Question 249·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a scientific facility designed to detect gravitational waves.
- In 2015, LIGO made the first detection of gravitational waves, which were produced by two colliding black holes.
- This detection confirmed a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
- LIGO operates twin detectors located in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington.
The student is preparing an encyclopedia entry for readers unfamiliar with LIGO. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to introduce LIGO in one sentence?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, start by restating the goal (here: a one-sentence encyclopedia introduction for unfamiliar readers). Choose the option that clearly defines the subject (what it is and what it’s designed to do) and uses supporting note details without overclaiming or focusing too narrowly on a single event.
Hints
Think like an encyclopedia writer
A first sentence should tell an unfamiliar reader what the subject is and what it does.
Use notes for definition-level information
Prefer the option that directly states LIGO’s purpose (what it is designed to do) rather than jumping straight to a specific event.
Watch for overclaims or missing context
Eliminate choices that don’t define LIGO clearly or that exaggerate what the notes say.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what an introduction should accomplish
Because the sentence is introducing LIGO to readers unfamiliar with it, it should clearly state what LIGO is and what it is designed to do, using information from the notes.
Select the choice that best defines LIGO
The best choice is the one that explicitly identifies LIGO as a scientific facility designed to detect gravitational waves and accurately incorporates the twin-detector detail and locations.
Confirm the best option
The choice that does this most effectively is:
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a scientific facility designed to detect gravitational waves using twin detectors in Louisiana and Washington.