Question 134·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Letter to a newspaper editor, 1913
Harnessing the current of the White River through a hydroelectric dam will usher in an era of progress for our region. Unlike the sooty coal-burning plants that now power our mills, a dam converts the river’s steady fall into electricity without consuming a single lump of coal. This clean, reliable energy will light our homes and drive our factories while preserving the purity of the mountain air we cherish.
Text 2
Excerpt from a contemporary environmental journal
Hydropower facilities sidestep the carbon emissions produced by fossil-fuel plants, but they are not without cost. Large dams flood valleys, alter fish migration, and change sediment flow downstream. Any balanced assessment must weigh these ecological disruptions against the undeniable advantage that hydroelectric turbines generate electricity without burning fossil fuels.
Based on the texts, the authors of Text 1 and Text 2 would most likely agree with which statement about hydroelectric dams?
For cross-text agreement questions, first summarize each passage in a short phrase (e.g., “pro-dam” vs. “cautious but sees benefits”). Then scan for a specific idea that appears in both texts—often a fact or advantage/disadvantage both acknowledge. Eliminate choices that (1) appear in only one text, (2) exaggerate the tone (like saying harms are greater when the text only says they must be weighed), or (3) introduce details or comparisons the passages never mention. The correct choice will be clearly supported by both, even if their overall attitudes differ.
Hints
Hint 1: Focus on agreement, not disagreement
Look for a point that both authors would accept as true, even though one is more enthusiastic and the other is more cautious.
Hint 2: Underline repeated ideas
Underline any phrases in each text that describe what hydroelectric dams do or don’t do when generating electricity. See if any of those ideas appear in both texts.
Hint 3: Watch for extremes or details not mentioned
Be careful with answers that make very strong claims (like saying harms are greater than benefits) or bring in specific technical distinctions that neither text mentions.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks what the authors of both Text 1 and Text 2 would agree on. That means the correct answer must be supported in each text, not just one.
Find the author’s view in Text 1
In Text 1, the writer is very positive about the dam. Key phrases:
- “usher in an era of progress”
- “Unlike the sooty coal-burning plants… a dam converts the river’s steady fall into electricity without consuming a single lump of coal.”
- “clean, reliable energy… preserving the purity of the mountain air.”
So Text 1 emphasizes that the dam makes electricity and avoids burning coal (a fossil fuel).
Find the author’s view in Text 2
In Text 2, the writer is more balanced or critical. Key phrases:
- “sidestep the carbon emissions produced by fossil-fuel plants”
- “not without cost… flood valleys, alter fish migration…”
- “weigh these ecological disruptions against the undeniable advantage that hydroelectric turbines generate electricity without burning fossil fuels.”
So Text 2 admits environmental harms but clearly notes a major benefit related to avoiding fossil-fuel use.
Identify the shared idea and match it to an answer choice
Both texts explicitly say that hydroelectric dams provide electricity while avoiding coal or other fossil fuels: Text 1 contrasts the dam with coal-burning plants, and Text 2 says they generate electricity without burning fossil fuels. Among the answer options, the only statement that reflects this shared idea—and is supported by both authors—is A) Hydroelectric dams produce electricity without relying on fossil fuels.