Question 184·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) can detect seismic vibrations in water.
- A study led by Dr. Liu used laser Doppler vibrometry to measure frogs’ inner-ear sensitivity.
- The study found frogs detect frequencies below 100 Hz, helpful for sensing predators.
- Prior research on amphibian vibration detection was limited to terrestrial environments.
- Findings suggest aquatic seismic detection evolved independently of terrestrial vibration sensing.
The student wants to highlight how this study broadens scientific understanding beyond previous research. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, first restate the task (what the student/author wants to accomplish) in simple words, then scan the notes and quickly mark which bullets are directly relevant to that purpose. Look for answer choices that (1) use those key notes and (2) clearly achieve the rhetorical goal stated in the question, such as contrasting old vs. new, showing significance, or summarizing a main point. Eliminate choices that focus only on methods, minor details, or side points (like applications or technical tools) that do not explicitly fulfill the stated goal, even if they are factually correct.
Hints
Focus on the goal in the question
Underline the words "broadens scientific understanding beyond previous research." Which notes talk about what earlier research was like, and which talk about what is new here?
Find notes about old vs. new environments
Look for notes that mention where earlier research took place and then where this study found amphibians could detect vibrations. How could contrasting those two help show an expansion of understanding?
Eliminate answers that don’t compare past and present
Check each option and ask: Does it both (1) say something about what earlier work focused on or missed and (2) show what this study adds to go beyond that? Cross out any choice that only describes a method, a detail, or a side effect.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate the task in your own words
The question asks which sentence best shows how this study broadens scientific understanding beyond previous research. So the right answer must:
- Mention what earlier research was like or what its limits were, and
- Show what new understanding this study adds that goes beyond those limits.
Identify the key notes about earlier vs. new research
Scan the notes for anything about earlier research and its limits:
- "Prior research on amphibian vibration detection was limited to terrestrial environments." → This tells us old research focused only on land.
Now find what is new in this study:
- "The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) can detect seismic vibrations in water."
- "The study found frogs detect frequencies below 100 Hz, helpful for sensing predators."
- "Findings suggest aquatic seismic detection evolved independently of terrestrial vibration sensing."
To show broadened understanding, a strong sentence will contrast the old focus (land only) with these new findings about underwater detection.
Test each option against the goal
Now compare each choice to the goal:
- Choice A: Talks about the method (laser Doppler vibrometry) and sensitivity below 100 Hz. It does not mention earlier research or how the new study goes beyond it.
- Choice B: Focuses on how frogs might avoid predators. That is an application, not a comparison with previous work or an explanation of how understanding has broadened.
- Choice C: Mentions evolution (aquatic vs. terrestrial detection evolving independently). This is interesting, but it still doesn’t clearly say how this extends beyond earlier land-only research, nor does it emphasize broadening scientific understanding.
Only one option clearly contrasts earlier, land-based studies with new findings about underwater seismic detection and explicitly frames this as expanding scientists’ understanding.
Select the sentence that shows contrast and expansion
The best choice is D) "Unlike earlier work that focused solely on land-dwelling amphibians, the new study shows that African clawed frogs can sense low-frequency underwater vibrations, expanding scientists’ understanding of amphibian seismic detection." This option directly contrasts prior land-only research with the new underwater findings and states that this expands scientific understanding, exactly matching the student’s goal.