Question 18·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Grace Hopper (1906–1992) was a United States Navy rear admiral and pioneering computer scientist.
- Worked on the Harvard Mark I computer during World War II.
- Led development of the first computer compiler (1952) and later helped create the business-oriented language COBOL (1959).
- Believed that computers should use English-like programming languages so that people without advanced mathematics could code.
- Coined the term "debugging" after removing a moth from a computer relay.
- Posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
The student wants to introduce a paragraph that will explain how Hopper helped make computer programming more accessible to non-experts. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, underline the exact purpose (here, “how Hopper helped make programming more accessible to non-experts”). Then select only the notes that directly match that purpose (English-like languages, people without advanced mathematics, compiler, COBOL). Choose the option that uses those notes to state a clear cause-and-effect link that naturally introduces the paragraph’s focus, and eliminate choices that are true but emphasize awards, anecdotes, or general popularity instead of the targeted goal.
Hints
Restate the goal in your own words
The sentence should set up a paragraph about how Hopper helped non-experts program computers—not just who she was or what honors she received.
Find the notes about accessibility
Look for the bullet that mentions people without advanced mathematics and English-like programming languages. Those are the most directly relevant notes.
Make sure the sentence explains a “how”
Prefer an option that links Hopper’s belief to a specific development (like the compiler or COBOL) that would actually make programming easier for non-experts.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify the task and purpose
The sentence must introduce a paragraph explaining how Grace Hopper made programming more accessible to non-experts.
So the best choice should (1) focus on accessibility for people without advanced mathematics and (2) connect that goal to what Hopper did (specific developments).
Identify the key notes that match the goal
The most relevant notes are:
- Hopper believed computers should use English-like programming languages so people without advanced mathematics could code.
- She led development of the first compiler (1952) and helped create COBOL (1959).
A strong introduction will connect her belief about accessibility to these tools that helped make programming easier to do.
Evaluate the choices against the goal
Check each option for both parts of the goal (accessibility + mechanism):
- One choice focuses mainly on recognition/awards rather than accessibility.
- One choice mentions the English-like language belief but does not explain what she built to carry it out.
- One choice combines real accomplishments but stays broad ("many different fields") instead of clearly setting up access for non-experts.
- One choice explicitly states that Hopper aimed to help people without advanced mathematics and links that aim to the compiler and COBOL, which directly sets up the intended paragraph.
Select the best introduction
The option that directly connects Hopper’s accessibility goal (helping people without advanced mathematics) to her creation of the compiler and COBOL is:
To help people without advanced mathematics write programs, Grace Hopper led development of the first compiler and later helped create the English-like language COBOL.