Question 117·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Librarian William H. Colyer introduced an open-stack policy in 1910 at Riverton Public Library.
- Before 1910, patrons could not browse the shelves; they had to request books from the staff.
- Within five years of adopting the open-stack policy, the library’s circulation doubled.
- Colyer published several articles promoting open access to books as a way to encourage reading.
The student wants to explain how Colyer’s policy affected library usage. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, underline the task words in the question (here, “how Colyer’s policy affected library usage”). Then scan the notes for the one detail that directly answers that task—typically a cause-and-effect or result statement. Finally, choose the option that accurately restates that specific result and stays focused on the goal, eliminating choices that only give background, timing, or biographical details without describing the required effect.
Hints
Clarify the goal of the sentence
Re-read the question: it asks how Colyer’s policy affected library usage. You need an answer that shows both the policy and a result or change in how the library was used.
Locate the cause-and-effect detail in the notes
In the bullet points, find the one that tells what happened at the library after the open-stack policy was adopted, not just what the policy was or what came before it.
Check which choice includes the result
Look for an option that doesn’t just describe Colyer or the policy, but also includes a concrete outcome related to how often or how people used the library.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is really asking
The student wants to explain how Colyer’s policy affected library usage. So the answer must include both the policy (open stacks / patrons can browse) and a result that shows a change in usage (such as circulation changing).
Find the note that states an effect on usage
Among the notes, the only explicit usage result is: within five years of adopting the open-stack policy, the library’s circulation doubled. That is a direct effect on library usage.
Choose the option that links the policy to the usage outcome
Select the choice that states the open-stack policy and includes the resulting change in usage (circulation doubling):
Colyer’s open-stack policy let patrons browse shelves, and the library’s circulation doubled within five years.