Question 138·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Transparent solar cells incorporated into window glass convert up to 5% of incoming sunlight into electricity.
• University of Michigan engineer Dr. Alicia Chen built a computer model of a mid-rise office building clad entirely in photovoltaic glass.
• Simulations comparing the model to an identical building with conventional glass predicted a 40% reduction in annual energy consumption.
• The study suggests that integrating transparent solar cells into windows could allow cities to generate power without additional rooftop space.
The student wants to highlight the potential effect of transparent solar cells on building energy use. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For note-based rhetorical synthesis questions, first restate the task in your own words (e.g., “I need a sentence that shows the impact on building energy use”). Then scan the notes for the one or two details that match that task exactly—especially numbers or clear cause-and-effect statements. Next, eliminate any answer choices that focus on background information (who, where, what the model is) or side benefits instead of the specific goal. Finally, choose the option that most directly and specifically expresses the targeted idea, often the one that uses the key quantitative or outcome detail from the notes.
Hints
Focus on the question’s goal phrase
Underline the words "potential effect" and "building energy use" in the question. Any correct answer must talk about how energy use changes for a building, not just describe the technology or the researcher.
Locate the most relevant note
Scan the notes for a detail that tells you what happens to a building’s energy consumption when transparent solar cells or photovoltaic glass are used.
Eliminate off-target choices
Remove any answer that mainly tells you who did the study, how the cells work, or where they can be placed, if it does not clearly say what happens to the building’s energy use.
Look for a clear, specific effect
Among the remaining choices, prefer a statement that gives a specific, measurable impact on energy use, rather than a general description or background information.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the task in the question
The question says: "The student wants to highlight the potential effect of transparent solar cells on building energy use."
So you are not being asked about how they work, who did the study, or where they can be installed. You need the note(s) that describe how they affect a building’s energy use.
Find the relevant note(s) about energy use
Look through the notes and underline anything about energy consumption or use:
- Note 1: talks about converting 5% of sunlight into electricity (efficiency), but not the building’s total energy use.
- Note 2: describes who did the model and what kind of building it is (background), but not the effect.
- Note 3: "predicted a 40% reduction in annual energy consumption" — this directly states the change in building energy use.
- Note 4: talks about cities generating power without rooftop space (location/benefit), but not specifically building energy use.
The key detail for this question is in note 3.
Match the key note to the answer choices
Now compare each answer choice to see which one:
- Uses the important detail from note 3 (40% reduction in annual energy use), and
- Clearly expresses a potential effect on building energy use.
Eliminate any answer that:
- Focuses on efficiency of the cells only
- Only mentions the researcher or the model setup
- Talks about where power could be generated (e.g., windows vs. rooftops) without stating the impact on energy use.
Select the choice that states the potential energy-use impact
Only one option actually includes the 40% reduction in yearly energy consumption and frames it as a prediction from the computer model. That option directly highlights how transparent solar cells could affect a building’s energy use.
Correct answer: A) Chen's computer model predicted that outfitting a mid-rise office building with photovoltaic glass could slash its yearly energy consumption by 40%.