Question 64·Easy·Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Wright Flyer was built by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright.
- Their first flight occurred in 1903.
- It took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
- Orville piloted the first flight.
- The flight lasted 12 seconds.
The student wants to indicate when the Wright brothers’ first flight occurred. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
For note-based rhetorical synthesis questions, first pinpoint exactly what the question is asking (for example, when, where, who, why, or how). Then scan the notes and identify which one matches that type of information, ignoring all other interesting but irrelevant details. Finally, pick the answer choice that uses that specific note—and only that note—to directly and clearly satisfy the task, quickly eliminating choices that talk about the wrong kind of detail (such as place instead of time).
Hints
Focus on the exact task word
Underline the word "when" in the question. Ask yourself: which kind of detail answers a "when" question—time, place, person, or something else?
Check which note matches that type of detail
Look back at the bullet notes and decide which one gives information about time rather than about people, location, or duration.
Connect the right note to an answer choice
Once you know which note is about time, scan the answer options and find the one that uses that same information to form a sentence about the Wright brothers’ first flight.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the question is asking for
Focus on the task: the student wants to indicate when the Wright brothers’ first flight occurred. The key word is "when", which means the answer must give information about time (such as a year, date, or time of day).
Find the relevant note about time
Look at each note and decide which one tells you when the first flight occurred:
- "The Wright Flyer was built by brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright." → who built it
- "Their first flight occurred in 1903." → gives the year of the flight
- "It took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina." → where it happened
- "Orville piloted the first flight." → who piloted it
- "The flight lasted 12 seconds." → how long it lasted
Only one note tells you when the flight occurred: the one that gives the year.
Match the relevant note to an answer choice
Now find the answer choice that uses the note about time (the year of the first flight) to form a complete sentence about the Wright brothers’ first flight. Eliminate choices that talk about place, who, or how long, because those do not answer "when".
Select the answer that states when the flight occurred
The choice that correctly uses the time information and directly states when the Wright brothers’ first flight happened is:
C) The Wright brothers’ first flight occurred in 1903.