Question 11·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
In a month-long campus trial, behavioral economist Ravi N. asked volunteers to batch smartphone notifications into two daily windows. Participants reported fewer attentional breaks and better mood, and end-of-term grades rose modestly. Ravi concludes that schools should set scheduled-notification mode as the default on student devices (students could opt out), arguing that a gentle nudge would help most students focus without cutting off access to messages.
Text 2
Sociologist Lian P. studies how technology policies affect students with caregiving duties, hourly jobs, or unpredictable schedules. She warns that restrictions framed as defaults can still function as "one-size-fits-all" rules, because defaults shape behavior and impose friction on those who need immediate updates, such as a sibling's pickup change or a shift alert. Lian argues that attention costs and needs differ widely; she favors interventions that begin with transparent choice and context-specific support rather than universal presets.
Based on the texts, how would Lian (Text 2) most likely respond to Ravi's recommendation in Text 1?
For cross-text connection questions, first answer: “What is each author’s main claim and attitude?” Summarize each text in a short phrase (for example, “Ravi: pro-default notification limits to help focus; Lian: wary of one-size-fits-all defaults, favors choice and context”). Then, before looking at the options, predict how one author would likely respond to the other. Finally, scan the choices for the one that best matches your prediction and eliminate options that contradict either author’s clearly stated views or introduce claims not supported by either text.
Hints
Clarify Ravi’s proposal
Focus on the last sentences of Text 1: what specific policy change does Ravi want schools to make about notifications?
Find Lian’s view on defaults
In Text 2, locate the part where Lian talks about restrictions framed as defaults and universal presets. Does she seem to approve of them or worry about them?
Think about who might be harmed or helped
According to Lian, which students are most affected by notification policies, and what kinds of message timing do they need?
Compare your prediction to the choices
Once you’ve predicted how Lian would respond to Ravi’s idea, eliminate any options that strongly praise universal presets or deny that needs differ among students.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand Ravi’s recommendation (Text 1)
Ravi runs a month-long trial where students batch phone notifications into two windows. Participants report fewer interruptions, better mood, and slightly better grades. Based on this, he recommends that schools should set scheduled-notification mode as the default on student devices, with an opt-out option. His goal is a gentle nudge that he believes will help most students focus.
Identify Lian’s main concern (Text 2)
Lian studies how tech policies affect students with caregiving duties, hourly jobs, or unpredictable schedules. She warns that defaults can act like one-size-fits-all rules because they shape behavior and create friction for people who need immediate updates (like a pickup change or a shift alert). She prefers transparent choice and context-specific support, not universal presets.
Predict how Lian would react to Ravi’s default
Because Ravi’s plan sets a universal default (even with opt-out), Lian would likely worry that it disadvantages students who rely on timely alerts and would argue for a choice-forward approach that accounts for individual circumstances.
Match the prediction to the answer choices
The choice that matches Lian’s concern about one-size-fits-all defaults and her preference for transparent, context-specific choice is:
She would warn that a default could burden students who need immediate alerts and would prefer transparent, context-specific choice.