Question 61·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Although municipal governments often cite the lack of protected bike lanes as the main obstacle to increasing bicycle commuting, this explanation is incomplete. Surveys repeatedly show that the social perception of cycling—viewed by some as impractical or unprofessional—and employer policies that discourage active commuting play equally significant roles. Analysts who focus exclusively on infrastructure therefore miss key cultural and institutional barriers.
Text 2
A recent report on Metroville's transportation habits compares commuting behaviors in neighborhoods with and without protected bike lanes. The researchers note that car ownership rates and work schedules are similar across the city. They conclude that the primary reason city residents avoid cycling is the scarcity of physically separated bike lanes. The authors recommend an ambitious lane-building campaign as the single most effective way to boost cycling rates.
Based on the two texts, how would the author of Text 1 most likely regard the bold sentence in Text 2?
For cross-text connection questions, first restate in simple words what the referenced sentence (usually in Text 2) is claiming. Then scan Text 1 for any lines that discuss the same topic (here, causes of low cycling rates) and note whether the author agrees, partly agrees, or disagrees. Focus on evaluative words like “incomplete,” “overlooks,” or “supports,” which signal attitude. Finally, choose the option that best captures that attitude, making sure it matches both the direction (agree/criticize) and the reason (what’s missing or wrong) rather than just echoing a few shared terms.
Hints
Clarify the bold claim
Reread the bold sentence in Text 2 and summarize it in your own words: what does it say is the main reason people don’t bike, and what solution does it present?
Find how Text 1 reacts to that kind of explanation
In Text 1, look for how the author responds when governments blame low cycling rates on a lack of protected bike lanes. What key phrase does the author use right after describing that explanation?
Notice the additional factors in Text 1
What other causes of low cycling rates does Text 1 mention besides infrastructure, and how important does the author say they are compared to bike lanes?
Turn the comparison into an attitude
Based on that comparison, ask yourself: would the author of Text 1 fully agree with Text 2’s bold claim, think it doesn’t matter, or think it leaves out something important? Then choose the option that best captures that reaction.
Step-by-step Explanation
Pinpoint what the bold sentence in Text 2 is claiming
Look closely at the bold sentence in Text 2: it says “the primary reason” residents avoid cycling is the scarcity of physically separated bike lanes, and then recommends lane-building as “the single most effective way” to raise cycling rates. That means Text 2 is giving top, almost exclusive importance to infrastructure (protected bike lanes) as the cause and solution.
Find Text 1’s view on explanations that focus on bike lanes
Text 1 describes what municipal governments say: they “often cite the lack of protected bike lanes as the main obstacle to increasing bicycle commuting.” Then the author of Text 1 immediately says “this explanation is incomplete.” The author goes on to say that surveys show social perception and employer policies “play equally significant roles” and that analysts who “focus exclusively on infrastructure” miss “key cultural and institutional barriers.” This shows that the author objects to explanations that treat infrastructure as the main or only factor.
Decide how the author of Text 1 would react to Text 2’s conclusion
Compare the two positions: Text 2 says bike-lane scarcity is the primary reason and promotes lane-building as the single most effective solution. Text 1 says focusing only on infrastructure is incomplete and ignores other equally important causes (social attitudes and workplace policies). So the author of Text 1 would think Text 2’s bold claim gives too much weight to infrastructure and leaves out other major influences.
Match that reaction to the answer choice
We need the option that reflects that Text 1 would see the bold claim as going too far because it leaves out other important factors. Choice C says the bold sentence is “overstated, because it ignores the influence of social attitudes and workplace policies on commuting choices.” This exactly matches Text 1’s criticism of infrastructure-only explanations, so C is the correct answer.