SAT OwlQuestion bank / Rhetorical Synthesis
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
• Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes by both surface area and volume.
• Lake Superior holds about 12,100 cubic kilometers of water.
• Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes by volume.
• Lake Erie holds about 480 cubic kilometers of water.
• Lake Erie is the warmest of the Great Lakes.
The student wants to emphasize the difference in volume between Lake Superior and Lake Erie. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes, while Lake Erie is the warmest.
Lake Erie, the smallest of the Great Lakes by volume, holds about 480 cubic kilometers of water.
Lake Superior holds about 12,100 cubic kilometers of water, roughly 25 times as much as Lake Erie's 480 cubic kilometers.
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes by both surface area and volume.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
To emphasize a difference in volume, the sentence should compare the two volumes. Choice C gives both figures and stresses the gap: Lake Superior holds roughly 25 times as much water (12,100 divided by 480 is about 25).
Choice A contrasts the two lakes, but it sets size against temperature, so it never compares their volumes.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. This sets size against temperature and never compares the lakes' volumes.
- B. This gives only Lake Erie's volume, so there is no difference to emphasize.
- D. This describes Lake Superior's rank but makes no comparison with Lake Erie.
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