Question 187·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
Roughly 800 community gardens existed in the United States in 2009.
By 2019, the number of community gardens had grown to more than 2,500.
Average prices for fresh produce rose about 18% between 2009 and 2019.
A nationwide survey found that 63% of community gardeners cite access to affordable fresh food as their primary motivation.
Starting in 2010, several cities—including Detroit and Portland—offered free compost and tool-lending programs to support local gardening efforts.
The student wants to emphasize the relationship between rising produce prices and the growth in the number of community gardens. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, underline the exact task (for example, "emphasize the relationship between X and Y"). Then locate the notes that directly address X and Y, especially dates and numbers. Eliminate choices that use irrelevant notes or mention only one side. Finally, choose the option that presents both required ideas together without adding claims not supported by the notes.
Hints
Focus on the exact goal words
Underline the key words in the question: "relationship," "rising produce prices," and "growth in the number of community gardens." Any correct answer must address all three ideas, not just one or two.
Match choices to specific notes
Look for the notes that provide numbers over time for both produce prices and community gardens. The best choice will use those details.
Watch out for one-sided answers
Eliminate any choice that talks only about city programs, only about gardeners’ motivations, or only about rising prices.
Prefer a clear paired comparison
Choose the option that places the two trends side by side in the same time frame so the relationship is unmistakable.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what must be connected
The student wants to emphasize a relationship between two trends:
- Produce prices rising
- The number of community gardens growing So the best choice must include both trends and present them together.
Pull the relevant note details
From the notes:
- Community gardens: roughly 800 (2009) to more than 2,500 (2019)
- Produce prices: up about 18% between 2009 and 2019 These details are the most relevant for connecting the two trends.
Eliminate choices that don’t include both trends
Remove any option that focuses only on city programs or only on motivations, or that mentions only produce prices without also mentioning growth in community gardens.
Select the choice that pairs the two trends in one sentence
The sentence that most effectively emphasizes the relationship by including both trends over the same time period is: "As fresh-produce prices rose about 18% from 2009 to 2019, U.S. community gardens increased from roughly 800 to more than 2,500."