Question 4·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1 Many supporters of urban community gardens worry that accepting corporate sponsorship will compromise the gardens’ original mission: to supply affordable fresh produce to neighborhoods lacking full-service grocery stores. These advocates fear that corporate donors will prioritize public relations over community needs, pushing gardeners to grow visually appealing crops for marketing purposes rather than the diverse, nutritious foods residents request.
Text 2 Concerns about corporate influence on community gardens overlook the gardens’ own history. During the economic downturn of the 1970s, seed companies and local businesses provided free tools, mulch, and starter plants that made the very first urban gardens possible. Far from undermining community goals, such assistance allowed gardens to flourish and feed more neighbors. Today’s sponsorships continue that tradition by supplying resources gardeners could not otherwise afford.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the concerns described in Text 1 about corporate sponsorship of community gardens?
For cross-text questions, first summarize each text’s main point in a short phrase (for example, "Text 1: worried corporate money will harm mission" and "Text 2: argues corporate help has long supported mission"). Then restate the question in your own words ("What would Text 2 say back to Text 1?"). Before looking at the choices, predict the relationship—agreement, disagreement, or partial disagreement—and why. Finally, eliminate any answer that introduces new, unsupported ideas or flips the attitude of Text 2, and choose the option that best matches your prediction using specific details from the second text.
Hints
Clarify what Text 1 is afraid of
Reread Text 1 and underline what supporters think might happen to the gardens’ mission if they accept corporate sponsorship. Are these worries about losing the mission, helping the mission, or something else?
Focus on key phrases in Text 2
Look closely at phrases in Text 2 like "overlook the gardens’ own history," "made the very first urban gardens possible," and "far from undermining community goals." Ask yourself: Does the author see corporate involvement as harmful, helpful, or neutral?
Connect the two viewpoints
Once you know how Text 2 views corporate help, imagine the author of Text 2 talking directly to the worried supporters in Text 1. Would this author agree with their fears, partially agree, or argue that they are mistaken?
Eliminate answers that add new unsupported ideas
Cross out any choice that introduces claims not mentioned in either text (for example, new motives for corporations or a new definition of the gardens’ mission). The best answer will be solidly backed by details in Text 2.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the concern in Text 1
Look at what supporters in Text 1 are afraid of. They worry that corporate sponsorship will compromise the gardens’ original mission of supplying affordable fresh produce. They fear corporations will put public relations over community needs, pushing gardeners to grow visually appealing crops instead of the diverse, nutritious foods residents want.
Determine Text 2’s attitude toward corporate involvement
Now read how Text 2 talks about corporate influence. It says that concerns "overlook the gardens’ own history" and explains that in the 1970s, seed companies and businesses gave free tools and plants that "made the very first urban gardens possible." It also says this help "allowed gardens to flourish and feed more neighbors" and that today’s sponsorships "continue that tradition" by providing needed resources. This shows a positive view of corporate involvement that supports garden goals.
Predict Text 2’s response in your own words
Combine what you found:
- Text 1: fears corporate sponsorship will hurt the mission.
- Text 2: says historically, corporate help made gardens possible and helped them feed more people, and that today’s sponsorships continue that role. So, in your own words, the author of Text 2 would say that these fears ignore history and that corporate sponsorship has actually helped gardens do what they are supposed to do.
Match your prediction to the best answer choice
Now compare your prediction to each option:
- A talks about gardeners refusing funding, which Text 2 never mentions.
- B says the concerns are valid and mentions exclusive advertising rights, which Text 2 does not discuss and which contradicts its positive tone.
- C says the mission is recreational, which goes against both texts’ focus on feeding neighbors.
- D says the concerns are unfounded and that corporate involvement has always been part of community gardening and supports its goals, which matches Text 2’s history-based, positive argument.
Therefore, the correct answer is: D) They are unfounded because corporate involvement has always been part of community gardening and supports its goals.