Question 214·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Environmental engineer Dr. Pilar Gomez examined the impact of succulent-planted green roofs on building energy use.
- In summer, rooftops covered with low-growing succulents lowered roof surface temperature by 18 °C.
- In winter, the same rooftops reduced heat loss through the roof by 25 %, acting as extra insulation.
- Comparing utility records before and after installation, Gomez calculated annual energy-cost savings of 12 %.
- Succulents’ water-storing leaves meant the roofs required minimal irrigation.
The student wants to emphasize the year-round thermal benefits of succulent-planted green roofs, including specific numerical data. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, start by underlining the exact goal in the prompt (what to emphasize and what kind of detail is needed). Then scan the notes to find only the pieces that match that goal (for example, “summer,” “winter,” and specific numbers). Finally, test each answer choice against all parts of the goal: eliminate any choice that adds irrelevant details, misses key elements (like one of the seasons or the numbers), or shifts the focus (e.g., from thermal effects to money or irrigation). Choose the sentence that uses the most directly relevant notes and fully matches the stated purpose.
Hints
Clarify the goal words
Underline the phrases “year-round thermal benefits” and “specific numerical data.” Ask yourself: which notes give information about temperature or insulation in different seasons, with numbers attached?
Find the key notes first
Look back at the bullet points and identify where summer and winter are mentioned. What numbers are connected to those seasonal effects?
Filter the answer choices
Eliminate any choice that focuses mainly on water use or energy-cost savings instead of temperature/heat loss. Also cross out any choice that does not clearly show both seasons or that leaves out the specific numbers from the notes.
Check that all parts of the goal are met
Among the remaining choices, which one directly connects the summer effect and the winter effect into a single idea about year-round benefits and uses both numerical values from the notes?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the writing goal
The question states: the student wants to emphasize the year-round thermal benefits of succulent-planted green roofs and include specific numerical data.
So the correct answer must:
- Refer to thermal effects (temperature, heat loss, insulation), not just money or water use.
- Clearly show that the benefits are year-round (both summer and winter).
- Include numerical data from the notes.
Pull out the relevant notes
From the notes, focus on the information about thermal effects and seasons:
- Summer: rooftops with succulents lowered roof surface temperature by 18 °C.
- Winter: those roofs reduced heat loss through the roof by 25 %, acting as extra insulation.
These two bullets together show summer and winter (year-round) and give specific numbers about temperature and heat loss. That’s exactly the kind of information the student wants to emphasize.
Match the goal to the answer choices
Now, compare each answer choice against the goal:
- Some choices talk about irrigation or energy-cost savings, which are not directly thermal effects.
- One choice mentions a 12% reduction in annual energy bills, which uses numbers but focuses on money, not on temperature or heat loss.
- Another choice talks about lower temperature and increased insulation, but does not include any numbers.
The best choice must mention both:
- Summer and winter thermal changes, and
- The 18 °C and 25 % figures from the notes.
Select the sentence that fits all requirements
Only one option explicitly says that succulent green roofs lowered roof surface temperature by 18 °C in summer and cut winter heat loss by 25 %, and then ties those two details together as year-round energy benefits.
Correct answer: B) By lowering roof surface temperature by 18 °C in summer and cutting winter heat loss by 25 %, succulent-covered green roofs provided year-round energy benefits.