Question 52·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Municipal composting programs give residents a way to divert food scraps and yard trimmings from landfills. When these organic materials are instead turned into nutrient-rich soil, cities see measurable declines in landfill volume and methane emissions. Yet many communities hesitate to launch composting initiatives, partly because few citizens know how much waste they could keep out of the trash.
Text 2
Researchers analyzed waste reports from 120 U.S. cities. They found that those offering curbside compost collection reduced landfill contributions by an average of 20 percent within five years. Surveys, however, revealed that most residents were unaware their city even provided the service, indicating that education campaigns must accompany composting programs to maximize their impact.
Question
Based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?
For cross-text agreement questions, first summarize the main point of each passage in a short phrase, then look for the idea they share. Go through the choices and quickly eliminate any that mention topics not in both texts (like money, land use, or who should run programs here). Finally, confirm the remaining option by finding a specific line in each text that supports it—this keeps you from relying on outside knowledge or assumptions and saves time by focusing only on overlapping evidence.
Hints
Look for overlap between the texts
First, ask yourself: What is one clear idea that appears in both Text 1 and Text 2?
Focus on evidence, not side details
Pay attention to what results the texts mention from composting programs, not just the problems or background information.
Eliminate answers that add new topics
Cross off any options that introduce ideas not mentioned in either text, such as money, land space, or who should manage programs.
Check that both texts support the choice
For your final answer, you should be able to point to at least one sentence in each text that supports it.
Step-by-step Explanation
Restate what the question is asking
The question asks what both authors would most likely agree with. That means the correct answer must be clearly supported by Text 1 and Text 2, not just one of them.
Identify the key idea in Text 1
Text 1 says municipal composting programs let people divert food scraps and yard trimmings from landfills and that when these are turned into soil, "cities see measurable declines in landfill volume and methane emissions." It also notes some communities hesitate because citizens don’t realize how much waste they could keep out of the trash. So the main idea is that composting programs reduce landfill waste and pollution, but awareness is low.
Identify the key idea in Text 2
Text 2 reports that in 120 U.S. cities, those with curbside compost collection "reduced landfill contributions by an average of 20 percent within five years." It also says most residents didn’t even know the service existed, so education is needed to get the full benefits. Again, the key points are that composting programs significantly reduce landfill waste and that many people are unaware of them.
Find the statement both texts support
Now check the answer choices against what both texts say:
- Neither text talks about money, residents’ interest levels, or private companies versus government.
- Both texts clearly state that composting programs lead to measurable, substantial reductions in landfill waste. The only choice that matches this shared idea from both texts is: Composting programs can meaningfully reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.