Question 31·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Productivity coach Lina Marsh argues that the caffeine in coffee is the key to sharper focus at work. According to Marsh, caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, reducing feelings of drowsiness and enabling employees to complete tasks more quickly. She concludes that the more caffeinated coffee an employee consumes (up to a safe limit), the more productive that employee will become.
Text 2
In a series of experiments, psychologist Darryl Chen found that workers who drank decaffeinated coffee performed almost as well as those who drank regular coffee. Chen proposes that the boost comes from the comforting warmth of the beverage and from the short social break taken to prepare it. "The ritual itself resets attention," Chen explains, adding that simply holding a mug of hot water produced similar gains.
Based on the texts, how would Chen in Text 2 most likely respond to Marsh’s conclusion in Text 1?
For cross-text response questions, first identify each author’s main conclusion in one clear sentence. Then ask, “If Author 2 read Author 1’s conclusion, would they agree, disagree, or add a condition?” Use the specific evidence from the second text (like decaf vs. regular, or mentioned causes) to see how it supports or challenges the first author’s claim, and then choose the answer that best captures that relationship while rejecting any option that adds new ideas not found in the texts or that contradicts what the second author clearly says.
Hints
Find Marsh’s main claim
Reread the last sentence of Text 1. What does Marsh say is the main reason employees become more productive when drinking coffee?
Find Chen’s main claim
In Text 2, look at the evidence about workers who drink decaf coffee and those who simply hold a hot mug. What does this suggest is causing the productivity boost?
Compare and eliminate
Ask yourself: Would Chen fully agree with Marsh’s focus on caffeine, or would he offer a different explanation? Eliminate any answer choices that either completely agree with Marsh or bring in ideas that do not appear in Chen’s experiments.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify Marsh’s conclusion in Text 1
Look at the end of Text 1: Marsh says that caffeine is “the key to sharper focus” and concludes that “the more caffeinated coffee an employee consumes (up to a safe limit), the more productive that employee will become.” This is a strong claim that productivity increases mainly because of caffeine in coffee.
Clarify Chen’s findings in Text 2
Text 2 says workers who drank decaffeinated coffee did almost as well as those who drank regular coffee. Chen then suggests other explanations: the “comforting warmth” of the drink, the “short social break” to prepare it, and that “the ritual itself resets attention.” He also found that “simply holding a mug of hot water produced similar gains.” None of this points to caffeine as the main cause.
Compare Chen’s view to Marsh’s claim
Marsh links productivity increases specifically to caffeine. Chen’s results weaken that idea: when decaf and even plain hot water give similar benefits, caffeine cannot be the only or “key” factor. Instead, Chen is emphasizing different causes (warmth, ritual, brief break). So, Chen would disagree with Marsh’s conclusion and offer an alternative explanation for the productivity boost.
Match this comparison to the best answer choice
We need the choice that shows Chen challenging Marsh’s caffeine-focused conclusion and offering his own explanation from Text 2. The only option that does this is: “By noting that factors other than caffeine, such as warmth and routine, can also raise productivity.” This matches Chen’s points about warmth, the social break, and the attention-resetting ritual.