Question 56·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
The shift toward remote work has left many downtown office buildings partially empty. Commercial landlords are experimenting with flexible leases, shared workspaces, and even residential conversions to keep vacancies from eroding property values. Analysts argue that companies will select offices based not solely on square footage but on how well the space supports new hybrid schedules.
Text 2
City transportation departments report a sustained drop in weekday rush-hour ridership since the increase in remote work. In response, several agencies are revising bus and train timetables, expanding off-peak service, and reallocating funds toward bicycle lanes and pedestrian zones. Officials emphasize that transportation planning must now reflect a workforce that commutes less frequently and at more varied times.
Based on the texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?
For cross-text agreement questions, first read the question stem carefully and underline that you’re looking for what both authors would agree on. Then, for each text, jot a quick note: who is involved, what change is happening, and how they respond. Look for the overlap between those notes—that’s your common idea. When you check the answer choices, reject any option that only fits one text, adds new concepts (like profits or predictions not mentioned), or uses extreme wording (like “eliminated” or “unaffected”) that isn’t supported. Choose the option that you can back up with clear evidence from both passages.
Hints
Focus on agreement, not details
Reread the question and remember you need something both texts support. As you read, ask: What big idea do these two texts have in common? Ignore details that only appear in one text.
Think about the response to remote work in Text 1
In Text 1, what specific actions are landlords and companies taking because offices are partially empty? Are they leaving things alone, or are they changing how buildings are used?
Think about the response to remote work in Text 2
In Text 2, what actions are transportation departments taking because fewer people commute at rush hour? Are they keeping their systems the same, or adjusting services and street use?
Watch out for extreme or speculative choices
Be careful with choices that say things are completely eliminated, unchanged, or that talk about profits or other ideas that are never mentioned. Make sure you can point to clear support for a choice in both texts.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify what the question is asking
The question asks what both authors would most likely agree with. That means you must find an idea that is clearly supported by Text 1 and Text 2, not just one of them.
So your task is:
- Identify the main point of Text 1.
- Identify the main point of Text 2.
- Look for the overlap between those two points.
- Choose the option that matches that shared idea.
Identify the key idea in Text 1
Look at what Text 1 says is happening and how people respond:
- Remote work has left many downtown office buildings partially empty.
- Commercial landlords are experimenting with flexible leases, shared workspaces, and residential conversions.
- Analysts say companies will choose offices based on how well they support new hybrid schedules.
So, in Text 1:
- A change in work habits (more remote/hybrid work) is happening.
- Landlords and companies are changing how they use and design office space in response.
Identify the key idea in Text 2
Now look at what Text 2 says is happening and how people respond:
- There is a sustained drop in weekday rush-hour ridership because of remote work.
- Agencies are revising bus and train timetables, expanding off-peak service, and reallocating funds toward bicycle lanes and pedestrian zones.
- Officials say transportation planning must now reflect a workforce that commutes less often and at different times.
So, in Text 2:
- A change in work/commute patterns is happening.
- Transportation officials are changing schedules, services, and street design in response.
Find the common idea between the two texts
Compare what you found:
- In both texts, remote work changes how and when people go to workplaces.
- In both texts, important decision-makers (landlords in Text 1, transportation officials in Text 2) respond by modifying existing systems:
- Buildings and leases in Text 1.
- Transit schedules and street layouts in Text 2.
The shared idea is: changes in work habits are causing organizations that run physical spaces and services in cities to adapt what they already have.
Match the shared idea to the answer choices
Now test each choice against both texts:
- A) Says demand for traditional office buildings is eliminated. Text 1 only says “partially empty” and shows landlords trying new strategies, so this is too extreme.
- C) Predicts higher profits for transportation agencies. Text 2 never mentions profits and actually mentions a ridership drop, so this goes beyond the information given.
- D) Says landlords and planners are largely unaffected by commute changes, but in both texts they are making significant changes, so this is the opposite of what the texts say.
- B) Says that changes in workplace habits are pushing businesses and city officials to modify existing infrastructure. This matches Text 1 (landlords changing how buildings are used) and Text 2 (transportation departments changing schedules and investing in new lanes).
Therefore, the correct answer is B) Changes in workplace habits are pushing businesses and city officials to modify existing infrastructure.