Rhetorical Synthesis SAT BANK (MEDIUM): Science 1

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--Organisms release cellular material into their environment by shedding substances such as hair or skin.

--The DNA in these substances is known as environmental DNA, or eDNA.

--Researchers collect and analyze eDNA to detect the presence of species that are difficult to observe.

--Geneticist Sara Oyler-McCance’s research team analyzed eDNA in water samples from the Florida Everglades to detect invasive constrictor snake species in the area.

--The study determined a 91% probability of detecting Burmese python eDNA in a given location.

The student wants to present the study to an audience already familiar with environmental DNA. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• Sara Oyler-McCance’s researchers analyzed eDNA in water samples from the Florida Everglades for evidence of invasive constrictor snakes, which are dicult to observe.

• An analysis of eDNA can detect the presence of invasive species that are dicult to observe, such as constrictor snakes.

• Researchers found Burmese python eDNA, or environmental DNA, in water samples; eDNA is the DNA in released cellular materials, such as shed skin cells

• Sara Oyler-McCance’s researchers analyzed environmental DNA (eDNA)—that is, DNA from cellular materials released by organisms—in water samples from the Florida Everglades.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--Species belonging to the Orchidaceae (orchid) family can be found in both tropical and temperate environments.

--Orchidaceae species diversity has not been well studied in temperate forests, such as those in Oaxaca, Mexico.

--Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández led a study to determine how many different Orchidaceae species are present in the forests of Oaxaca.

--Muñoz-Hernández and her team collected orchids each month for a year at a site in Oaxaca.

--Seventy-four Orchidaceae species were present at the site.

The student wants to present the study and its findings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• A study led by Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández identied a total of 74 Orchidaceae species in the temperate forests of Oaxaca, Mexico. 

• There are orchids in many environments, but there are 74 Orchidaceae species in Oaxaca, Mexico.

• Oaxaca, Mexico, is home to temperate forests containing 74 Orchidaceae species.

• Arelee Estefanía Muñoz-Hernández and her team wanted to know how many different Orchidaceae species are present in the forests of Oaxaca, Mexico, so they conducted a study to collect orchids.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--Platinum is a rare and expensive metal. It is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions.

--Platinum catalysts typically require a large amount of platinum to be effective.

--Researcher Jianbo Tang and his colleagues created a platinum catalyst that combines platinum with liquid gallium.

--Their catalyst was highly effective and required only trace amounts of platinum (0.0001% of the atoms in the mixture).

The student wants to explain an advantage of the new platinum catalyst developed by Jianbo Tang and his colleagues. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• Researcher Jianbo Tang and his colleagues created a platinum catalyst that combines platinum, a rare and expensive metal, with liquid gallium.

• Like other platinum catalysts, the new platinum catalyst requires a particular amount of the metal to be effective.

• Platinum is a rare and expensive metal that is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions; however, platinum catalysts typically require a large amount of platinum to be effective.

• While still highly effective, the new platinum catalyst requires far less of the rare and expensive metal than do other platinum catalysts.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--A lever is a simple machine consisting of a rigid beam and a fulcrum.

--The fulcrum is the point about which the beam pivots.

--The input force (effort) is the force applied to the lever.

--The output force (load) is the force that the lever exerts on another object.

In first-class levers, the fulcrum is located between the effort and the load.

--In second-class levers, the load is located between the effort and the fulcrum.

The student wants to contrast first-class levers and second-class levers. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• In levers, the effort is the force applied to the lever; the load, in contrast, is the force that the lever exerts on another object.

• In first-class and second-class levers, the fulcrum and the load are in different locations.

• First-class levers are simple machines consisting of a rigid beam and a fulcrum, but then again, the same is true of second-class levers.

• In first-class levers, the fulcrum is located between the effort and the load, but in second-class levers, the load is located between the effort and the fulcrum.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--Scientists have developed a “freeze-thaw” battery that can retain 92% of its charge after twelve weeks.

--The battery contains molten salt (a type of salt that liquifies when heated and solidifies at room temperature).

--When the salt is in a liquid state, energy flows through the battery.

--When the salt is in a solid state, energy stops owing and is stored in the battery.

--The stored (frozen) energy can be used by reheating (thawing) the battery.

The student wants to specify how the salt enables energy storage. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• Scientists have developed a freeze-thaw battery that contains molten salt, which liquifies when heated and solidifies at room temperature.

• The stored energy in a freeze-thaw battery, which contains molten salt, can be used by reheating the battery.

• When the molten salt in a freeze-thaw battery solidifies at room temperature, energy stops owing and can be stored in the battery

• Molten salt allows a freeze-thaw battery to retain 92% of its charge after twelve weeks.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--The melting rate of glaciers varies based on air temperature. In the warm summer months, massive glaciers on the coast of Greenland melt into the surrounding water.

--The melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels each summer.

--Huge icebergs also break off Greenland’s glaciers into the water and melt. In 2017, geoscientist Twila Moon found that the iceberg melting rate depends not on air temperature but on water temperature.

--Because water temperature is consistent, melting icebergs contribute to rising sea levels all year.

The student wants to emphasize a similarity between glaciers and icebergs in Greenland. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• Because icebergs break off Greenland’s glaciers into the water, their melting rate depends on water temperature.

• Greenland’s glaciers and icebergs both melt during the year, contributing to rising sea levels.

• Geoscientist Twila Moon found that the melting rate of Greenland’s icebergs, unlike that of glaciers, does not depend on air temperature.

• Glaciers on the coast of Greenland melt during the warm summer months into the surrounding water, the temperature of which remains consistent throughout the year.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--In 2022, University of Miami researchers discovered brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba.

--A brine pool is an underwater lake that sits on the ocean floor.

--The water in brine pools is three to eight times saltier than the surrounding ocean.

--The extreme saltiness of this water makes it toxic to most sea life. Some forms of bacteria are able to survive in brine pools.

The student wants to explain why brine pools are toxic to most sea life. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• Though brine pools are toxic to most sea life, some bacteria can survive there.

• The water in brine pools is toxic to most sea life because it is three to eight times saltier than the surrounding ocean.

• The brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba are toxic to most sea life and were discovered by researchers in 2022.

• Brine pools are salty underwater lakes that sit on the ocean floor.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--Marine biologist Camille Jazmin Gaynus studies coral reefs.

--Coral reefs are vital underwater ecosystems that provide habitats to 25% of all marine species.

--Reefs can include up to 8,000 species of fish, such as toadfish, seahorses, and clown triggerfish.

--The Amazon Reef is a coral reef in Brazil.

--It is one of the largest known reefs in the world.

The student wants to introduce the scientist and her field of study to a new audience. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• Located in Brazil, the Amazon Reef is one of the largest known coral reefs in the world.

• Marine biologist Camille Jazmin Gaynus studies coral reefs, vital underwater ecosystems that provide homes to 25% of all marine species.

• Providing homes to 25% of all marine species, including up to 8,000 species of sh, coral reefs are vital underwater ecosystems and thus of great interest to marine biologists.

• As Camille Jazmin Gaynus knows well, coral reefs are vital underwater ecosystems, providing homes to thousands of species of fish.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--Scientists have long sought to determine the origin of glass in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

--A 2017 study concluded that ancient grass res had melted the area’s sandy soil into glass.

--In 2021, a different study revealed that the mineral signatures of glass samples were consistent with the mineral signatures of comet samples collected by NASA.

--That study concluded that the glass had formed as a result of a cometary explosion close to the desert’s surface.

The student wants to describe how scientic understanding about the glass’s origin has evolved. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• Scientists have long sought to determine the origin of the glass, with one study concluding that it formed when ancient grass res melted the area’s sandy soil.

• Studies in 2017 and 2021 offered different explanations for the origin of the glass.

• Mineral signatures of glass samples are consistent with those of comet samples collected by NASA, according to new research.

• A 2017 study concluded that ancient grass res had caused the glass’s formation, but new research suggests that the glass formed as a result of a cometary explosion close to the desert’s surface.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

--Crown shyness is a phenomenon in which the tops (crowns) of neighboring trees grow close together but don’t overlap.

--To explain how this happens, Australian forester M.R. Jacobs proposes the mutual abrasion theory.

--According to Jacobs’s theory, when trees brush against one another, branches break off.

--Malaysian scholar Francis S.P. Ng posits the mutual shade avoidance theory.

--According to Ng’s theory, when tree branches detect shade from nearby trees’ branches, they stop growing.

The student wants to compare the causes of crown shyness proposed in the two theories. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

• While Jacobs proposes that crown shyness is caused by neighboring tree branches brushing against one another, Ng posits that it occurs when branches detect shade from nearby trees’ branches.

• Both Jacobs and Ng have proposed theories to explain what causes crown shyness.

• Ng posits the mutual shade avoidance theory, whereas Jacobs proposes an alternative theory.

• Jacobs’s mutual abrasion theory proposes that when neighboring trees brush against one another, branches break off, resulting in a phenomenon in which the tops of trees grow close together but don’t overlap.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3