Question 130·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has compiled the following notes:
- Dr. Leena Patel and her team at the European Southern Observatory obtained the first direct image of a planet orbiting a Sun-like star in 2020.
- The planet, designated YZ-1b, lies about 330 light-years from Earth and has roughly twice the mass of Jupiter.
- Using the Very Large Telescope, Patel’s team detected water vapor in YZ-1b’s atmosphere.
- In 2021, Patel co-authored a paper describing a new adaptive-optics technique that sharpens ground-based telescope images.
The student wants to write a sentence summarizing Patel’s 2020 discovery of YZ-1b, including the planet’s mass and distance from Earth. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, first underline the exact writing goal (what event or idea, which year, and any specific details like numbers that must be included). Then scan the notes to pick out only the details that match that goal. Finally, eliminate any answer choices that (1) talk about the wrong year or a different result, (2) leave out required details, or (3) add unrelated information, and choose the one that uses all and only the relevant information in a clear, concise sentence.
Hints
Restate the task
The question wants a sentence that summarizes Patel’s 2020 discovery of YZ-1b and includes how far away the planet is and how massive it is.
Choose relevant notes
Look back at the bullet points: which ones tell you about the 2020 direct imaging event, the planet’s distance from Earth, and its mass? Which ones are about later work or different findings?
Eliminate off-topic choices
As you look at the answer choices, cross out any that focus on 2021 work, technology development, or atmospheric details instead of the 2020 discovery, distance, and mass.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the writing goal
The question says the student wants to summarize Patel’s 2020 discovery of YZ-1b and specifically include the planet’s mass and distance from Earth. So the correct answer must (1) mention the discovery in 2020, (2) describe YZ-1b, and (3) include its mass and distance.
Find relevant notes
From the bullet points, the relevant information is: (a) Patel’s team obtained the first direct image of a planet orbiting a Sun-like star in 2020, and (b) the planet YZ-1b is about 330 light-years away and roughly twice the mass of Jupiter. The other bullets (water vapor detection and the 2021 adaptive-optics paper) are not about the 2020 discovery description the question asks for.
Match answer choices to the goal
Check each answer: one choice mentions YZ-1b, states that it became the first planet orbiting a Sun-like star to be directly imaged, includes that it is about 330 light-years away and roughly twice as massive as Jupiter, and credits Patel’s team in 2020. This sentence is: "About 330 light-years away, the planet YZ-1b—roughly twice as massive as Jupiter—became the first planet orbiting a Sun-like star to be directly imaged, thanks to Dr. Leena Patel’s team in 2020." This is the only option that uses all and only the relevant details, so it is correct.