Question 59·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
The recent surge in remote work is eroding the spontaneous exchanges that spark innovation. Video meetings feel scripted, and messaging apps can’t recreate the energy of hallway conversations. Without in-person brainstorming, teams become silos, recycling familiar ideas instead of generating bold new ones.
Text 2
Creativity isn’t bound to a physical office; it thrives where people feel comfortable and focused. Digital whiteboards, shared documents, and quick voice channels let employees brainstorm from anywhere, often resulting in more diverse ideas because contributors aren’t limited to whoever happens to be near the conference room.
Based on the two texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the concern raised by the author of Text 1?
For cross-text connection questions, first summarize each passage’s main point in a short phrase (for example, “remote hurts innovation” vs. “remote can still support creativity”). Then decide the basic relationship: agree, disagree, or qualify. When you go to the answer choices, quickly eliminate any that misstate either author’s view or introduce ideas (like productivity or extreme words such as "inevitably" or "no impact") that don’t match the text. Always anchor your choice in specific phrases from both texts rather than your own opinions about the topic.
Hints
Locate the worry in Text 1
Reread Text 1 and identify what specific problem the author thinks remote work creates. Is the focus on speed, productivity, or something else?
Summarize Text 2’s view in your own words
In one short sentence, explain what Text 2 says about where creativity can happen and how digital tools affect brainstorming.
Decide: agree, partially agree, or disagree?
Ask yourself: Does Text 2 agree with Text 1’s concern about innovation, slightly soften it, or push back against it? Look for phrases that show a positive or negative attitude toward remote brainstorming.
Test each choice against both texts
For each answer choice, check: Does it accurately reflect what Text 2 says, and does it logically respond to Text 1’s worry about innovation and spontaneous exchanges?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand Text 1’s main concern
Focus on what the author of Text 1 is worried about:
- "remote work is eroding the spontaneous exchanges that spark innovation"
- "Video meetings feel scripted" and "messaging apps can’t recreate the energy of hallway conversations"
- Without in-person brainstorming, teams "recycling familiar ideas instead of generating bold new ones"
So Text 1’s concern is that remote work weakens creativity and innovation because it lacks informal, in-person, spontaneous interactions.
Understand Text 2’s main claim
Now look at what Text 2 says about creativity and remote work:
- "Creativity isn’t bound to a physical office; it thrives where people feel comfortable and focused."
- It lists digital whiteboards, shared documents, and quick voice channels as tools that let people "brainstorm from anywhere."
- It adds that this can lead to more diverse ideas because people aren’t limited to "whoever happens to be near the conference room."
So Text 2 believes that creativity can thrive outside the office and that modern digital tools can support (and even improve) brainstorming and idea diversity.
Compare the two viewpoints
Put the two texts side by side in your mind:
- Text 1: Remote work hurts spontaneous exchanges and leads to repeated, unoriginal ideas.
- Text 2: Remote work can still support strong brainstorming using online tools, and may even produce more diverse ideas.
This means the author of Text 2 would disagree with the concern that remote work inherently destroys innovation. Instead, they would say that remote tools can keep creativity strong.
Match that relationship to the answer choices
Now see which answer choice best captures Text 2’s likely response:
- Any choice where Text 2 agrees that remote work hurts innovation cannot be right, because Text 2 says remote brainstorming can lead to more diverse ideas.
- Any choice that treats in-person hallway conversations as uniquely necessary also conflicts with the idea that "creativity isn’t bound to a physical office."
- Any choice that says location makes no difference at all ignores that Text 2 claims remote tools can actually improve idea diversity.
The only choice that fits is B) By arguing that modern online collaboration tools can foster innovation just as effectively as in-person meetings.