Question 196·Hard·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has recorded the following notes:
- Photochromic lenses contain molecules that automatically darken when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
- When UV light diminishes, photochromic lenses gradually return to a clear state.
- Electrochromic windows consist of layers of conductive glass and an electrochromic film.
- Applying a small electric voltage moves ions within an electrochromic window, changing its tint.
- Users can adjust an electrochromic window’s transparency at any time and hold the glass at intermediate tint levels.
- Both technologies aim to reduce glare and control the amount of light entering a space.
The student wants to explain how electrochromic windows allow greater control over light transmission than photochromic lenses. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, first restate the task in your own words (e.g., “I need a sentence that shows why X gives more control than Y”). Then scan the notes and quickly mark the phrases that relate directly to that task—in this case, anything about how each technology changes tint and whether users can control it. Next, eliminate answer choices that introduce information not in the notes, that ignore the comparison, or that fail to match the specific goal (like focusing on users instead of control). Finally, pick the option that uses the most relevant notes and makes the required relationship (cause, contrast, explanation) as clear and explicit as possible in a single sentence.
Hints
Focus on the exact goal in the question
Underline the phrase “explain how electrochromic windows allow greater control over light transmission than photochromic lenses.” Your answer must show both technologies and clearly state why windows offer more control.
Find the key notes about control and activation
In the notes, look for how each technology changes tint: Are they controlled by users, or do they react automatically? Which details show that one can be adjusted any time or to intermediate levels?
Eliminate off-topic or incomplete answers
Cross out any choices that talk about who uses the technology, or just mention materials, but don’t clearly explain degree of control over light. Among the remaining choices, keep the one that best contrasts user control in windows with automatic changes in lenses.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the task
The question asks for a sentence that explains how electrochromic windows allow greater control over light transmission than photochromic lenses.
So the right answer must:
- Compare the two technologies, and
- Emphasize greater control for electrochromic windows using information from the notes.
Pull out the most relevant notes
From the notes, focus on what affects control:
- Photochromic lenses: "contain molecules that automatically darken when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation" and "gradually return to a clear state" when UV decreases. This means they change automatically, based on UV, not user choice.
- Electrochromic windows: "Applying a small electric voltage moves ions... changing its tint" and "Users can adjust an electrochromic window’s transparency at any time and hold the glass at intermediate tint levels." This means users can actively control the tint whenever they want, including intermediate levels.
Match choices to the idea of “greater control”
Now check which choices actually explain that windows give more control than lenses:
- Choice A mentions both reduce glare and that windows use conductive glass activated by electricity, but it never explains that this gives greater control over light transmission.
- Choice B talks about intermediate tint levels, so it partially addresses control, but it mainly describes a limitation of lenses and does not clearly explain the active, at-will control that windows provide.
- Choice C talks about who uses each technology (architects vs eyewear designers), which is off-topic for control over light.
- One choice directly contrasts user-controlled voltage changes in windows with the automatic UV-based changes in lenses, clearly showing why windows allow more control.
Select the sentence that best explains the contrast in control
The only option that clearly and completely explains why electrochromic windows offer greater control is:
“By allowing users to vary a small electric voltage, electrochromic windows can be dimmed or brightened at will, whereas photochromic lenses change tint only automatically in response to ultraviolet light.”
This uses the notes about voltage, user adjustment at any time, and automatic UV response to show exactly how windows give greater control over light transmission than lenses.