Question 18·Hard·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
A common view among economic historians is that the Black Death abruptly halted intercity trade across Europe, largely because merchants’ account books from the late 14th century are scarce. With populations plummeting and labor supplies disrupted, these historians argue, most long-distance commercial activity simply ceased until the early 15th century, when surviving communities reorganized their economies.
Text 2
Examining recently digitized port-toll registers, historian Maya Llorente contends that European trade persisted through the Black Death. Llorente notes that many merchants began recording transactions in municipal customs ledgers rather than in private account books—documents that were often reused or discarded. Because the toll registers reveal steady shipments of textiles and grain between cities from 1350 to 1390, Llorente concludes that the epidemic altered where and how commerce was documented, not whether it occurred.
Based on the two texts, how would Llorente (Text 2) most likely respond to the bolded claim in Text 1?
For cross-text questions, first pinpoint the specific claim or idea from the first text (here, the bolded sentence). Then, read the second text with one goal: decide whether the second author would agree, disagree, or modify that claim, and note why. Finally, eliminate choices that (1) contradict the second text’s clear stance, (2) ignore the evidence or reasoning the second author gives, or (3) introduce new ideas (like luxury goods or demographic decline) that the second text never mentions. Focus on matching both the position (agree/disagree) and the reasoning (evidence type, explanation) to the second text.
Hints
First compare the claims about trade
Look at what Text 1 says happened to intercity trade during the Black Death, then look for what Llorente in Text 2 says about whether trade continued or stopped.
Focus on the evidence each text uses
Text 1 relies on the scarcity of a certain type of document. Text 2 talks about a different kind of record. How does that affect whether the first type of evidence is trustworthy?
Check for agreement or disagreement
Ask yourself: Is Llorente supporting Text 1’s conclusion about trade, or pushing back against it? Then pick the option that best reflects her stance and her explanation.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the bolded claim in Text 1
The bolded part of Text 1 says the Black Death “abruptly halted intercity trade across Europe” and notes that this view is based on the scarcity of merchants’ account books from the late 14th century. So Text 1 claims:
- Intercity trade mostly stopped.
- The main evidence is a lack of private merchant account books from that period.
Summarize Llorente’s main argument in Text 2
Text 2 says Llorente, using port-toll registers, argues that European trade persisted through the Black Death. She notes that merchants began using municipal customs ledgers instead of private account books, which were often reused or discarded. The toll registers show steady shipments of textiles and grain between cities from 1350 to 1390, and she concludes that the epidemic changed where and how trade was recorded, not whether trade happened.
Determine how Llorente would respond to Text 1’s claim
Compared to Text 1, Llorente would:
- Disagree that intercity trade stopped, because she finds steady shipments between cities.
- Criticize using the absence of private account books as proof, because merchants were instead using municipal records. So she would say that trade continued and that the scarcity of private merchant books is a bad basis for claiming it ended.
Match this response to the answer choices
Now match that idea to the options:
- The only choice that says trade continued and that the lack of private account books is unreliable evidence is Choice B: She would argue that intercity commerce continued, and that the scarcity of private account books is an unreliable basis for declaring it had stopped.