The author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 both discuss which topic? Text 1 Scientists can learn a lot about the Hispaniolan ground sloth and other prehistoric sloths from their fossils. But it can be hard to study sloths alive today. In the wild, the Linnaeus's two-toed sloth and other sloths spend most of their time in trees. They're difficult to observe because of their excellent camouflage and slow movements. Text 2 Naomi Hart and other scientists can now record the previously hidden activities of tree-dwelling sloths by using a backpack monitor. Such monitors can provide information to correct misconceptions. It was long believed that sloths are slow because of laziness. But, in fact, sloths' slow movements are useful. Being slow protects them from predators with keen eyesight.

The scientific study of sloths.

How climate change affects sloths.

The techniques scientists use to care for sloths.

The differences between prehistoric and living sloths.

Which choice best describes a notable difference in how the speaker of Text 1 and the speaker of Text 2 portray the moon? Text 1 is R. E. Warren's 1912 poem "Above the Dock." Text 2 is from Clara Moreland's 1912 poem "The Crescent Moon." Text 1 Above the quiet dock in mid night, Tangled in the tall mast's corded height, Hangs the moon. What seemed so far away Is but a child's balloon, forgotten after play. Text 2 Slipping softly through the sky Little horned, happy moon, Can you hear me up so high? Will you come down soon?

While the speaker of Text 1 presents the moon as seeming to be very close, the speaker of Text 2 emphasizes the moon's distance from the speaker.

While both speakers characterize the moon as an entrapped figure, only the speaker of Text 2 describes the moon as being content with this fate.

While both speakers present the moon as a tangible object, only the speaker of Text 1 addresses the moon's beauty.

While the speaker of Text 1 presents the moon as an object of play, the speaker of Text 2 presents the moon as an object of serious study.

The author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 both discuss which topic? Text 1 From the extinct giant ground sloth to the living pygmy three-toed sloth, sloths are among the most appealing animals native to the Americas. But scientists still have a lot to learn about them. Unlike their ancient ground-dwelling relations, today's sloths spend most of their time high up in trees. The sloths' inaccessibility has made it hard for scientists to study them. Text 2 By using a backpack monitor, biologist Anna Cliffe and colleagues can at last discover the previously hidden activities of sloths. Such monitors can provide information to correct misconceptions. It was long believed that sloths are slow because of laziness. But, in fact, sloths have low metabolism, which makes them slow.

Scientists' efforts to understand sloths

How extinct sloths compare with living sloths

The benefits of putting monitoring devices on sloths

Reading & Writing · Craft and Structure

Cross-Text Connections

Compare how two passages treat the same topic or claim.

What the SAT Tests

Cross-Text Connections questions pair two short passages and ask how one author would respond to the other, or where the two agree or disagree. The answer is always anchored in text, not opinion.

Key Tips for Cross-Text Connections

Summarize each author's core claim in one sentence before reading choices.
Watch for tone and modal verbs (would, might, must) — they signal stance.
Eliminate choices that require agreement or disagreement the texts don't state.

How to recognize Cross-Text Connections questions

Look for Craft and Structure signals in the stem: evidence, purpose, transition, grammar rule, vocabulary-in-context, or synthesis task.
Before reading choices, state what the correct answer must do in the sentence or passage.
The official College Board skill label is Cross-Text Connections; use that label to drill only this question type.

Fast solving workflow

Name the question type before reading the choices; the SAT repeats the same jobs with different passages.
Predict the job of the correct answer in plain English, then compare choices against that job.
Require proof from the text or sentence structure. A choice that sounds reasonable but is not supported should be eliminated.

Common traps

Picking a vocabulary word that fits generally but not in the sentence's logic.
Missing the author's purpose because one phrase sounds more dramatic.
Treating tone as emotion instead of function.

Sample Cross-Text Connections Questions

These are real practice questions pulled from our Digital SAT bank. Try each one before reading the highlighted correct answer.

Question 1 · Easy
The author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 both discuss which topic?
Text 1
Scientists can learn a lot about the Hispaniolan ground sloth and other prehistoric sloths from their fossils. But it can be hard to study sloths alive today. In the wild, the Linnaeus's two-toed sloth and other sloths spend most of their time in trees. They're difficult to observe because of their excellent camouflage and slow movements.
Text 2
Naomi Hart and other scientists can now record the previously hidden activities of tree-dwelling sloths by using a backpack monitor. Such monitors can provide information to correct misconceptions. It was long believed that sloths are slow because of laziness. But, in fact, sloths' slow movements are useful. Being slow protects them from predators with keen eyesight.
- A. The scientific study of sloths.Correct
- B. How climate change affects sloths.
- C. The techniques scientists use to care for sloths.
- D. The differences between prehistoric and living sloths.
Question 2 · Medium
Which choice best describes a notable difference in how the speaker of Text 1 and the speaker of Text 2 portray the moon?
Text 1 is R. E. Warren's 1912 poem "Above the Dock." Text 2 is from Clara Moreland's 1912 poem "The Crescent Moon."
Text 1
Above the quiet dock in mid night,
Tangled in the tall mast's corded height,
Hangs the moon. What seemed so far away
Is but a child's balloon, forgotten after play.
Text 2
Slipping softly through the sky
Little horned, happy moon,
Can you hear me up so high?
Will you come down soon?
- A. While both speakers characterize the moon as an entrapped figure, only the speaker of Text 2 describes the moon as being content with this fate.
- B. While both speakers present the moon as a tangible object, only the speaker of Text 1 addresses the moon's beauty.
- C. While the speaker of Text 1 presents the moon as an object of play, the speaker of Text 2 presents the moon as an object of serious study.
- D. While the speaker of Text 1 presents the moon as seeming to be very close, the speaker of Text 2 emphasizes the moon's distance from the speaker.Correct
Question 3 · Medium
The author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 both discuss which topic?
Text 1
From the extinct giant ground sloth to the living pygmy three-toed sloth, sloths are among the most appealing animals native to the Americas. But scientists still have a lot to learn about them. Unlike their ancient ground-dwelling relations, today's sloths spend most of their time high up in trees. The sloths' inaccessibility has made it hard for scientists to study them.
Text 2
By using a backpack monitor, biologist Anna Cliffe and colleagues can at last discover the previously hidden activities of sloths. Such monitors can provide information to correct misconceptions. It was long believed that sloths are slow because of laziness. But, in fact, sloths have low metabolism, which makes them slow.
- A. Scientists' efforts to understand slothsCorrect
- B. Changes in sloths' habitats
- C. How extinct sloths compare with living sloths
- D. The benefits of putting monitoring devices on sloths

Practice Cross-Text Connections Questions

Drill cross-text connections questions in the Digital SAT Reading & Writing question bank, or take a full-length practice module to see how this skill appears under test conditions.

Practice block	What to do	Move on when
Warmup	Solve 10 untimed cross-text connections questions and write the rule used for each.	You can explain 8 of 10 without reading the explanation.
Timed drill	Solve 20 filtered bank questions at real module pace.	Accuracy is at least 80% and misses are not repeating.
Transfer	Take a mixed timed module and mark each Craft and Structure miss.	The skill still holds up when mixed with other question types.

FAQs

What is Cross-Text Connections on the Digital SAT?