Question 224·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has compiled the following notes:
- In 1960, Jane Goodall observed wild chimpanzees using twigs to extract termites from their mounds.
- At the time, scientists widely believed that only humans were capable of making and using tools.
- Goodall’s finding compelled researchers to reconsider what traits define humanity.
- Her discovery also stimulated new lines of primatology research into animal culture.
The student wants to highlight how Goodall’s observation directly challenged prevailing scientific assumptions. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, always start by restating the goal in your own words (e.g., “show that her discovery proved a common belief wrong”). Then scan the notes for the most directly relevant details—especially clear contrasts like “scientists believed X, but the research showed Y.” Evaluate each answer choice by asking: (1) Does it use those key details accurately? (2) Does it match the goal (cause vs. effect, contrast vs. description, etc.)? Eliminate choices that are true but focus on side effects, background, or broader themes instead of the specific purpose stated in the question.
Hints
Focus on the task phrase
Underline the words “directly challenged prevailing scientific assumptions.” Your answer must show what the old assumption was and how Goodall’s finding challenged it.
Use the most relevant notes
Look back at the notes and find the one that tells you what scientists widely believed at the time. Then look for an answer choice that clearly connects Goodall’s observation to contradicting that belief.
Distinguish challenge from consequence
Some choices talk about new research directions or changes in the field. Ask: Does this sentence show a belief being proven wrong, or just describe effects of the discovery? You need the one that clearly shows the belief being overturned.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the writing goal
The question states that the student wants to highlight how Goodall’s observation directly challenged prevailing scientific assumptions.
So the right answer must do two things:
- Describe what Goodall observed.
- Explicitly show that this observation challenged or contradicted what scientists commonly believed at the time.
Pull out the most relevant notes
From the notes:
- Goodall observed chimpanzees using twigs to extract termites (her observation/discovery).
- Scientists widely believed that only humans could make and use tools (the prevailing assumption).
- Her finding made researchers reconsider what traits define humanity.
For this question’s goal, the key connection is: chimps using tools vs. the belief that only humans used tools. The best choice must make this contrast clear.
Check which choices actually show a challenged belief
Now test each option against the goal:
- Choice A: Mentions Goodall and chimpanzees using twigs but says nothing about what scientists used to believe, so it does not show a challenged assumption.
- Choice B: Connects the observation to later research on animal culture, which is about consequences of the finding, not about contradicting a belief.
- Choice C: Talks about broadening primatology and animal culture, but again focuses on how the field changed, not on directly overturning a specific belief about tool use.
Only one remaining option both states Goodall’s tool‑use discovery and clearly explains that it overturned the belief that only humans used tools.
Confirm the best match
The sentence that best fulfills the goal is:
In 1960, Jane Goodall’s discovery that chimpanzees fashion twigs into termite-extracting tools overturned the then-common belief that only humans used tools.
It directly links her observation (chimps using twig tools) to the specific prevailing assumption (only humans used tools) and clearly states that this belief was overturned, exactly matching the student’s goal.