Question 155·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Lise Meitner was an Austrian-Swedish physicist who, with Otto Hahn, co-discovered nuclear fission in 1938.
• She provided the first theoretical explanation of the fission process.
• Meitner declined an invitation to work on the Manhattan Project, advocating instead for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
• In 1966 she received the Enrico Fermi Award in recognition of her contributions.
• The press dubbed her “the mother of the atomic bomb,” a label she rejected.
The student wants to introduce Meitner to an audience unfamiliar with her. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, first restate the task in your own words (what is this sentence supposed to do—introduce, conclude, transition, etc.?). Then scan the notes and decide which ideas are central for that purpose (identity, main achievement, major recognition) versus which are supporting or colorful details (quotes, minor anecdotes). Eliminate answer choices that rely on only one narrow detail or that leave readers unsure who or what the sentence is about. Finally, between the remaining choices, pick the one that accurately combines multiple key notes into a clear, concise sentence with the right tone for its role in the passage.
Hints
Focus on the purpose of the sentence
Ask yourself: if the audience has never heard of Lise Meitner, what key pieces of information do they need in the first sentence to understand who she is and why she matters?
Use multiple key notes, not just one detail
Look for a choice that draws on several of the most important notes (her role, major discovery, big recognition, significant decision) instead of centering on just a nickname or a single event.
Check for positive, broad framing
Which option sounds like a well-rounded first line of a short biography—giving a broad, positive overview—rather than focusing on a controversial label or a narrow detail?
Compare C and D carefully
Two choices give a fairly full picture of Meitner; look closely at which one better signals her significance to readers by including how her work was formally recognized.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the task
The question asks for a sentence that introduces Lise Meitner to readers who don't know her. A strong introduction should:
- Briefly say who she is (her role/field)
- Indicate why she is important (major contribution and/or recognition)
- Use relevant notes without getting stuck on a minor or sensational detail.
Identify the most important notes for an introduction
Look at the notes and decide what is essential for a first-sentence overview:
- Note 1: She was an Austrian-Swedish physicist who co-discovered nuclear fission in 1938.
- Note 2: She explained the fission process theoretically.
- Note 3: She declined the Manhattan Project, supporting peaceful uses instead.
- Note 4: She received the Enrico Fermi Award in 1966 for her contributions.
- Note 5: The press called her “the mother of the atomic bomb,” which she rejected.
For an introduction, the best material is her identity, her key scientific achievement, and major recognition (and possibly her stance on nuclear weapons), not just a nickname from the press.
Evaluate each answer choice against the goal
Now compare each option to that idea of a good introduction.
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Choice A talks only about the press nickname she rejected. It doesn’t say she was a physicist, mention nuclear fission, or explain why she is important. This is too narrow and focuses on a negative label.
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Choice B mentions the 1938 discovery of nuclear fission and connects it to the Enrico Fermi Award, but it doesn’t explain who Meitner is (no field or nationality) and makes her introduction mostly about one event in one year. It also ignores her decision about the Manhattan Project and her broader contributions.
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Choice C gives her identity (Austrian-Swedish physicist), notes her co-discovery and explanation of nuclear fission, and mentions that she declined to work on the Manhattan Project. This is strong, but it leaves out the major award that shows how significant her work was.
The best introduction will use several key notes and end with a positive emphasis on her impact or recognition, not just what she refused to do.
Choose the sentence that best introduces Meitner
Only Choice D:
- Names her as an Austrian-Swedish physicist (identity and field),
- States that she co-discovered nuclear fission in 1938,
- Mentions that she declined to join the Manhattan Project, and
- Highlights that she received the Enrico Fermi Award in 1966 for her groundbreaking work, showing her importance.
This sentence most effectively uses several of the most relevant notes to introduce Lise Meitner to readers who don’t already know her, so the correct answer is:
D) Austrian-Swedish physicist Lise Meitner, who co-discovered nuclear fission in 1938 and later declined to join the Manhattan Project, was awarded the 1966 Enrico Fermi Award for her groundbreaking work.