Question 31·Easy·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located on the island of Spitsbergen in Norway.
- The vault stores duplicate seed samples from crop collections around the world.
- The facility is dug into a mountain.
- Seeds are kept at about -18°C.
- Seeds are sealed in airtight packages to reduce moisture.
The student wants to explain how the vault’s design helps preserve seeds for a long time. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, underline the goal (what the sentence must accomplish) and then scan the notes for the 2–3 facts that most directly serve that goal. Choose the option that uses those facts accurately and efficiently, without drifting into extra background (like location or general purpose) unless it supports the goal.
Hints
Focus on the purpose of the sentence
Look for an option that explains how seeds are protected, not just what the vault is or where it is.
Pick details linked to preservation
Which notes mention conditions that prevent decay or damage over time (for example, temperature or moisture)?
Check for completeness
The best choice should include more than one preservation feature, not just a single fact like the location or the vault’s purpose.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate the goal
The sentence must explain how the vault’s design helps preserve seeds for a long time, so it should focus on preservation-related features, not just location or purpose.
Identify the most relevant notes
Notes that clearly relate to long-term preservation are: the facility is dug into a mountain, seeds are kept at about -18°C, and seeds are sealed in airtight packages to reduce moisture.
Choose the option that uses those notes to meet the goal
The option that combines the key preservation features (mountain setting, cold temperature, and airtight packaging) to explain long-term preservation is:
To help preserve seeds for the long term, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is dug into a mountain and keeps seeds sealed in airtight packages at about -18°C.