Question 25·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Nutrition researcher Dr. Lara Nichols analyzed data from hundreds of elementary schools that launched free breakfast programs. She found higher student attendance and modest gains in test scores after the meals were introduced. Nichols concludes that every public school should offer free breakfast because "a nutritious start to the day boosts both presence and performance."
Text 2
Economist Marco Díaz also investigated school breakfast initiatives. His study confirmed that attendance generally rises when breakfast is available, but academic gains appeared only in schools that served high-quality, nutrient-dense foods. Díaz cautions that districts adopting inexpensive, low-nutrition menus "may see fuller classrooms but not smarter students."
Based on the two texts, how would Díaz (Text 2) most likely critique Nichols’s policy recommendation in Text 1?
For cross-text connection questions, briefly summarize each text’s main claim and any key condition or limitation. Then ask how the author of Text 2 would respond to Text 1 (agree, disagree, or agree with a qualification). Choose the option that matches that specific relationship and eliminate choices that introduce ideas neither text mentions (like cost, student preferences, or different programs).
Hints
Understand Nichols’s recommendation
Look at the last sentence of Text 1. What does Nichols think every public school should do, and what two benefits does she expect?
Identify Díaz’s key condition
In Text 2, Díaz agrees about attendance, but what condition does he give for academic performance to improve?
Look for the disagreement
How does Díaz’s warning about low-nutrition menus relate to Nichols’s claim that breakfast boosts both presence and performance?
Eliminate answers not supported by either text
Check each choice: is it based on something Díaz actually discusses, or does it introduce a new issue neither text mentions?
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify Nichols’s claim in Text 1
Nichols concludes that every public school should offer free breakfast because a nutritious start to the day boosts both attendance (presence) and test scores (performance).
Clarify Díaz’s key finding in Text 2
Díaz agrees that breakfast availability generally increases attendance, but he reports academic gains only in schools serving high-quality, nutrient-dense foods; low-nutrition menus may not improve learning.
Identify Díaz’s critique of Nichols
Because Nichols makes a broad policy recommendation, Díaz would likely critique her for implying that any free breakfast will improve academics, even though his results suggest academics improve only when the food is nutritionally high-quality.
Select the choice that matches Díaz’s critique
The choice that matches Díaz’s point is: Nichols overlooks that academic gains depend on meal quality, not just breakfast availability.