Question

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

• in a 2023 study, environmental scientist jazmin locke-rodriguez and colleagues tested the use of floating treatment wetlands (ftws) in florida.
• ftws are artificial floating platforms of plants used to remediate polluted or nutrient-imbalanced water.
• finding: ftws using marigold flowers removed 52% more total phosphorus than the control.
• finding: the test yielded 65 market-quality blooms per square meter.
• the authors concluded marigolds showed \promising potential as a commercially viable remediating crop cultivated on ftws in south florida.\

the student wants to present the findings of the study. which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

choose 1 answer:

a the authors concluded that marigolds grown on ftws were \commercially viable,\ having produced 65 blooms per square meter of market-quality blooms in a 2023 study.

b in a 2023 study, locke-rodriguez and colleagues found that marigolds cultivated on ftws produced 52% more market-quality flower blooms than the control.

c locke-rodriguez and colleagues found that ftws using marigolds not only helped remove phosphorus from the water but also yielded market-quality blooms.

d ftws using marigolds, locke-rodriguez and colleagues found, yielded 65 flower blooms and removed 52% of phosphorus from the water.

Explanation:

Analyze the student's specific goal

The student wants to present the findings of the study. We must identify which notes contain the actual findings/results of the research.

Identify the findings in the notes

Using the Rhetorical Synthesis knowledge point

• Finding 1: FTWs using marigold flowers removed 52% more total phosphorus than the control.
• Finding 2: The test yielded 65 market-quality blooms per square meter.

Evaluate the given options

• (A) focuses on the authors' conclusion and contains redundant phrasing ("blooms... of market-quality blooms").
• (B) mentions only one finding (52% more blooms, which incorrectly mixes the phosphorus percentage with blooms).
• (C) presents both findings: removing phosphorus from the water and yielding market-quality blooms.
• (D) presents both findings with specific data: yielding 65 flower blooms and removing 52% of phosphorus. Let's check accuracy: the notes say "removed 52% more total phosphorus than the control" and "yielded 65 market-quality blooms per square meter". Option D states they "yielded 65 flower blooms and removed 52% of phosphorus from the water." Option C states they "helped remove phosphorus from the water but also yielded market-quality blooms." Let's re-verify which choice most effectively and accurately presents the findings.
• Let's look closely at D: "FTWs using marigolds, Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found, yielded 65 flower blooms and removed 52% of phosphorus..." This accurately summarizes both key findings with their respective measurements.
• Let's look closely at C: "Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found that FTWs using marigolds not only helped remove phosphorus from the water but also yielded market-quality blooms." This is accurate and grammatically clean.
• Let's re-evaluate D's grammar: "FTWs using marigolds, Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found, yielded..." This has a misplaced modifier/comma splice style issue. "FTWs using marigolds... yielded..." is split by the parenthetical "Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found".
• Let's look at the standard SAT style for this question. The goal is "to present the findings of the study."
• Option C: "Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found that FTWs using marigolds not only helped remove phosphorus from the water but also yielded market-quality blooms." This directly presents both findings of the study clearly and effectively.
• Option D: "FTWs using marigolds, Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found, yielded..." is structurally awkward.
• Therefore, C is the most effective and grammatically correct option to present the findings.

Answer:

• (A) The authors concluded that marigolds grown on FTWs were "commercially viable," having produced 65 blooms per square meter of market-quality blooms in a 2023 study.
• (B) In a 2023 study, Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found that marigolds cultivated on FTWs produced 52% more market-quality flower blooms than the control.
• (C) Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found that FTWs using marigolds not only helped remove phosphorus from the water but also yielded market-quality blooms. (Correct answer)
• (D) FTWs using marigolds, Locke-Rodriguez and colleagues found, yielded 65 flower blooms and removed 52% of phosphorus from the water.