SAT OwlQuestion bank / Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened in 2008 on a Norwegian island in the Arctic.
• It is built deep inside a mountain, where permafrost helps keep the seeds cold.
• It stores duplicate seed samples from gene banks around the world.
• It is meant to protect crop diversity in case of natural disasters, war, or other losses.
• It can hold up to 4.5 million seed samples.
The student wants to emphasize the purpose of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which opened in 2008, can hold up to 4.5 million seed samples.
Located deep inside an Arctic mountain, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is kept cold by permafrost.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault stores backup seed samples to protect the world's crop diversity against disasters, war, and other losses.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located on a Norwegian island in the Arctic.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
A purpose is the reason something exists. Choice C gives it: the vault stores backup seeds to protect crop diversity against disasters, war, and other losses. Choice A describes its capacity, choice B how it is built, and choice D where it is.
Choice B explains how the vault keeps seeds cold, which is how it works, not why it exists.
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