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Difficulty: MediumRhetorical Synthesis: Summarization and Generalization

While researching the sea slug *Elysia chlorotica*, a student takes the following notes:
* The green sea slug *Elysia chlorotica* is native to the eastern coast of North America.
* The slug feeds on the alga *Vaucheria litorea* and retains the plant's chloroplasts inside its own cells.
* In 2010, biologist Sidney Pierce and his team analyzed *E. chlorotica*'s DNA.
* The researchers discovered that the slug's genome contains functional genes transferred directly from the alga.
* These transferred genes allow the slug to perform photosynthesis and survive for months using only sunlight.

The student wants to summarize the findings of Sidney Pierce's team. Which choice most effectively uses information from the given notes to accomplish this goal?

  1. A
    The green sea slug *Elysia chlorotica* is a species native to the eastern coast of North America that feeds on the alga *Vaucheria litorea*.
  2. By analyzing *Elysia chlorotica*'s DNA, Sidney Pierce's team discovered that the slug has acquired algal genes that allow it to perform photosynthesis.Answer
  3. C
    Animals can survive for months on sunlight alone if they are able to retain chloroplasts from the plant species they consume.
  4. D
    Sidney Pierce's team demonstrated that *Elysia chlorotica* is unable to perform photosynthesis unless it constantly consumes *Vaucheria litorea*.

Answer

The correct option is the one stating that Sidney Pierce's team analyzed the slug's DNA and discovered acquired algal genes that enable photosynthesis.
The correct answer summarizes the findings of Sidney Pierce's team by stating that they analyzed the slug's DNA and discovered functional algal genes that allow it to perform photosynthesis. This option uses facts directly from the notes to fulfill the specific writing goal.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the goal of the student's prompt.
The student wants to summarize the findings of Sidney Pierce's team.
Understanding the specific rhetorical goal allows us to evaluate which choice matches it.
2
Extract the findings of Sidney Pierce's team from the notes.
In 2010, the team analyzed the DNA and discovered that the slug's genome contains functional genes transferred from the alga, allowing it to perform photosynthesis.
This establishes the factual basis of the findings that the correct option must summarize.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that accurately and concisely summarizes these findings.
The choice stating that Sidney Pierce's team analyzed the DNA and found acquired algal genes that allow photosynthesis is the only one that directly summarizes the team's findings.
Other choices either focus on irrelevant details, make overly broad generalizations, or contradict the facts in the notes.

Key Concept

Rhetorical Synthesis: Summarization and Generalization
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Rhetorical Synthesis: Summarization and Generalization

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