Question 43·Easy·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Many native bee species are solitary and do not live in large hives.
- Solitary bees often nest in hollow plant stems or other small cavities.
- Urban development can reduce the number of natural nesting sites available to solitary bees.
- Bee hotels are bundles of tubes or blocks of wood with small drilled holes that provide nesting spaces for solitary bees.
- Placing bee hotels in gardens can increase the pollination of nearby flowering plants.
The student wants to explain why some gardeners install bee hotels. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions, restate the goal (here: give a reason gardeners install bee hotels). Then choose only the notes that directly support that goal, especially cause-and-effect information (bee hotels → more pollination). Pick the option that uses those relevant ideas without drifting into background definitions or unrelated details.
Hints
Focus on the word “why”
Look for an option that gives a reason gardeners would want bee hotels in their gardens, not just what bee hotels are.
Use the note that mentions a result
One note describes an outcome of placing bee hotels in gardens. Find the option that includes that outcome.
Avoid choices that are only definitions
If a choice only defines solitary bees or bee hotels but doesn’t explain a benefit to gardeners, it won’t meet the goal.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the student’s goal
The sentence should explain why gardeners install bee hotels, so it should include a benefit to gardeners (not just a definition).
Select the most relevant notes
The notes say bee hotels provide nesting spaces for solitary bees and that placing them in gardens can increase pollination of nearby flowering plants.
Choose the option that states the reason and the benefit
The choice that includes both providing nesting space and increasing pollination is: Gardeners install bee hotels to provide nesting spaces for solitary bees and to increase pollination of nearby flowering plants.