Question 134·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) advised in 2018 that adolescents should engage in no more than two hours of recreational screen time per day.
- A 2020 study by psychologists Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski detected only a small negative correlation between digital technology use and adolescent well-being, concluding that the effect size was trivial.
- In a 2021 meta-analysis, psychologist Jean Twenge reported that heavy social media use is associated with an increased risk of depression among teenagers.
- In a 2023 commentary, Przybylski wrote, "We still don't know whether screen time is good or bad for teens; the evidence remains inconclusive."
The student wants to include a quotation in the paper to underscore that experts have not reached a definitive conclusion about the effects of screen time on adolescents. Which choice most effectively accomplishes this goal?
For questions where you must pick a quote that best serves a writer’s purpose, start by underlining the exact goal words in the prompt (here, “have not reached a definitive conclusion”). Then translate that goal into simpler terms (e.g., “shows uncertainty or inconclusive evidence”) and quickly scan the options for wording that most directly matches that idea, such as explicit mentions of not knowing or inconclusive results. Eliminate any choices that are merely related to the topic but clearly express firm recommendations or strong positive/negative findings, and choose the one that most explicitly and completely accomplishes the stated purpose.
Hints
Focus on the goal phrase
Reread the sentence: the student wants to show that experts have not reached a definitive conclusion. Which option sounds most like experts are still unsure or the research is unsettled?
Watch out for strong conclusions
Eliminate any choice that gives a clear rule (like a time limit) or a specific harmful effect (like increased depression). Those sound like firm conclusions, not uncertainty.
Look for explicit mention of the state of the evidence
Which quotation comments directly on what the overall evidence shows (or fails to show), instead of just describing one effect or making a recommendation?
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate the writing goal
The prompt says the student wants a quotation to underscore that experts have not reached a definitive conclusion about the effects of screen time on adolescents.
In simpler words, the quote should stress uncertainty or lack of a clear answer among experts, not a firm rule or strong finding.
Look for language showing uncertainty
Scan the notes and options for phrases that signal that research is not settled. Words or ideas to watch for include:
- 'we still don't know'
- 'uncertain'
- 'inconclusive'
Avoid quotes that:
- Give firm recommendations (like time limits)
- Report a clear negative effect (like higher depression risk)
- Present even a small but definite effect as a conclusion
Evaluate how each option matches the goal
Now match each answer choice to the goal:
- Choice A: WHO advises a strict limit of two hours of recreational screen time. That’s a clear guideline, not uncertainty.
- Choice B: Orben and Przybylski say the negative effect is very small and 'trivial.' That is still a conclusion about the effect size, not a statement that experts don't know the answer.
- Choice C: The meta-analysis reports that heavy social media use is associated with increased depression risk. That is a clear negative association, again suggesting a definite harmful effect.
All three describe some kind of settled or at least specific conclusion, which is the opposite of what we need.
Select the quotation that explicitly highlights inconclusive evidence
The remaining option, Choice D, quotes Przybylski saying that we 'still don't know whether screen time is good or bad for teens' and that 'the evidence remains inconclusive.' This directly states that experts have not reached a definitive conclusion.
Therefore, the correct answer is: D) As Przybylski admits in a 2023 commentary, "we still don't know whether screen time is good or bad for teens; the evidence remains inconclusive."