Question 66·Hard·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
In a letter to residents, a city council member argues that the surest way to fix the region’s rush-hour gridlock is to add two lanes to River Parkway. "When a pipe is too narrow, you widen it; traffic works the same way," the letter states. The member adds that because the metro area’s population growth has slowed, "any improvements we gain should last."
Text 2
A transportation researcher reviews multiple studies of highway expansions and concludes that congestion usually returns within a few years. The researcher explains that added capacity prompts people to make trips they had previously avoided, shift trips into peak hours, and even relocate farther from work—changes that together "soak up" the new space. According to the researcher, this pattern holds even in places with little population growth.
Based on the texts, how would the researcher (Text 2) most likely respond to the council member’s expectation in Text 1 that congestion relief from added lanes will be long-lasting because the region is not growing rapidly?
For cross-text questions, first summarize each text’s main claim in a short phrase (for example, “Text 1: lanes will fix congestion and relief will last because growth is slow” vs. “Text 2: congestion comes back because added capacity changes behavior, even with little growth”). Then focus on the specific part of Text 1 the question mentions and ask, “Would the other author agree, disagree, or qualify this, and why?” Finally, eliminate answer choices that introduce new ideas not in the texts or that flip the stance (agreement vs. disagreement), and select the option that most accurately paraphrases how the second text would respond to the first one’s reasoning.
Hints
Identify what Text 1 is expecting
Focus on the sentence in Text 1 that begins with “The member adds that because the metro area’s population growth has slowed…”. What prediction is the council member making about congestion over time?
Summarize Text 2’s overall finding
In Text 2, look for the researcher’s main conclusion about what usually happens after highways are expanded. Does congestion stay low, or does it come back?
Look for how Text 2 treats population growth
Pay attention to the final sentence in Text 2. What does the researcher say about whether this congestion pattern depends on population growth?
Match the relationship, not the wording
You’re looking for the answer that captures how the researcher would respond to the council member’s reasoning. Which option shows the researcher challenging the idea that slow population growth guarantees long-lasting relief?
Step-by-step Explanation
Pinpoint the council member’s claim
Look at what the council member in Text 1 expects will happen after adding lanes. The member says that adding two lanes will fix rush-hour gridlock and adds that because population growth has slowed, “any improvements we gain should last.” So the key idea is: long-lasting congestion relief because the region is not growing quickly.
Understand the researcher’s main point
Now read Text 2. The researcher:
- Reviews multiple studies of highway expansions.
- Concludes that congestion usually returns within a few years.
- Explains that added capacity leads people to:
- Make trips they had avoided.
- Shift trips into peak hours.
- Move farther from work.
These behavior changes “soak up” the new space, meaning the extra lanes get filled again. The researcher also says this pattern holds even in places with little population growth.
Connect how the researcher would respond to the council member
The council member thinks slow population growth means congestion relief will last. But the researcher explicitly says that congestion comes back within a few years even when there is little population growth. The researcher would therefore disagree with the council member’s expectation and say that people’s increased driving uses up the new space, so relief is temporary.
Match the idea to the best answer choice
We need the option where the researcher disagrees and explains that increased driving (induced demand), not population growth, causes congestion to return.
The best match is: By arguing that even without rapid population growth, increased driving will absorb the new capacity, so any relief would be short-lived.