Question 125·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1 In an essay on museum practice, curator Imani Cho argues that the appeal of standing before an original painting lies in its material presence: the viewing of brushstroke ridges and subtle irregularities that testify to the artist’s hand. "High-resolution projections and digital reconstructions are useful as illustrations," Cho writes, "but they cannot produce the same feeling of presence that only the original object can elicit."
Text 2 Marta Lin and colleagues piloted a "layered looking" exhibit in which visitors could toggle a hand-held overlay while viewing an original canvas. The overlay accentuated paint topography and revealed underdrawing captured through imaging. Compared with a control group that viewed the painting without overlays, participants using the digital layer reported higher levels of awe and a stronger "sense of being with the artist" on surveys, and their interviews contained more sensory descriptors. Some spent less total time than controls yet described more intense moments of seeing. Lin’s team cautions that cluttered overlays reduced these effects. They conclude that well-designed digital augmentation can heighten, rather than diminish, a visitor’s sense of presence with the original artwork.
Based on the texts, how would Lin and colleagues (Text 2) most likely respond to Cho’s claim in Text 1?
For cross-text “response” questions, first summarize the key claim or attitude in Text 1 in a short phrase (e.g., “digital tools only inform, can’t create presence”). Then do the same for Text 2, focusing on its main conclusion, not the small details. Decide whether Text 2 would agree, partly agree, or disagree with Text 1’s claim. Finally, eliminate any answer choices that (1) introduce ideas not in either text (like replacing originals), (2) flip the stance (agreement vs disagreement), or (3) contradict specific details from the second text (such as what actually changed for participants). This top-down comparison is much faster than rereading every sentence for each option.
Hints
Clarify Cho’s view of digital tools
In Text 1, reread the sentence with the quotation marks. What does Cho say digital projections and reconstructions are “useful” for, and what does she say they cannot do?
Clarify Lin et al.’s conclusion
In Text 2, look at the last sentence. What do Lin and colleagues conclude about the effect of “well-designed digital augmentation” on a visitor’s sense of presence with the original artwork?
Decide if Lin’s team agrees or disagrees with Cho
Ask yourself: if Lin and colleagues talked to Cho, would they mostly agree that digital tools only illustrate and cannot create presence, or would they point to their results as evidence that digital tools can change how present people feel with the original?
Eliminate answer choices that contradict the study details
Check each option against the details in Text 2: Do Lin and colleagues ever say digital should replace originals, that digital tools have no emotional effect, or that awe comes only from longer viewing time?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify Cho’s main claim about digital images (Text 1)
Look at the key sentences in Text 1: Cho says high-resolution projections and digital reconstructions are “useful as illustrations” but “cannot produce the same feeling of presence that only the original object can elicit.”
So Cho’s position is:
- Originals give a special feeling of presence.
- Digital versions are informational/illustrative only and cannot create that same feeling.
Identify Lin et al.’s main finding (Text 2)
Now focus on the conclusion in Text 2: “They conclude that well-designed digital augmentation can heighten, rather than diminish, a visitor’s sense of presence with the original artwork.”
Supporting details:
- Visitors using the digital overlay reported higher levels of awe.
- They felt a stronger “sense of being with the artist.”
- Interviews had more sensory descriptors.
So Lin’s team finds that certain digital tools can make people feel more present with the original, not less.
Compare the two positions
Put the two views side by side:
- Cho: Digital tools are just illustrations; they cannot produce the same presence as the original.
- Lin et al.: A specific kind of digital tool (a well-designed overlay) can heighten the sense of presence with the original.
This means Lin and colleagues would challenge Cho’s claim.
Match this comparison to the answer choices
We need an option where Lin’s team disagrees with Cho by saying a digital overlay can increase presence with the original.
The choice stating that a well-designed digital overlay can enhance presence with the original (not merely illustrate it) matches Text 2’s conclusion and directly challenges Cho’s claim.
Answer: By arguing that a well-designed digital overlay can enhance presence with the original, not merely illustrate it