Question 47·Medium·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has compiled the following notes:
- Firefly squid emit a vivid blue light through a chemical process known as bioluminescence.
- Each spring, enormous shoals of firefly squid rise to the surface of Toyama Bay, Japan.
- Scientists investigate these squid to gain insight into the light-producing proteins involved in bioluminescence.
- The glowing displays may help the squid communicate with one another and evade predators.
The student wants to introduce firefly squid and explain why they are of interest to scientists. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For rhetorical synthesis questions like this, first restate the task in your own words (what the sentence must do), then quickly mark which bullet points are most relevant to that task. Next, go through the answer choices and eliminate any that (1) leave out a required part of the task, (2) introduce information not supported by the notes, or (3) twist the relationships (like cause and effect) described in the notes. Among the remaining choices, pick the one that most directly and accurately uses the key notes to match the stated goal.
Hints
Focus on the task, not just any interesting detail
Underline the key task in the question: the sentence must both introduce firefly squid and explain why scientists are interested in them. Eliminate any option that clearly does only one of these.
Match choices directly to the notes
Look at the bullet points and ask: which ones tell you what firefly squid are like and why scientists investigate them? Prefer an answer that clearly uses those specific points rather than less relevant details.
Watch for added or twisted information
Be careful of options that bring in new ideas not in the notes (like new groups of people) or that state a cause-and-effect relationship the notes never mention. The correct choice should stick closely to what the notes actually say.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify the writing goal
The question says the student wants to introduce firefly squid and explain why they are of interest to scientists.
So the best sentence must do both of these things:
- Give a basic description/identification of firefly squid.
- Clearly and accurately state the reason scientists study them.
Identify which notes match the goal
Look back at the bullet points and connect them to the goal:
- Bullet 1: Describes what firefly squid do (emit vivid blue light by bioluminescence). This helps introduce them.
- Bullet 2: Says when and where they gather (spring, Toyama Bay, Japan). This adds context about them.
- Bullet 3: Explains why scientists investigate them (to gain insight into light‑producing proteins).
- Bullet 4: Explains how the glow might help the squid themselves (communicate, evade predators) — this is about the squid’s behavior, not about scientists’ interest.
For this task, the most important bullets are 1 and 3, with 2 possibly adding useful location/season context.
Check each option against the notes and task
Now compare each choice to the notes and ask:
- Does it introduce firefly squid clearly?
- Does it correctly state why scientists study them, matching bullet 3?
- Does it avoid adding information that isn’t in the notes or twisting cause-and-effect?
Eliminate any choice that:
- Mentions reasons or groups (like tourists) that are not in the notes.
- Focuses on how bioluminescence helps squid with predators/communication instead of why scientists are interested.
- Gives an incorrect reason for scientists’ interest (for example, their location instead of their proteins).
Select the sentence that fits both meaning and accuracy
Only choice B) Firefly squid produce blue bioluminescent light, and scientists study these springtime shoals in Toyama Bay, Japan, to learn how their light-producing proteins work.
- Introduces firefly squid by noting their blue bioluminescent light (bullet 1).
- Includes the springtime gathering in Toyama Bay (bullet 2), which is accurate context.
- Correctly explains that scientists study them to learn about their light-producing proteins (bullet 3).
- Does not add any unsupported ideas.
Therefore, B is the correct answer.