. Then evaluate each note: does it directly address that goal, or does it focus on something else entirely? The best answer creates the clearest connection.
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), D (This option mentions quantity without connecting to monetary value).