Question 50·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Every spring and fall, millions of songbirds migrate at night, using the stars to navigate. A recent study led by ecologist Priya Ramanathan found that the glow from brightly lit city skylines causes many of these birds to veer off course, circle repeatedly, and deplete precious energy reserves. Ramanathan’s team concludes that even modest reductions in urban lighting during peak migration weeks could significantly lower this disorientation.
Text 2
Urban ornithologist David Chen has long tracked collisions between birds and skyscrapers. His data show that fatal strikes rise sharply on nights when building facades are fully illuminated. Chen argues that turning off decorative lights after midnight and switching necessary fixtures to dimmer, downward-facing bulbs would save thousands of birds each season without compromising public safety.
Based on the two texts, which measure would both Ramanathan and Chen most likely endorse?
For cross-text questions, quickly summarize each passage in 1–2 notes (problem + proposed solution), then ask, “What do they BOTH say or support?” Look for the overlapping idea in scope and intensity—especially whether they want more/less of something and when. Eliminate any option that: (1) contradicts either text, (2) is much more extreme than what’s described, or (3) introduces a new concept not mentioned in either passage. Only after that comparison should you match the remaining answer to the shared point and choose it with confidence.
Hints
Identify each author’s proposed solution
In each text, underline or note the specific actions the researcher recommends cities should take about lights at night.
Look for overlap, not differences
Ask yourself: What type of lighting change do both texts support? Focus on how big the change is and whether it affects all lights or only some.
Eliminate options that go against both texts
Cross out any answer choices that clearly increase lighting or suggest strategies that neither author mentions, such as new technologies or sounds.
Check the time and scope of the change
Pay attention to when and how long the proposed change happens—does it match the idea of specific weeks/nights linked to bird migration?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand Text 1 (Ramanathan)
Read Text 1 and sum up the main point:
- Migrating songbirds use stars to navigate at night.
- Bright city skylines make birds veer off course, circle, and waste energy.
- Ramanathan’s team concludes that even modest reductions in urban lighting during peak migration weeks could reduce this disorientation.
Key idea: reducing urban lighting (not eliminating it) during peak migration weeks helps birds.
Understand Text 2 (Chen)
Now summarize Text 2:
- Chen studies bird collisions with skyscrapers.
- Collisions increase when building facades are fully lit.
- He argues for turning off decorative lights after midnight and using dimmer, downward-facing bulbs for necessary lights.
Key idea: changing or reducing certain lights at night can save birds while still keeping cities safely lit.
Find the Common Ground Between the Two Texts
Ask: What do both Ramanathan and Chen agree on?
- Both connect bright city lights at night with harm to migrating birds.
- Both propose limited, targeted changes to nighttime lighting, not a complete blackout and not brighter lights.
- Their shared solution is to reduce or modify nonessential lighting during the time when birds are migrating while keeping necessary safety lighting.
Match the Shared Idea to an Answer Choice
Now compare each option to the shared idea from both texts:
- One option mentions reducing or modifying nonessential nighttime lighting during the weeks when birds migrate, which directly matches Ramanathan’s call for modest reductions during peak migration and Chen’s suggestion to turn off decorative lights and dim/redirect necessary lights.
Therefore, the measure both Ramanathan and Chen would most likely endorse is: Reducing or modifying nonessential nighttime lighting during the weeks when birds migrate.