Question 176·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Dr. Anita Goel is both a physicist and a physician.
- She founded Nanobiosym Diagnostics in 2002.
- Nanobiosym developed Gene-RADAR, a portable diagnostic platform that detects pathogens in minutes without the need for laboratory infrastructure.
- In 2015, the Rwandan government partnered with Nanobiosym to pilot Gene-RADAR for HIV testing.
- In 2016, Forbes named Goel one of three finalists for the World Technology Award in Biotechnology.
The student wants to describe Gene-RADAR and highlight its significance. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, first underline the exact task (for example, “describe X and highlight its significance”). Then scan the notes and mark only the pieces that directly support that task. When you read each answer, ask: (1) Is the main focus on what the prompt says to focus on? (2) Does it use the most relevant notes without adding unrelated details (like awards or biographical facts) that don’t serve the stated goal? Eliminate choices that drift to recognition, dates, or people instead of the target idea, and choose the one that clearly and efficiently fulfills the task using appropriate notes.
Hints
Focus on the goal, not just any fact
Underline the task in the question: the student wants to describe Gene-RADAR and highlight its significance. Which notes directly talk about Gene-RADAR and why it is important?
Decide which notes matter most
Look back at the bullet points. Which ones explain what Gene-RADAR is and what makes it special, rather than just giving dates, awards, or who founded the company?
Check the center of attention in each answer
For each option, ask: is the main focus Gene-RADAR and its importance, or is it mostly about the company or Dr. Goel’s recognition?
Look for both description and significance
The best answer should do two things at once: clearly state what Gene-RADAR does and show why that matters in the real world. Which choice does both?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the task in the question
The question says the student wants to describe Gene-RADAR and highlight its significance. That means the best answer must:
- Clearly say what Gene-RADAR is or does.
- Explain why it is important or useful. It should not mainly focus on awards, dates, or the founder unless those help explain the device and its importance.
Pick out the most relevant notes
From the notes, the items directly about Gene-RADAR and why it matters are:
- "Nanobiosym developed Gene-RADAR, a portable diagnostic platform that detects pathogens in minutes without the need for laboratory infrastructure."
- "In 2015, the Rwandan government partnered with Nanobiosym to pilot Gene-RADAR for HIV testing." These explain both what Gene-RADAR is and why it is significant (fast, portable, no lab needed, and used in real-world HIV testing).
Check each choice against the goal
Now compare each answer to the goal:
- One choice talks mostly about the company receiving recognition, with Gene-RADAR mentioned but not fully described.
- Two choices focus mainly on awards (World Technology Award, Forbes recognition) and the founder, which highlight prestige, not the device itself.
- One choice includes: the Rwanda partnership, the fact that Gene-RADAR is portable, and that it can detect pathogens in minutes without laboratory infrastructure. This directly uses the most relevant notes and centers on the device and its importance.
Select the answer that best matches the goal
The only option that both describes Gene-RADAR and highlights its significance (fast pathogen detection without lab infrastructure, demonstrated in the Rwanda partnership) is:
D) In 2015, the Rwandan government partnered with Nanobiosym Diagnostics, founded by Dr. Anita Goel, to test Gene-RADAR, a portable platform that can detect pathogens in minutes without laboratory infrastructure.