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 as a planet orbiting a Sun-like star, 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, first list the exact required elements from the question, then verify each sentence against the notes. Choose the option that includes all required details, avoids adding other notes that aren’t asked for, and doesn’t attach a detail (like a tool or a date) to the wrong claim.
Hints
List the required facts
You need: 2020 direct image, YZ-1b orbits a Sun-like star, distance (about 330 light-years), and mass (roughly twice Jupiter’s).
Watch for ‘extra’ or ‘misattached’ details
Some choices include additional notes (water vapor, the 2021 adaptive-optics paper) or connect a detail to the wrong observation. Those are usually less effective for this goal.
Choose the most focused accurate option
Pick the sentence that includes every required fact and doesn’t add other findings or incorrectly attribute details.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the sentence must include
The sentence should summarize the 2020 direct image of YZ-1b orbiting a Sun-like star and include both required numbers: about 330 light-years from Earth and roughly twice the mass of Jupiter.
Check each option for relevance and accuracy
Prefer the option that includes all required details and stays faithful to what the notes actually say. Eliminate choices that add extra information not needed for the student’s goal (like water vapor or the 2021 paper) or that attach a detail to the wrong part of the notes (for example, linking the direct image to the Very Large Telescope when the notes mention that telescope only for detecting water vapor).
Select the most effective synthesis
The best match is: "In 2020, Dr. Leena Patel’s team at the European Southern Observatory directly imaged YZ-1b, a planet orbiting a Sun-like star about 330 light-years from Earth and roughly twice the mass of Jupiter."