A question about two texts’ arguments tests how one author’s claim relates to the other’s. Read the question to see which text you’re using to judge the other. Summarize each claim and its reason, then compare what the authors say. An author can reject a claim by disagreeing, qualify it by adding limits, or extend it to another case. Check the reason behind the response, because agreeing or disagreeing alone doesn’t show how the arguments connect.
Hints
- Hint 1
Find each author’s main claim about creativity. What does each author say remote work does to new ideas?
- Hint 2
In Text 2, use the patent finding to test Text 1’s main claim. Does that finding support what Text 1 says must happen when people work apart?
Step-by-step
Compare the claims and reasons
Step 1Find Text 1’s claim and reason
Text 1 says remote work inevitably weakens a company’s creative output, so the claim is stronger than saying it sometimes causes problems. Why does the author expect that loss? Shared offices allow chance conversations that can spark ideas, and video calls rarely recreate them. Since we’re comparing the arguments, the claim to test is that physical distance must hurt creativity.
- Step 2
Decide Text 2’s stance
Does Text 2 accept that claim? It says remote work does not necessarily dampen creativity and reports that distributed teams file just as many patents as in-office groups. Equal patent output gives evidence of new ideas emerging without a shared office. The author also says the crucial factor is not proximity but intentional collaboration, which can happen online. So it disputes an unavoidable loss of creativity and gives evidence that teams can create ideas online.
- Step 3
Match the relationship and strength
Which choice gives this disagreement for Text 2’s own reason? The choices about financial savings and increased employee burnout add topics neither author discusses, while creativity declines with distance accepts the claim Text 2 disputes. The choice that challenges Text 1’s main claim uses evidence about remote teams’ creative output instead. Its words can be just as innovative match the equal patent counts without claiming remote teams are always better. Choice D.