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Difficulty: MediumRhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims

While preparing a presentation on the agricultural history of China, a student takes the following notes:
* The sweet potato (*Ipomoea batatas*) was introduced to China from the Philippines in the late sixteenth century.
* Unlike traditional Chinese staples like rice and wheat, sweet potatoes can grow in sandy or acidic soils and survive severe droughts.
* Historian Martin Heijdra notes that extreme weather caused major famines in China between 1637 and 1643.
* Historical records indicate that Chinese provinces that adopted the sweet potato early experienced significantly lower famine-related mortality rates during the 1637–1643 crisis than did provinces relying solely on traditional crops.

The student wants to support the claim that the introduction of the sweet potato mitigated the impact of agricultural crises in early modern China. Which choice most effectively uses information from the given notes to accomplish this goal?

  1. A
    Unlike traditional Chinese staples like rice and wheat, the sweet potato can thrive in sandy or acidic soils and withstand severe droughts.
  2. B
    Due to extreme weather, farmers in provinces that adopted the sweet potato early completely replaced traditional rice and wheat crops with sweet potatoes.
  3. During the famines of 1637–1643, Chinese provinces that had adopted the sweet potato early suffered fewer deaths than provinces that grew only traditional crops.Answer
  4. D
    The sweet potato, which was introduced to China from the Philippines, became the most widely cultivated crop in the region by 1637.

Answer

During the famines of 1637–1643, Chinese provinces that had adopted the sweet potato early suffered fewer deaths than provinces that grew only traditional crops.
The correct answer directly supports the claim that the sweet potato mitigated the impact of agricultural crises. It uses the information from the notes showing that provinces adopting the sweet potato early had lower mortality rates during the 1637–1643 famine crisis than provinces that relied solely on traditional crops.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the student's goal.
The goal is to support the specific claim that the introduction of the sweet potato mitigated the impact of agricultural crises (famines) in early modern China.
Identifying the precise claim helps filter out options that present true but irrelevant facts.
2
Evaluate the notes to find evidence directly connecting the sweet potato's introduction to reduced impacts of agricultural crises.
The final note states that provinces adopting the sweet potato early experienced significantly lower famine-related mortality rates during the 1637–1643 crisis than those relying on traditional crops.
This note provides the direct, empirical link between the crop's introduction and the mitigation of the crisis.
3
Compare the options to identify which choice correctly synthesizes this evidence without introducing unsupported speculation or misrepresenting the notes.
The option detailing that provinces adopting the sweet potato early suffered fewer deaths during the 1637–1643 famines directly translates this evidence.
This option uses only the provided facts to support the claim, while other choices either miss the claim or introduce speculative claims.

Key Concept

Rhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims
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Rhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims

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