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Expression of Ideas / Rhetorical Synthesis Difficulty: Medium

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

Started in 1925, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is a US-based spelling competition.
The words used in the competition have diverse linguistic origins.
In 2008, Sameer Mishra won by correctly spelling the word “guerdon.”
“Guerdon” derives from the Anglo-French word “guerdun.”
In 2009, Kavya Shivashankar won by correctly spelling the word “Laodicean.”
“Laodicean” derives from the ancient Greek word “Laodíkeia.”

The student wants to emphasize a difference in the origins of the two words. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

“Guerdon,” the final word of the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee, is of Anglo-French origin, while the following year’s final word, “Laodicean,” derives from ancient Greek.

In 2008, Sameer Mishra won the Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word “guerdon”; however, the following year, Kavya Shivashankar won based on spelling the word “Laodicean.”

Kavya Shivashankar won the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling “Laodicean,” which derives from the ancient Greek word “Laodíkeia.”

The Scripps National Spelling Bee uses words from diverse linguistic origins, such as “guerdon” and “Laodicean.”

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Explanation

Choice A is the best answer. Noting that “guerdon” is of Anglo-French origin and “Laodicean” is of ancient Greek origin, the sentence uses “while” to emphasize a difference in the origins of the two words.

Choice B is incorrect. While the sentence emphasizes two words used in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, it doesn’t emphasize (or mention) the words’ linguistic origins. Choice C is incorrect. While the sentence specifies the linguistic origin of one word used in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, it doesn’t mention the other word or emphasize a difference in the two words’ origins. Choice D is incorrect. While the sentence makes a generalization about words used in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, it doesn’t emphasize a difference in the words’ origins.