Question 239·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has compiled the following notes about a coastal city:
- Along the city’s coastline, the average sea level has risen 6 inches since 1950.
- Concerned about erosion, city planners launched the Green Shoreline initiative in 2015.
- The initiative involves planting mangroves and constructing elevated walkways.
- Since 2015, shoreline erosion has decreased by 20 percent.
- The new mangrove stands now provide habitat for 30 species of fish and birds.
The student wants to emphasize that the Green Shoreline initiative has successfully reduced coastal erosion. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions with notes, first underline the exact goal in the question (here, "successfully reduced coastal erosion"). Then scan the notes to find the one or two bullets that directly support that goal—ignore interesting but irrelevant details. Next, pick the choice that (1) clearly uses that key information and (2) directly accomplishes the stated purpose (such as emphasizing success or cause-and-effect). Quickly eliminate any answer that only gives background, motivation, or side effects instead of addressing the exact goal.
Hints
Underline the key task in the question
Focus on the phrase "successfully reduced coastal erosion" in the question. Any correct answer must show both that erosion has gone down and that this reflects well on the initiative.
Locate the most relevant bullet point
Look through the notes and find the one that talks directly about shoreline erosion changing over time. That is the fact you most need to use.
Match the note to an answer choice
Which option actually uses the information about erosion decreasing, rather than just when the initiative started, what it includes, or its effects on wildlife?
Check for the idea of success
Among the answers that mention erosion, ask yourself: does the sentence also suggest that the initiative is successful because of this change, not just that the change happened?
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify the writer’s goal
The question says the student wants to emphasize that the Green Shoreline initiative has successfully reduced coastal erosion.
Break that into key ideas:
- It must be about the Green Shoreline initiative.
- It must show that it reduced coastal erosion.
- It should suggest the initiative is a success because of that reduction.
Find the most relevant note(s)
Look at the bullet points and ask: which one directly shows that erosion has gone down?
The key note is:
- "Since 2015, shoreline erosion has decreased by 20 percent."
This is the only bullet that directly states a reduction in erosion, which is what the question asks you to emphasize. A strong answer should clearly use this information.
Test each choice against the goal and the key note
Now compare each option to the goal:
- Does it mention or clearly imply reduced erosion?
- Does it connect that reduction to the Green Shoreline initiative?
- Does it fit with the idea that the program is a success?
Eliminate any option that only tells you when the initiative started, what it includes, why it started, or side benefits like wildlife habitat, without actually emphasizing reduced erosion and success.
Choose the sentence that matches both content and purpose
Only one choice both (1) uses the fact that shoreline erosion has fallen by 20 percent since the initiative began in 2015 and (2) explicitly presents this decline as evidence that city planners view the initiative as a success.
Correct answer: Because shoreline erosion has fallen by 20 percent since the 2015 launch of the Green Shoreline initiative, city planners regard the program as a success.