Question 240·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Maria Telkes was a Hungarian-American scientist who pioneered solar energy technologies.
- In 1947 she designed the first solar-heated residence, known as the Dover Sun House in Massachusetts.
- Telkes also invented a compact, solar-powered desalination device that provided drinking water to soldiers in lifeboats during World War II.
- Because of her work with the sun’s power, she earned the nickname “the Sun Queen.”
The student is preparing an introductory sentence for a presentation to classmates who know little about Telkes. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to introduce Telkes and highlight her achievements?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, first read the notes and quickly decide what the big picture is: who or what is being described and what the main takeaways are. Then read the question stem carefully to see the purpose (intro, conclusion, transition, etc.). For an introduction, prefer an option that (1) clearly identifies the person or topic, (2) combines multiple key points from the notes rather than a single minor detail, and (3) stays tightly focused on the subject named in the question. Eliminate choices that are too narrow, give only a fun fact, or shift focus to a broader or different topic than the one requested.
Hints
Focus on the purpose of an introduction
Ask yourself: for classmates who don’t know Maria Telkes, what basic information do they need first—only a nickname, or something more complete?
Look for identity + achievements
Scan for a choice that both tells who she is (her role/background) and highlights more than one of the important accomplishments listed in the notes.
Avoid choices that are too narrow or off-topic
Be careful with choices that only mention one detail from the notes or mainly talk about solar power in general rather than introducing Maria Telkes herself.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the task
The question asks for an introductory sentence for classmates who know little about Maria Telkes. That sentence needs to:
- Introduce who she is (basic identity/background), and
- Highlight her main achievements from the notes (not just one detail).
Identify the most important ideas in the notes
Look over the notes and decide what is most important for an introduction:
- Who she is: a Hungarian-American scientist who pioneered solar energy technologies.
- Her major accomplishments:
- Designed the first solar-heated residence (Dover Sun House).
- Invented a solar-powered desalination device for World War II lifeboats.
- Extra detail: her nickname, “the Sun Queen.”
For an introduction, you want a sentence that includes her identity and more than one of these major achievements, not just a minor detail.
Evaluate each choice against the task
Check each answer choice:
- Does it clearly introduce Maria Telkes to someone who doesn’t know her?
- Does it highlight more than one major achievement or at least summarize her impact?
- Is it mainly about Telkes, not about a broader topic like solar power in general?
Eliminate choices that only give a nickname, only one specific fact, or mainly discuss solar power instead of Telkes herself.
Select the sentence that best introduces Telkes and her achievements
Only Choice C fully identifies Maria Telkes (as a Hungarian-American scientist known as “the Sun Queen”) and summarizes both her pioneering work in solar energy and her two key inventions (the first solar-heated house and a solar-powered desalination device). This makes it the most effective introductory sentence for classmates who know little about her.