Question 23·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Ecologist Dr. Claire Lemaire argues that large-scale cultivation of moso bamboo is the most effective terrestrial strategy for mitigating climate change. According to Lemaire, moso bamboo can add up to 35 metric tons of above-ground biomass per acre each year, "far surpassing" the annual growth rate of temperate mixed forests. Because most of that biomass is composed of carbon, she concludes, converting marginal farmland into bamboo groves should be prioritized over planting slower-growing tree species.
Text 2
Forestry researcher Dr. Tunde Okoro cautions that Lemaire’s focus on above-ground biomass overlooks an equally important component of carbon storage: soil. Okoro notes that when bamboo stands are harvested on the typical five-year rotation, plowing and replanting disturb the soil, causing substantial carbon emissions. In contrast, mixed forests accumulate carbon not only in trunks and branches but also in deep, undisturbed soil layers that can retain carbon for centuries. Okoro therefore contends that mixed forests, not bamboo plantations, represent the more durable carbon sink.
Question
Based on the texts, how would Okoro most likely respond to Lemaire’s claim that moso bamboo cultivation should be prioritized over planting mixed forests?
For cross-text questions, first quickly annotate each passage with the author’s main claim and key reason (e.g., “Lemaire: pro-bamboo because fast biomass; Okoro: pro-mixed forests because of soil carbon and less disturbance”). Then ask how the second author would respond directly to the first author’s claim—look for criticism, agreement, or qualification. Finally, eliminate choices that introduce ideas not mentioned in either text, that flip the author’s stance (critical vs. praising), or that contradict clear statements, and choose the option that accurately restates the second author’s main objection or support in relation to the first author’s point.
Hints
Clarify each author’s main point
In your own words, summarize what Lemaire believes about bamboo compared with mixed forests, and then what Okoro believes about mixed forests compared with bamboo.
Focus on what Okoro criticizes
Look closely at the sentence where Okoro says Lemaire’s focus on above-ground biomass “overlooks” something. What exactly is being overlooked, and what problem does Okoro say that creates?
Think about what Okoro would say back
If Okoro were speaking directly to Lemaire about her recommendation to prioritize bamboo, what key concern about carbon storage and release would he bring up to argue for mixed forests instead?
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify Lemaire’s main claim
Lemaire (Text 1) argues that large-scale cultivation of moso bamboo is “the most effective terrestrial strategy for mitigating climate change.” Her main reason is that bamboo adds biomass (and therefore carbon) very quickly above ground compared with temperate mixed forests, so she concludes that converting marginal farmland into bamboo groves should be prioritized over planting slower-growing tree species (mixed forests).
Identify Okoro’s main response and concern
Okoro (Text 2) disagrees with this focus on bamboo. He says Lemaire’s emphasis on above-ground biomass “overlooks” soil carbon. He explains that when bamboo is harvested every five years, plowing and replanting disturb the soil and cause “substantial carbon emissions.” In contrast, mixed forests keep deep soil layers undisturbed so they can hold carbon for centuries, making mixed forests a more durable carbon sink than bamboo plantations.
Connect Okoro’s critique directly to Lemaire’s claim
Lemaire says bamboo should be prioritized because of how much carbon it stores in fast-growing above-ground biomass. Okoro responds that this is misleading, because she is not accounting for how much carbon is released when bamboo fields are repeatedly harvested and replanted. His key point is that bamboo plantations may release a lot of carbon back into the atmosphere from disturbed soil, whereas mixed forests keep more carbon locked away for longer.
Match Okoro’s position to the answer choices
Now compare each option to Okoro’s actual argument:
- Choice A talks about assumptions about marginal farmland being unsuitable for mixed forests, which neither text mentions.
- Choice B says Okoro would praise Lemaire, but his tone is clearly critical.
- Choice C says Okoro agrees bamboo stores more soil carbon, but he says the opposite: mixed forests have deeper, undisturbed soil carbon.
- Choice D says Okoro would argue that Lemaire underestimates how much carbon bamboo releases during periodic harvesting, which directly matches his point about soil disturbance and “substantial carbon emissions.”
Therefore, the correct answer is: D) By asserting that Lemaire underestimates the rate at which bamboo releases carbon during periodic harvesting.