Question 1·Easy·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Community gardens are shared plots where residents grow fruits and vegetables.
- A 2021 survey found that people who participated in a community garden ate 1.5 more servings of vegetables per day on average.
- Gardeners often walk or bike to the garden, increasing their weekly physical activity.
- Many gardens donate extra produce to local food banks.
- Some gardens host weekend workshops on composting.
The student wants to emphasize the positive effect community gardens can have on residents’ health. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, start by restating the goal in your own words (here: highlight health benefits). Then scan the notes for the most goal-relevant details (diet and exercise) and choose the option that uses those details most directly and specifically, without drifting into interesting but less relevant information like donations or workshops.
Hints
Focus on the purpose
Look for the choice that clearly highlights health rather than describing programs or general features.
Use the strongest evidence
Which notes provide measurable or direct connections to health (diet and exercise)?
Check relevance
If a choice mainly discusses donations or workshops, ask whether it directly supports the health-focused goal.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the student’s goal
The sentence should emphasize health benefits for residents, not just describe what gardens are or list unrelated activities.
Select the most health-relevant notes
The notes most connected to health are the survey result about eating more vegetables and the note about walking or biking to the garden (more physical activity).
Choose the option that uses those notes to stress health benefits
Only one option combines increased vegetable consumption and increased physical activity to clearly emphasize improved health outcomes, so the best choice is:
Community gardens can improve residents’ health by boosting vegetable intake and encouraging walking or biking to the garden; a 2021 survey found participants ate 1.5 more servings daily.