Question 194·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has gathered the following notes:
- NASA launched the twin spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in 1977.
- Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in 2012 and continues to measure cosmic rays and magnetic fields there.
- Voyager 2 conducted flybys of Uranus in 1986 and Neptune in 1989.
- Both spacecraft carry Golden Records prepared by a team led by Carl Sagan.
- Engineers estimate that the Voyagers will remain operational until at least 2025.
The student wants to write a sentence that highlights both how long the Voyager mission has lasted and why the data currently being collected are scientifically significant. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, first restate the task in your own words and underline key requirements (for example, “show duration” and “explain why current data matter”). Next, scan the notes to find exactly which bullets relate to each requirement. Then quickly test each answer choice: eliminate any that use irrelevant notes, that only cover one of the required ideas, or that focus on interesting but off-task details. Choose the sentence that cleanly combines the relevant points in one clear, precise statement.
Hints
Focus on the exact task
Underline the two parts of the task in the question: one about how long the mission has lasted and one about why the data currently being collected are scientifically significant. Any correct answer must clearly cover both.
Find the relevant notes before looking at the choices
In the bullet points, which notes talk about time span or duration of the mission, and which notes talk about what the spacecraft are currently measuring in space?
Match both ideas in a single sentence
Look for the option that combines a clear sense of many years of operation with a description of present scientific measurements, not just past visits or non-scientific features like cultural artifacts.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking for
The question says the sentence must highlight both:
- how long the Voyager mission has lasted, and
- why the data currently being collected are scientifically significant.
So the correct choice must clearly show a time span and also explain the scientific importance of ongoing data.
Identify the relevant notes
From the notes, look for information about:
-
Mission duration / how long it has lasted:
- "NASA launched the twin spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in 1977."
- "Engineers estimate that the Voyagers will remain operational until at least 2025."
-
Current, scientifically significant data:
- "Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in 2012 and continues to measure cosmic rays and magnetic fields there."
The best sentence must combine an idea from group 1 and an idea from group 2 in a clear way.
Check each answer choice against both requirements
Now test each option:
- Does it mention how long the mission has lasted (not just a single date, but a sense of long duration)?
- Does it mention what Voyager is currently measuring or why those measurements matter?
Only a choice that satisfies both conditions is acceptable.
Select the sentence that meets both goals
Choice A says the spacecraft were launched in 1977 and have been operating for more than four decades (showing the mission’s long duration) and also that Voyager 1 is still sending back valuable measurements of interstellar space (showing the scientific significance of the current data). The other choices mention dates, past visits, Golden Records, or expected functioning but do not explain why the present data are scientifically important. Therefore, the correct answer is:
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have been operating for more than four decades, and Voyager 1 is still sending back valuable measurements of interstellar space.