16Hit1600
Expression of IdeasEasy–MediumUsing notes to accomplish a rhetorical goal

Expression of Ideas practice question

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: - During the 1930s the American plains suffered a severe drought. - In the preceding decades, farmers had ploughed up the native prairie grass to plant wheat. - The grass's deep roots had held the topsoil in place. - With the grass gone and the soil dry, winds blew the topsoil away in enormous dust storms.

The student wants to explain why the topsoil blew away. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

  1. A. Because farmers had ploughed up the prairie grass whose roots held the soil in place, the drought of the 1930s left the dry topsoil free to be blown away.Correct
  2. B. Dust storms in the 1930s carried enormous quantities of topsoil away.
  3. C. The drought of the 1930s caused farmers to plough up the prairie grass.
  4. D. The topsoil of the American plains blew away during the 1930s.

Answer: A. Because farmers had ploughed up the prairie grass whose roots held the soil in place, the drought of the 1930s left the dry topsoil free to be blown away.

An explanation gives the cause. Choice A links the removed grass, the lost roots and the drought to the result.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. Dust storms in the 1930s carried enormous quantities of topsoil away.
This describes the event without explaining it.
C. The drought of the 1930s caused farmers to plough up the prairie grass.
This reverses the order in the notes: the ploughing came in the decades BEFORE the drought, not because of it.
D. The topsoil of the American plains blew away during the 1930s.
This restates what happened, not why.

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