Question 32·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Recent surveys of managed honey-bee colonies in North America reveal that the insects are struggling to find sufficient nutrition. Researchers note that even when pesticide exposure is limited, colonies located near large single-crop farms lose more bees over the winter than those situated near mixed woodlands or community gardens. The team proposes that a consistent supply of varied pollen sources throughout the year strengthens honey-bee immune systems and helps the insects fend off pathogens.
Text 2
Wild pollinators such as bumblebees and certain butterflies are also declining, but studies in Europe suggest declines are less severe in regions where hedgerows, fallow fields, and flowering weeds remain intact. These habitats offer a sequence of blooming plants, ensuring that wild pollinators rarely face prolonged gaps in food availability. Conservationists therefore recommend preserving or re-establishing such diverse plant communities alongside farmland to bolster pollinator resilience.
Based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?
For cross-text agreement questions, read the question first and underline phrases like "both authors" or "would most likely agree." Then quickly summarize the main point of each text in a short phrase (for example, "nutrition diversity matters"), and look for the overlapping idea. Check each answer choice by asking, "Do both texts clearly support this, without adding new, specific details?" Eliminate any option that appears in only one passage, introduces terms that never appear (such as "urban" or "non-native" here), or makes stronger claims than the texts actually support.
Hints
Look for overlap, not differences
First, ask yourself: What general situation helps pollinators in Text 1, and what general situation helps them in Text 2? You are looking for a big idea that clearly appears in both passages.
Focus on key cause-and-effect in Text 1
In Text 1, pay close attention to what happens to bee colonies even when pesticide exposure is limited. What factor still seems to cause higher bee losses near large single-crop farms?
Focus on key cause-and-effect in Text 2
In Text 2, notice what kinds of places have less severe pollinator declines and what conservationists recommend doing near farmland. How does this connect to the situation described in Text 1?
Test each option against both texts
For each answer choice, ask: Can I point to clear support for this idea in both Text 1 and Text 2? If a choice is only supported by one text or brings in new, specific details (like "urban areas" or "non-native" plants) that you don’t see in the passages, cross it out.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks what both authors would most likely agree with.
That means you need to find an idea that is supported in Text 1 and Text 2, not just in one of them. Any choice that is not clearly backed up by both texts should be eliminated.
Identify the key idea in Text 1
In Text 1, researchers study managed honey-bee colonies.
Important details:
- Colonies near large single-crop farms lose more bees than those near mixed woodlands or community gardens.
- This happens even when pesticide exposure is limited.
- The team proposes that a consistent supply of varied pollen sources throughout the year strengthens bee immune systems and helps them resist disease.
So Text 1 emphasizes that varied, year-round nutrition is crucial, and that limiting pesticides by itself did not prevent higher bee losses near single-crop farms.
Identify the key idea in Text 2
In Text 2, the focus is on wild pollinators like bumblebees and butterflies.
Important details:
- Declines are less severe in areas with hedgerows, fallow fields, and flowering weeds.
- These habitats provide a sequence of blooming plants, so pollinators rarely face long gaps without food.
- Conservationists recommend preserving or re-establishing diverse plant communities alongside farmland to strengthen pollinators.
So Text 2 also stresses that diverse plant habitats and continuous food availability make pollinators more resilient.
Find the common ground between the two texts
Now compare the main points:
- Text 1: Bee health and survival improve when there is a variety of pollen sources throughout the year, and bees still struggle near single-crop farms even when pesticides are limited.
- Text 2: Pollinator declines are less severe where there is a range of flowering habitats that bloom at different times, and experts say these diverse communities should be preserved or restored.
Both authors agree that habitat and nutritional diversity play a major role in pollinator health. They also show that focusing on just one factor is not enough to solve the problem.
Match the shared idea to the correct answer choice
Now test each option against both texts:
- Moving colonies between farms (A) is never suggested in either text.
- Non-native plants (B) are not mentioned; the texts talk about diverse and existing habitats, not introducing non-native species.
- Urban areas vs agricultural regions (D) is not compared anywhere.
Only this statement matches the shared idea:
"Reducing pesticide use alone is unlikely to reverse current pollinator declines."
Text 1 shows bees still die near single-crop farms even when pesticide exposure is limited, and Text 2 shows that habitat diversity strongly affects how severe declines are. Together, these support the idea that pesticide reduction by itself is not enough, making this the correct answer.