SAT OwlQuestion bank / Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Marguerite Olin (1871-1940) was a Canadian novelist.
• Her novel The Ice Road was published in 1912.
• The novel follows a family that hauls freight across a frozen lake each winter.
• It was translated into nine languages.
The student wants to introduce The Ice Road to an audience unfamiliar with the novel. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The Ice Road, a 1912 novel by Canadian author Marguerite Olin, follows a family hauling freight across a frozen lake.
Marguerite Olin, a Canadian novelist, lived from 1871 to 1940.
The Ice Road was translated into nine languages after it was published in 1912.
Marguerite Olin's novel was published in 1912 and was later translated into nine languages.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
Readers who don't know the novel need its title, its author, and some idea of what it is about. Choice A gives all three, plus the publication year.
Choice D sounds informative, but it never names the novel or says what it is about.
Why the other choices are wrong
- B. This identifies the author but never mentions the novel.
- C. This names the novel and its publication year but doesn't say who wrote it or what it is about.
- D. This never names the novel or describes its story.
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