Question 121·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The first programmable electronic computer, ENIAC, was completed in 1945.
- ENIAC could perform about 5,000 additions per second, making it roughly 1,000 times faster than earlier mechanical calculators.
- The machine occupied about 1,800 square feet of floor space and weighed nearly 30 tons.
- Operators used plugboards and switches to reconfigure ENIAC so it could solve a variety of problems.
The student wants to highlight how ENIAC differed from earlier computing devices in terms of speed. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, start by underlining the exact goal in the question (for example, “in terms of speed” and “earlier computing devices”). Then, scan the notes and pick the one or two bullets that directly match that goal. Finally, choose the answer that uses only that relevant information accurately and clearly, avoiding options that introduce new, off-topic details (like size, modern comparisons, or extra opinions) or that only partly address the goal.
Hints
Clarify the task
Underline the words in the question that state the goal: “differed,” “earlier computing devices,” and “in terms of speed.” Make sure the sentence you pick clearly does all three.
Choose the right note
Look back at the bullet notes: which one talks about how fast ENIAC was and how that compares to earlier mechanical calculators?
Match notes to choices carefully
Now ask: which choice uses that specific speed comparison from the notes and stays focused on that idea, without shifting to other topics like size, reprogramming, or modern computers?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the writing goal
The question says the student wants to highlight how ENIAC differed from earlier computing devices in terms of speed.
So the right answer must:
- Talk about speed, and
- Compare ENIAC to earlier devices (not modern ones).
Find the relevant note
Look at the notes and find which bullet matches that goal:
- 1st bullet: completion year and that it’s programmable (not about speed difference).
- 2nd bullet: ENIAC could perform about 5,000 additions per second and was roughly 1,000 times faster than earlier mechanical calculators (this is exactly about speed and comparison to earlier devices).
- 3rd bullet: size and weight (about size, not speed).
- 4th bullet: plugboards and switches (about how it was reprogrammed, not speed).
So the second bullet gives the key information we need to use.
Eliminate choices that don’t match the goal
Now check which choices actually use that key speed information and match the goal:
- Choice A: Talks about plugboards and switches (programmability), not speed.
- Choice B: Compares size to modern computers; says nothing about speed or earlier devices.
- Choice C: Mentions earlier mechanical calculators and speed limits, but then shifts focus to ENIAC’s huge size; it does not clearly say ENIAC was faster or give the numeric comparison from the notes.
Only one choice both focuses on speed and clearly compares ENIAC to earlier mechanical calculators using the information from the second bullet.
Confirm the best match
The remaining choice says that ENIAC, completed in 1945, could perform about 5,000 additions per second and was roughly 1,000 times faster than earlier mechanical calculators. This directly uses the key note, clearly highlights a speed difference, and mentions the earlier devices as required.
Correct answer: Completed in 1945, the programmable computer ENIAC could perform about 5,000 additions per second, making it roughly 1,000 times faster than earlier mechanical calculators.