Cross-text questions give you two short passages (called Text 1 and Text 2) written by different authors. They ask you to:
Common question stems:
Before looking at the answers, write down in your own words:
Then find the answer that matches your summary. Don't let the answer choices distort your reading.
1. Agree: Both authors support the same position, possibly using different evidence 2. Disagree: One author challenges or contradicts the other's position or assumption 3. Partially agree / adds nuance: One author accepts part of the other's point but qualifies or complicates it
Real-world example: Text 1 argues that social media increases political polarization. Text 2 argues that while social media may amplify existing divisions, the root cause of polarization is economic inequality, not social media. The relationship: Author 2 acknowledges Text 1's point (social media plays a role) but disagrees that social media is the primary cause. A question might ask: "How would the author of Text 2 respond to Text 1?" The correct answer would say something like: "Author 2 would agree that social media contributes to polarization but challenge the claim that it is the main cause."
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Quiz Questions:
Q1. Text 1 argues that online learning is as effective as in-person learning for most students. Text 2 argues that in-person learning provides social and emotional benefits that cannot be replicated online, though it acknowledges that knowledge transfer may be comparable. Based on the texts, the authors most likely:
A) Agree that online learning is fully equivalent to in-person learning B) Disagree entirely — one believes online is better while the other believes in-person is better C) Partially agree that knowledge transfer can be comparable in both settings, but disagree about whether social and emotional learning can be replicated online D) Have no common ground — their views are completely incompatible
Answer: C — Text 2 acknowledges the knowledge transfer point (partial agreement) but adds the dimension of social/emotional learning (a key disagreement). Neither author claims one format is categorically better in all respects.
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Q2. When answering a cross-text question, a student finds that one answer says "the authors completely disagree about the role of technology in education." But after reading both passages, the student sees that Author 1 focuses on technology's benefits and Author 2 focuses on its risks — but Author 2 never says technology has NO benefits. The student should:
A) Accept the answer because the two authors focus on opposite things B) Reject the answer because "completely disagree" overstates the relationship — both authors may accept some nuance the other acknowledges C) Flip the answer because the descriptions of the authors are reversed D) Accept the answer if neither passage explicitly mentions the other
Answer: B — "Completely disagree" is an overstatement if Author 2 doesn't fully reject technology's role. Cross-text answer choices that use absolute language ("completely," "never," "always") should be scrutinized carefully — they often overstate the relationship.
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Q3. Text 1 concludes that caffeine improves athletic performance. Text 2 describes a study finding that caffeine's performance benefits vary significantly depending on individual genetics. How would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to Text 1?
A) Text 2's author would fully agree that caffeine universally improves athletic performance B) Text 2's author would likely argue that Text 1 oversimplifies — caffeine's benefits are not universal but depend on individual genetic factors C) Text 2's author would argue that caffeine has no effect on athletic performance D) Text 2's author would claim the study in Text 1 is fraudulent
Answer: B — Text 2 complicates Text 1's conclusion by adding the genetics variable. It doesn't fully reject Text 1 (which says C is wrong) and doesn't attack the research's validity (D is wrong). The correct relationship: Text 2 adds nuance to Text 1's more general claim.
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Q4. A cross-text question asks: "Based on the texts, the authors of Text 1 and Text 2 would most likely agree that..." What is the best approach for answering this question?
A) Find an idea that Text 1 supports and assume Text 2 agrees with it B) Find an idea explicitly supported by BOTH passages, then choose the answer that reflects that shared ground C) Look for where the two authors disagree and find the midpoint between their positions D) Choose the answer that describes what a reasonable person would agree with
Answer: B — "Most likely agree" questions require finding actual textual support in BOTH passages. The correct answer reflects something both authors explicitly support or imply — not a compromise or outside assumption.
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Q5. After reading two cross-text passages, a student notes: Text 1 is written by an economist; Text 2 is written by a sociologist. The student assumes their views must differ because they come from different fields. This assumption is:
A) Correct — different academic fields always lead to different conclusions B) Problematic — the authors' professional backgrounds do not determine whether they agree or disagree; only the content of the texts matters C) Helpful — knowing the authors' backgrounds helps predict what they believe D) Acceptable as a shortcut for cross-text questions
Answer: B — On the SAT, you must base your answers on what the texts actually say, not on assumptions about the authors' backgrounds, disciplines, or probable views. The test only rewards answers supported by the text.