Question 82·Easy·Cross-Text Connections
Text 1
Psychologist Linda Henkel found that people who took dozens of photos during a museum visit later recalled fewer details about the objects they had photographed than those who simply observed. She concludes that constantly pulling out a camera distracts the mind, so the surest way to strengthen memory of an experience is to skip photography altogether.
Text 2
A follow-up study by researcher Diana Tamir confirmed that indiscriminate picture-taking can impair memory, but it also revealed a benefit: participants who reviewed a small, carefully chosen set of their photos within 24 hours remembered the museum items better than participants who had taken no photos at all. Tamir suggests that photography, when used deliberately and followed by reflection, can reinforce rather than weaken memory.
Based on the texts, how would the researcher in Text 2 most likely respond to Henkel’s recommendation in Text 1?
For cross-text connection questions, quickly summarize each text’s main claim or recommendation, then decide whether Text 2 would agree, disagree, or partly agree with Text 1. Pay close attention to contrast words like “but” and “however,” and eliminate choices that add new conditions (such as professional status or location familiarity) that are not supported by either text.
Hints
Clarify each researcher’s recommendation
In Text 1, underline the sentence that starts with “She concludes that…” What specific action does Henkel tell people to take (or avoid) if they want stronger memories?
Compare the ‘no photos’ group to the ‘selected photos’ group
In Text 2, look carefully at the results for people who reviewed a small, carefully chosen set of photos versus people who took no photos. Which group remembered the museum items better?
Think about agreement vs. disagreement
Does Text 2 fully support Henkel’s idea that skipping photography altogether is best, or does it modify that claim? Look for the choice that reflects partial agreement about random photo-taking but introduces an important difference about deliberate, reviewed photos.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand Henkel’s main conclusion in Text 1
Focus on the last sentence of Text 1: Henkel concludes that constantly pulling out a camera distracts the mind, so “the surest way to strengthen memory of an experience is to skip photography altogether.”
So her recommendation is very strong and simple: do not take photos if you want to remember better.
Understand what Tamir’s study adds in Text 2
Text 2 first confirms part of Henkel’s idea: “indiscriminate picture-taking can impair memory.”
But then it adds something new: participants who reviewed a small, carefully chosen set of their photos within 24 hours “remembered the museum items better than participants who had taken no photos at all.”
So Tamir finds that selective photography + later review can improve memory beyond the “no photos” condition.
Decide how Tamir would respond to Henkel’s recommendation
Henkel says: skip photography altogether for the best memory.
Tamir would:
- Agree partly: random, constant, “indiscriminate” photo-taking can hurt memory.
- Disagree with the blanket rule: her data show that people who take a few deliberate photos and review them later remember better than people who take no photos.
So Tamir would say that Henkel’s advice is too extreme: the “no photos” group is not actually the best possible for memory.
Match that response to the answer choices
Only the choice that says avoiding photos entirely can be worse than taking a few photos and reviewing them matches Text 2.
Correct answer: By arguing that avoiding photos entirely may weaken recall compared with taking a few photos and reviewing them soon after