Question 65·Hard·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
A team led by Marina Silva analyzed early Holocene bottle gourd remains from central Mexico, dating them to 6700–7900 BCE. The seeds and rind fragments closely matched domesticated African varieties in shape and surface texture, and prior floating experiments show that bottle gourds can drift on ocean currents for months while remaining viable.
Thus, oceanic drift from Africa is the most plausible route by which bottle gourds first reached the Americas.
Text 2
A subsequent study sequenced ancient DNA from pre-Columbian bottle gourd fragments recovered across North and South America. The genetic profiles clustered with East Asian, not African, lineages of Lagenaria siceraria. Given these affinities and archaeological evidence for early human migrations from northeast Asia into the Americas, the study argues that gourds were likely transported by people rather than arriving via Atlantic drift.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1?
For cross-text “How would the author of Text 2 respond to Text 1?” questions, first underline or mentally note the key claim in Text 1 (here, African origin via Atlantic drift). Then summarize Text 2’s main conclusion on that same issue (origin and route) and decide whether it agrees, modifies, or contradicts the first text. Finally, scan the answer choices for the one that matches this relationship in both stance (agree/partly agree/disagree) and supporting reasoning (e.g., what kind of evidence is emphasized), and eliminate any option that introduces new ideas not found in the texts or that gets the stance wrong.
Hints
Clarify what Text 1 is claiming
Reread the underlined sentence in Text 1 and ask: From where does Text 1 say the gourds came, and by what route did they reach the Americas?
Summarize Text 2’s explanation
Look at the sentences in Text 2 that describe the genetic results and the likely route. Does Text 2 support the idea of Atlantic drift from Africa, or suggest a different origin and transport method?
Compare evidence types
Notice what kind of evidence Text 1 uses (shape, texture, floating experiments) versus what kind of evidence Text 2 uses. How might that affect how the author of Text 2 judges Text 1’s conclusion?
Check agreement vs. disagreement
Decide whether the author of Text 2 would agree, partly agree, or disagree with the underlined claim. Then eliminate any answer choices that show the wrong kind of response (for example, agreeing when the text clearly contradicts).
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the underlined claim in Text 1
Focus on the underlined sentence in Text 1: “Thus, oceanic drift from Africa is the most plausible route by which bottle gourds first reached the Americas.”
In context, Text 1:
- Dates early gourds in Mexico.
- Notes that their seeds and rind fragments match African domesticated varieties in shape and surface texture.
- Cites experiments showing gourds can float for months and stay viable.
So Text 1 is concluding: African-origin gourds probably floated across the Atlantic to reach the Americas, based on physical appearance (morphology) and floating experiments.
Identify Text 2’s main claims about origin and transport
Now read Text 2 carefully, especially the sentences with the main findings:
- It sequenced ancient DNA from American gourd fragments.
- “The genetic profiles clustered with East Asian, not African, lineages.”
- It also says gourds were “likely transported by people rather than arriving via Atlantic drift.”
So Text 2 says:
- The gourds in the Americas are genetically closest to East Asian gourds, not African ones.
- The most likely route is human-mediated transport, not floating across the Atlantic.
Decide how Text 2 would respond to Text 1’s claim
Compare the two texts:
- Text 1: African origin + oceanic drift across the Atlantic, supported by morphological similarity and floating experiments.
- Text 2: East Asian origin + human transport, supported by genetic (DNA) evidence and known human migrations.
Because Text 2 explicitly says “East Asian, not African” and “likely transported by people rather than arriving via Atlantic drift,” the author of Text 2 would disagree with the underlined claim in Text 1 and challenge the type of evidence it relies on.
Match this relationship to the answer choices
Now test each choice against what you just figured out:
- The correct choice must show disagreement with African Atlantic drift and emphasize different evidence (DNA) leading to an East Asian, human-transport explanation.
- It must not partly accept Atlantic drift or African origin, because Text 2 clearly rejects both.
Only one option describes a response that disputes Text 1’s morphology-based African-drift claim and replaces it with a DNA-based East Asian, human-transport explanation.
Therefore, the correct answer is A) By disputing the claim as based on morphology and arguing that genetic evidence points to an East Asian origin and human-mediated transport rather than Atlantic drift from Africa.