A question about two texts tests how one author would respond to another author's account. Find who answers whom, then sum up the account and the reason behind it. Use the responding text's findings to name the stance: reject means disagree with the claim, qualify means accept it only partly, and extend means carry it further. The reason decides, because choices can share a stance while giving reasons the responding text doesn't support.
Hints
- Hint 1
Look at Text 1's last sentence and put its main explanation in a few words. What does it say mainly accounts for different rural adoption rates?
- Hint 2
In Text 2, look for what happens when prices and content change. Compare the results for districts with many bus connections and those with few.
- Hint 3
Read both parts of Osei's final sentence. What does she say may matter, and what does she identify as the limits on adoption?
Step-by-step
Judge the account using Osei's findings
Step 1Find the account Osei must judge
Text 1 says rural uptake differences mainly reflect differences in exposure to urban networks, and Osei is asked to judge that account. Why does it give exposure the leading role? Repeated contact with cities is supposed to make new technologies familiar. Exposure is its main explanation for differing adoption rates.
- Step 2
Test exposure against the results
Do Osei's results support that leading role? She found that highly connected districts with higher prices showed little growth, while adoption surged even in sparsely connected districts after prices fell and local-language platforms launched. Strong urban links weren't enough by themselves, and weak links didn't prevent a surge once those barriers eased. Urban connections alone don't explain the adoption pattern.
- Step 3
Name Osei's stance
Osei allows that urban exposure may matter, but calls affordability and content the binding constraints. How much of Text 1's account does she accept? Binding constraints are barriers that must ease for adoption to grow, so she qualifies the account, or accepts it only partly: exposure may contribute, but isn't the main limit her results identify.
- Step 4
Check the added prediction
Does Osei show that we should expect better-connected districts to adopt faster once prices and content are the same? That prediction needs a comparison with prices and content held equal, which the passage doesn't report. It identifies a real channel but overstates its role instead weighs the factors as Osei does: exposure can contribute, but affordability and relevant content matter more. Choice D.