Question 174·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has compiled the following facts about the Andromeda Galaxy:
• The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth.
• It is on a collision course with the Milky Way, expected to merge in about 4.5 billion years.
• The galaxy contains roughly one trillion stars, more than twice the number in the Milky Way.
• Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi recorded it in 964 CE as a “nebulous smear.”
The student wants to highlight the galaxy’s size relative to the Milky Way. Which choice most effectively incorporates relevant information from the notes to achieve this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions with notes, first underline the exact goal in the question (here, highlighting size relative to the Milky Way). Then scan the notes to find the one or two bullets that match that goal most directly. Finally, choose the option that clearly uses that key information and makes the intended emphasis, while avoiding choices that focus on interesting but off-goal details like history, location, or future events.
Hints
Focus on the task word: "relative"
The question doesn’t just ask to show that Andromeda is big; it asks to highlight its size relative to the Milky Way. Look for an option that compares the two galaxies.
Find the most relevant bullet point in the notes
Which bullet in the notes directly talks about how many stars Andromeda has and mentions how that number compares to the Milky Way?
Match that note to an answer choice
Once you know which bullet is most relevant, pick the answer that clearly uses that information. Be cautious of choices that focus mainly on distance, collision timing, or historical discovery instead of the size comparison.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the writing goal
The prompt says: "wants to highlight the galaxy’s size relative to the Milky Way."
So the best sentence must:
- Mention how big Andromeda is in terms of stars, and
- Make a clear comparison to the Milky Way’s size.
Locate the most relevant note
Look at the notes and find which bullet talks about size and compares it to the Milky Way:
- Distance: approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth.
- Collision course and merge time.
- Size: "contains roughly one trillion stars, more than twice the number in the Milky Way."
- Historical note about Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi.
The third bullet is the only one that directly expresses size relative to the Milky Way.
Check which options use the relative-size fact
Now scan the answer choices for one that includes both:
- The idea of roughly one trillion stars, and
- A direct comparison like more than twice the number in the Milky Way.
Eliminate any answer that:
- Leaves out the comparison to the Milky Way, or
- Focuses mainly on distance, collision course, or historical discovery instead of size.
Choose the sentence that best matches the goal
Only Choice A clearly states that Andromeda "contains roughly one trillion stars—more than double the Milky Way’s population," which directly highlights Andromeda’s size relative to the Milky Way while smoothly incorporating other accurate details. Therefore, the correct answer is A) With about 2.5 million light-years separating it from Earth, the Andromeda Galaxy, first described in 964 CE by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi, contains roughly one trillion stars—more than double the Milky Way’s population.