The author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 both discuss which topic? Text 1 For generations, residents of Bellmere have carried lanterns along the river each autumn. A local historian explains that the procession once honored returning fishermen but gradually became a celebration of the town’s shared past. Text 2 In interviews, Bellmere residents describe the lantern procession as a way to welcome newcomers and pass local stories to children. Several participants say that the event matters less for its original purpose than for the sense of belonging it creates today.

How a public tradition can help preserve and renew community identity.

Why river towns stopped relying on fishing for their income.

The materials and techniques used to manufacture lanterns.

How children’s holiday activities differ from adults’ activities.

Based on the texts, the author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 would most likely agree on which point? Text 1 Museum conservator Ada Mensah observes that ceramic vessels repaired with visible seams can reveal more about an object's history than vessels restored to appear untouched. The seams show which pieces were found together and which areas required later intervention. Text 2 In a study of repaired pottery, materials scientist Pavel Ito found that vessels with documented, visible joins allowed researchers to distinguish original fractures from modern additions. Ito concludes that preserving repair marks can provide useful evidence about an artifact's past.

Visible repair marks can help researchers learn how an artifact changed over time.

Ceramic vessels should be repaired only with materials that were available in antiquity.

Modern laboratory tests are more informative than observations made by conservators.

Artifacts with several fractures are less valuable than artifacts that were never damaged.

Which choice best describes the relationship between the two texts? Text 1 Literary scholar Nia Calder interprets the recurring river imagery in a 1912 novel as a sign of the protagonist's longing to escape, noting that the river appears before several departures. Text 2 After examining the author's notebooks, archivist Mateo Ruiz found sketches of flood-control projects made during the author's childhood. Ruiz argues that the river imagery may also preserve memories of the author's interest in changing local waterways.

Text 2 offers additional context that broadens the interpretation proposed in Text 1.

Text 2 provides documentary evidence that completely confirms Text 1's interpretation.

Text 2 changes the subject from the novel's imagery to the publication history of the book.

Text 2 claims that Text 1's interpretation was based on forged notebooks.

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 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
For generations, residents of Bellmere have carried lanterns along the river each autumn. A local historian explains that the procession once honored returning fishermen but gradually became a celebration of the town’s shared past.

Text 2
In interviews, Bellmere residents describe the lantern procession as a way to welcome newcomers and pass local stories to children. Several participants say that the event matters less for its original purpose than for the sense of belonging it creates today.
- A. How a public tradition can help preserve and renew community identity.Correct
- B. Why river towns stopped relying on fishing for their income.
- C. The materials and techniques used to manufacture lanterns.
- D. How children’s holiday activities differ from adults’ activities.
Question 2 · Easy
Based on the texts, the author of Text 1 and the author of Text 2 would most likely agree on which point?
Text 1
Museum conservator Ada Mensah observes that ceramic vessels repaired with visible seams can reveal more about an object's history than vessels restored to appear untouched. The seams show which pieces were found together and which areas required later intervention.

Text 2
In a study of repaired pottery, materials scientist Pavel Ito found that vessels with documented, visible joins allowed researchers to distinguish original fractures from modern additions. Ito concludes that preserving repair marks can provide useful evidence about an artifact's past.
- A. Visible repair marks can help researchers learn how an artifact changed over time.Correct
- B. Ceramic vessels should be repaired only with materials that were available in antiquity.
- C. Modern laboratory tests are more informative than observations made by conservators.
- D. Artifacts with several fractures are less valuable than artifacts that were never damaged.
Question 3 · Medium
Which choice best describes the relationship between the two texts?
Text 1
Literary scholar Nia Calder interprets the recurring river imagery in a 1912 novel as a sign of the protagonist's longing to escape, noting that the river appears before several departures.

Text 2
After examining the author's notebooks, archivist Mateo Ruiz found sketches of flood-control projects made during the author's childhood. Ruiz argues that the river imagery may also preserve memories of the author's interest in changing local waterways.
- A. Text 2 provides documentary evidence that completely confirms Text 1's interpretation.
- B. Text 2 changes the subject from the novel's imagery to the publication history of the book.
- C. Text 2 offers additional context that broadens the interpretation proposed in Text 1.Correct
- D. Text 2 claims that Text 1's interpretation was based on forged notebooks.

Practice Cross-Text Connections Questions

Drill cross-text connections questions in the 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 SAT?