Question 113·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Solar Impulse 2 completed an around-the-world flight using only solar power in 2016.
- Conventional airplanes rely on fossil fuels and emit significant carbon dioxide.
- Solar Impulse 2 carried only one pilot and a limited payload, flying at an average speed of 45 mph.
- The flight demonstrated the feasibility of renewable-energy flight but showed that the technology is not yet practical for commercial passenger service.
- Battery storage and efficiency still restrict the endurance and payload of solar aircraft.
The student wants to emphasize a limitation of solar-powered aircraft for commercial passenger service. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For this type of SAT Reading & Writing question, first underline the goal language in the prompt (e.g., “emphasize a limitation…for commercial passenger service”). Then scan the notes for lines that (1) match the topic (solar aircraft), (2) match the purpose (limitation or problem), and (3) match any context (here, commercial passenger service). Eliminate choices that merely state achievements, background, or environmental benefits without highlighting a clear problem, and also eliminate choices that mention a limitation but don’t fit the exact context the question specifies. Choose the answer that uses relevant, specific details from the notes and directly fulfills the stated goal in one concise sentence.
Hints
Restate the goal
Focus on the exact goal: the sentence should emphasize a limitation of solar-powered aircraft specifically for commercial passenger service. Which choices clearly mention a problem or shortcoming?
Look for notes about problems, not achievements
In the notes, find statements that describe what solar aircraft cannot do well yet, especially anything about capacity, speed, endurance, or practicality for passengers.
Match details and context
Which answer choice uses specific details from the notes (like the plane’s capacity or speed) and also clearly connects those details to why it is not suitable for commercial passenger service?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the task in the question
The question says the student wants to emphasize a limitation of solar-powered aircraft for commercial passenger service.
So, the right answer must:
- Focus on a limitation or problem, not just an achievement.
- Be specifically related to commercial passenger service, not just solar aircraft in general.
Find relevant details in the notes
Look through the notes for information about problems or limits connected to commercial use:
- "Solar Impulse 2 carried only one pilot and a limited payload, flying at an average speed of 45 mph."
- "The flight demonstrated the feasibility of renewable-energy flight but showed that the technology is not yet practical for commercial passenger service."
- "Battery storage and efficiency still restrict the endurance and payload of solar aircraft."
These points mention limited capacity, slow speed, and restricted endurance/payload, all of which are limitations. Only one note explicitly mentions commercial passenger service and states it is not yet practical.
Check each answer choice against the goal and notes
Now test each option:
- Choice A talks about the around-the-world flight and solar power. This is an impressive achievement, not a limitation, and it says nothing about commercial passengers.
- Choice B compares solar power to fossil fuels and highlights that the plane relied on sunshine. This focuses on clean energy, not on limits for commercial use.
- Choice C mentions that solar flight is possible but includes details that it carried only one pilot and flew about 45 mph, then connects those facts to being inadequate for commercial passenger service.
- Choice D mentions battery storage and efficiency limiting endurance and payload. This is a limitation, but it does not explicitly connect the limitation to commercial passenger service.
Only one choice both states specific limitations and clearly links them to commercial passenger service.
Select the choice that best matches the goal
The only option that clearly emphasizes a limitation and directly ties it to commercial passenger service is choice C: "Although Solar Impulse 2 proved that solar flight is possible, it carried only one pilot and flew about 45 mph—far too little capacity or speed for commercial passenger service."