SAT Reading and Writing · Rhetorical Synthesis Practice Question

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: <ul> <li>Sound travels at about 343 m/s in air at room temperature.</li> <li>It travels at about 1,480 m/s in fresh water.</li> <li>It travels at about 5,100 m/s in steel.</li> <li>Sound speed depends on the medium's density and elasticity.</li> <li>Sound does not travel in a vacuum.</li> </ul> The student wants to emphasize that sound speed varies sharply across media. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

Which choice most effectively makes the student's point?

A
$Sound speed depends on the medium.$
B
$Sound does not travel in a vacuum.$
C
$Sound travels much faster in steel (5,100 m/s) than in water (1,480 m/s) or in air (343 m/s).$
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D
$Sound travels at 343 m/s in air.$

Explanation

The goal is sharp variation across media. Choice B juxtaposes three concrete speeds in different media. The others give principle or one value.

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