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, restate the purpose (here: show why electrochromic windows offer more control than photochromic lenses), then select only the notes that directly support that purpose (user-adjustable voltage and intermediate tint vs automatic UV response). Eliminate choices that are merely descriptive, swap details between technologies, or fail to make the required contrast explicit.
Hints
Focus on the exact goal in the question
Underline “allow greater control over light transmission” and look for notes about user adjustment versus automatic response.
Use only what the notes support
Pick a choice that explicitly uses the notes about electrochromic windows being adjustable at any time (and/or holding intermediate tint levels) compared with photochromic lenses changing tint automatically with UV.
Watch for common trap patterns
Eliminate choices that (a) focus mainly on construction/materials, (b) swap which technology uses UV vs electricity, or (c) claim the opposite technology offers more control.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate the goal
You need a sentence that explains why electrochromic windows provide greater control over light transmission than photochromic lenses.
So the sentence must (1) compare both technologies and (2) emphasize user control for electrochromic windows versus automatic change for photochromic lenses.
Identify the key notes to use
Relevant notes:
- Photochromic lenses: automatically darken with UV radiation and return to clear when UV diminishes.
- Electrochromic windows: tint changes when a small electric voltage moves ions, and users can adjust transparency at any time and hold intermediate tint levels.
Evaluate the choices against the goal
- The choice that mentions users adjusting electric voltage to set different tint levels at any time (and contrasts that with photochromic lenses changing only with UV) directly explains greater control.
- The choice focusing on materials (conductive glass layers/film vs molecules) doesn’t explain control.
- The choice that swaps which technology uses UV versus voltage contradicts the notes.
- The choice claiming photochromic lenses give greater control reverses the relationship and adds an unsupported claim that electrochromic windows stay at one tint level.
Choose the option that best synthesizes the notes
By adjusting a small electric voltage, users can set electrochromic windows to different tint levels at any time, whereas photochromic lenses change tint only as UV changes.