Question 181·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch consists mainly of tiny plastic fragments.
- Scientists estimate the patch covers an area roughly twice the size of Texas.
- Marine animals often mistake plastic for food and ingest it.
- Such ingestion can block digestive tracts, leading to starvation.
- One study found that 90% of northern fulmars (a seabird species) had plastic in their stomachs.
The student wants to emphasize the widespread and harmful impact of plastic pollution on marine animals. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, first restate the goal in your own words and identify the required components (for example, “widespread” + “harmful” + “on marine animals”). Then match those components to the notes and choose the option that uses only relevant note-based details to satisfy every part of the goal, eliminating options that address only one component or focus on unrelated background (like size or location).
Hints
Restate the goal clearly
Focus on the words “widespread,” “harmful impact,” and “marine animals.” The best choice must address all three.
Pick notes that mention animals and consequences
Which notes mention animals ingesting plastic and what happens as a result?
Look for both a big number and a serious effect
A strong answer will include evidence that many animals are affected (like a high percentage) and a clear harm (like starvation).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the goal
The sentence must emphasize both:
- Widespread impact (a lot of animals are affected)
- Harmful impact (clear negative consequences)
- Specifically on marine animals
Select the most relevant notes
The notes that match the goal are:
- Marine animals ingest plastic after mistaking it for food.
- Ingestion can block digestive tracts, leading to starvation.
- 90% of northern fulmars had plastic in their stomachs (shows how common it is).
Eliminate choices that only meet part of the goal
Eliminate choices that focus mainly on the garbage patch’s size/composition (not animals), or that mention animals but include only harm (no evidence it’s widespread) or only widespread impact (no harm).
Choose the option that shows both widespread and harmful impact
The option that includes the 90% statistic (widespread) and connects plastic ingestion to starvation (harm) best meets the goal. Therefore, the correct answer is:
One study found that 90% of northern fulmars had plastic in their stomachs, and this plastic ingestion can lead to starvation.