Question bank / Rhetorical Synthesis

Reading and Writing · Expression of IdeasMedium

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Rafaela Domingo is a materials scientist.
• She developed a building brick made from rice husks and clay.
• Rice husks are a waste product of rice milling.
• Her bricks weigh about 20 percent less than standard clay bricks.
• Buildings made with her bricks stay cooler in hot weather than buildings made with standard clay bricks.

The student wants to emphasize how Domingo's brick compares with standard clay bricks. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A

Rice husks, a waste product of rice milling, are one of the two main ingredients in a brick developed by materials scientist Rafaela Domingo.

B

Materials scientist Rafaela Domingo developed a building brick made from rice husks and clay.

C

Rafaela Domingo's rice husk brick weighs about 20 percent less than a standard clay brick and keeps buildings cooler in hot weather.

D

Domingo, a materials scientist, developed a brick that contains clay.

Show answer and explanation

Answer: C

The goal is a comparison with standard clay bricks. Choice C gives both points of comparison from the notes: the brick is about 20 percent lighter and keeps buildings cooler.

Choice A highlights the use of a waste product, which is interesting, but it doesn't compare the brick with standard bricks.

Why the other choices are wrong

  • A. This explains where one ingredient comes from but makes no comparison with standard bricks.
  • B. This introduces Domingo and her brick's materials but doesn't compare it with anything.
  • D. This identifies Domingo and one ingredient without any comparison.
Ask Owl about this questionNext question

Got it wrong? On SAT Owl, Owl looks at the answer you chose and explains the exact mistake, then gives you similar questions until it sticks. Get your predicted SAT score free, or take a free full-length practice test.