Question 58·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Some management experts maintain that the most fruitful innovations emerge from teams that meet face-to-face to brainstorm. When individuals build on one another’s ideas in real time, they can combine perspectives and arrive at solutions no single person would likely reach alone.
Text 2
Other researchers contend that traditional in-person brainstorming sessions seldom produce the best ideas. They point out that the strongest proposals often surface when people first think independently and share their suggestions anonymously, thereby avoiding the social pressures that can stifle originality in group meetings.
Which choice best captures how the authors of Text 1 and Text 2 differ in their views about group brainstorming?
For cross-text comparison questions, first read Text 1 and underline or mentally note its main claim and attitude (positive, negative, or mixed). Then read Text 2 the same way, paying attention to contrast words like "however," "in contrast," or "other researchers contend," which often signal disagreement. Before looking at the answer choices, state in your own words how the texts relate—do they agree, disagree, or focus on different aspects? Finally, scan the choices and quickly eliminate any that introduce new specifics not in the texts (like particular technologies or professions) or that misstate which text holds which view, and select the one that accurately captures both positions at the same time.
Hints
Find each text’s main opinion
Before looking at the answer choices, summarize each text in one short sentence: What does Text 1 say about in-person brainstorming, and what does Text 2 say about it?
Notice the signal words
In Text 2, the phrase "Other researchers contend" is a clue. How does Text 2’s author position their view in relation to the kind of view described in Text 1?
Look for added or changed details
When you read the choices, cross out any that mention things not in the passages (like specific jobs, online tools, or claims about who benefits) or that flip the passages’ attitudes toward brainstorming.
Focus on how ideas are best generated
Ask: According to each text, what method of generating ideas leads to the strongest or most innovative results? Then match that pair of methods to the answer choice that reflects both accurately.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify Text 1’s main claim
Read Text 1 and focus on what it says about brainstorming.
- It says "the most fruitful innovations emerge from teams that meet face-to-face to brainstorm."
- It explains that when people "build on one another’s ideas in real time," they can reach solutions no single person would reach alone.
So Text 1 is positive about in-person group brainstorming, describing it as crucial for generating strong, innovative ideas.
Identify Text 2’s main claim
Now read Text 2 and note how it talks about traditional in-person brainstorming.
- It says traditional in-person sessions "seldom produce the best ideas."
- It says the strongest proposals often appear when people "first think independently" and then share ideas "anonymously," which avoids social pressures that can hurt originality.
So Text 2 is critical of in-person group brainstorming and prefers independent thinking plus anonymous sharing instead.
Compare the authors’ positions
Put the two views side by side:
- Text 1: Face-to-face brainstorming is very effective and leads to fruitful innovations.
- Text 2: Traditional in-person brainstorming is not very effective; better ideas come from people thinking alone first and sharing ideas anonymously.
They disagree about the effectiveness of in-person group brainstorming: Text 1 favors it, while Text 2 thinks another method (solitary, anonymous idea generation) works better.
Match this comparison to the best answer choice
Now use that comparison to test the answer choices:
- Eliminate any choice that says brainstorming inhibits creativity in Text 1 (not true) or that adds details about online platforms or specific professions (engineers, artists) that are never mentioned.
- Choose the option that says Text 1 sees in-person brainstorming as crucial for innovation and Text 2 prefers solitary, anonymous idea generation over face-to-face sessions.
That description matches choice A: Text 1 regards in-person brainstorming as crucial to generating innovative ideas, whereas Text 2 argues that solitary, anonymous idea generation is more effective than face-to-face sessions.