Question 80·Medium·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Remote collaboration software has improved so rapidly that some companies are rethinking the need for large central offices. With reliable video calls and cloud-based project tools, employees can work effectively from home or small satellite hubs. As commuting loses its once-mandatory status, firms are redesigning policies to focus on output rather than physical presence.
Text 2
High-speed internet and affordable mobile devices are expanding hiring horizons for many organizations. Teams now include contributors who live hundreds—or even thousands—of miles from headquarters. This geographic dispersal is prompting managers to evaluate whether maintaining expansive office space is still practical.
Based on the two texts, both authors would most likely agree with which statement?
For cross-text agreement questions, first summarize each passage in a short phrase and then identify the one central idea they share. As you test answer choices, make sure every part of the statement is supported by both texts; if any piece appears in only one text or introduces a new topic (like preferences, costs, or specific industries), eliminate that option. Often you can quickly cross out answers that bring in extra ideas, leaving the one that cleanly matches the overlapping message.
Hints
Compare the main ideas of the two texts
Briefly summarize each text in one sentence. Then ask yourself: what big idea about how people work appears in both texts?
Focus on key repeated concepts
Underline words and phrases in both texts that refer to where employees work and how they connect with their teams (for example, references to offices, commuting, remote tools, or distance).
Watch out for new or extra topics in the choices
Check whether the texts actually mention things like worker preferences, real-estate developers, or detailed cost vs. benefit comparisons. Be careful choosing an option centered on a topic that never appears in the passages.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the main idea of Text 1
Reread Text 1 and summarize it in your own words:
- Remote collaboration software (video calls, cloud tools) has improved a lot.
- Because of this, employees can work from home or small hubs instead of a big central office.
- The line “As commuting loses its once-mandatory status” shows that going into the office every day is no longer required for many workers. Overall, Text 1 is about technology allowing people to work away from the main office, so commuting is less necessary.
Understand the main idea of Text 2
Now reread Text 2:
- High-speed internet and mobile devices let companies hire people who live very far from headquarters.
- Teams can include contributors who are hundreds or thousands of miles away.
- Managers are starting to question whether keeping large office spaces is still practical. So Text 2 is also about technology enabling people to work from distant locations, which leads companies to rethink big offices.
Find the idea both texts share
Ask: What key idea appears in both texts?
- Both talk about technological tools (remote software, high-speed internet, mobile devices).
- Both show employees working effectively without being physically present in a central office.
- Both suggest that traditional daily commuting to a big office is becoming less necessary because of these tools. Keep this shared idea in mind as you look at the choices.
Eliminate choices that don’t match both texts
Check each answer choice against both texts:
- Choice A (worker preferences about virtual vs in-person): Neither text mentions what workers prefer or compares virtual communication with occasional in-person meetings.
- Choice B (real-estate developers and residential properties): The texts discuss companies and office space, not real-estate developers or residential buildings near city centers.
- Choice D (cost savings vs benefits of face-to-face collaboration): The texts say companies are rethinking or evaluating big offices but never say cost savings outweigh benefits of face-to-face communication, or even mention face-to-face collaboration directly. Since these ideas do not appear in both texts, these choices should be eliminated.
Select the choice that matches the shared idea
The remaining choice is C) Technological advances are making daily commuting unnecessary for increasing numbers of employees. This directly reflects the shared idea:
- Text 1: Improved remote tools let employees work from home or hubs and say commuting is losing its mandatory status.
- Text 2: High-speed internet and mobile devices let people work from far away, causing managers to reconsider large office spaces. Both authors would agree that new technology allows more employees to work without commuting every day, so C is the correct answer.