Question 106·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Some people say yawning happens because we need more oxygen. In a stuffy room, they argue, people yawn to take a deep breath, so stale air is the main cause of yawning.
Text 2
Neuroscientist Maya Chen reports that experiments suggest yawning helps cool the brain and is strongly influenced by social cues. People yawn more when they see others yawn, and changes to room temperature affect yawning rates, but altering oxygen levels did not.
Based on the texts, how would the researcher in Text 2 most likely respond to the explanation in Text 1?
For cross-text questions, summarize each text in a short phrase (Text 1: “oxygen/stale air causes yawning”; Text 2: “brain cooling and social cues matter; oxygen changes don’t”). Then decide whether Text 2 would agree, disagree, or qualify Text 1. Finally, choose the option that matches that relationship without adding new, unsupported claims.
Hints
Clarify what Text 1 claims
Look at Text 1 and underline what it says is the main cause of yawning. Focus on the words "stuffy room," "deep breath," and "stale air."
Clarify what Text 2 claims
In Text 2, find what the experiments say yawning does and what factors do and do not change yawning rates. Pay special attention to oxygen levels, temperature, and social cues.
Decide if the researcher would agree or disagree
Ask yourself: would the researcher in Text 2 agree that stale air/low oxygen is the main cause of yawning, or challenge that idea? Then look for an answer choice that matches that reaction and also reflects the specific factors mentioned in Text 2.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand Text 1’s explanation
Text 1 says yawning happens because we need more oxygen. It suggests that in a stuffy room people yawn to take a deep breath, so stale air/low oxygen is presented as the main cause of yawning.
Identify Text 2’s main findings
Text 2 says experiments suggest yawning helps cool the brain and is strongly influenced by social cues. It also says room temperature affects yawning rates, but changing oxygen levels did not.
Determine how Text 2 would respond to Text 1
Because Text 2 reports that oxygen changes did not affect yawning, the researcher would disagree with Text 1’s claim that low oxygen/stale air is the main cause. The researcher would instead emphasize temperature and social cues.
Select the choice that matches Text 2’s response
The best answer must reject low oxygen as the primary cause and highlight the roles of temperature and social cues. The only choice that does this is: By disagreeing that low oxygen is the main cause and emphasizing temperature changes and social cues.