Text 1
Nutritionist Dr. Sarah Ballantyne has emphasized the importance of dietary fiber for gut health. She notes that fiber serves as food for beneficial gut bacteria, which in turn produce compounds that reduce inflammation and support immune function. Ballantyne recommends that adults consume at least 30 grams of fiber daily from a variety of plant sources.

Text 2
Gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz agrees that fiber is crucial for a healthy gut microbiome but cautions that people who rapidly increase their fiber intake often experience bloating, gas, and discomfort. He advises patients to increase fiber gradually over several weeks, giving the gut microbiome time to adapt to the dietary change.

Based on the texts, how would Bulsiewicz (Text 2) most likely respond to Ballantyne's recommendation in Text 1?

Text 1
Ocean cleanup projects that use floating barriers to collect plastic debris from the surface of the ocean have received significant media attention and public funding. Advocates say these technologies can remove thousands of tons of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and other accumulation zones.

Text 2
Marine scientist Marcus Eriksen has argued that surface cleanup technologies, while generating public enthusiasm, address only a fraction of the problem. Eriksen points out that the majority of ocean plastic consists of microplastics suspended throughout the water column, which surface barriers cannot capture. He contends that reducing plastic pollution at its source through production limits and improved waste management is far more effective than trying to filter it out of the ocean after the fact.

Based on the texts, how would Eriksen (Text 2) most likely characterize the cleanup efforts described in Text 1?

Text 1
Architect Rem Koolhaas has observed that many modern airports have become nearly indistinguishable from one another, featuring the same glass facades, open terminals, and chain retail stores regardless of location. He describes this as part of a broader homogenization of public spaces worldwide.

Text 2
Some airport designers have pushed back against this trend by incorporating elements that reflect local culture and geography. Singapore's Changi Airport, for example, features an indoor waterfall surrounded by a tropical garden, while Istanbul's new airport draws on Ottoman architectural motifs. These designers argue that airports should give travelers a sense of arrival in a specific place.

Based on the texts, what is the relationship between Text 1 and Text 2?

Text 1
Researchers at Stanford University found that students who were praised for being "smart" after completing a task were more likely to avoid challenging problems afterward. The researchers concluded that praising innate ability can make students fear failure, since struggling would seem to contradict the label of being smart.

Text 2
A follow-up study by the same research group found that students who were praised for their effort rather than their intelligence were more willing to attempt difficult tasks and showed greater persistence when they encountered setbacks. These students viewed struggle not as a sign of inadequacy but as a normal part of learning.

Based on the texts, both studies would most likely support which of the following conclusions?

Text 1
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has argued that government investment in space exploration produces enormous indirect benefits for society. He points to technologies originally developed for space missions, such as memory foam, water filtration systems, and satellite-based GPS, that have since become essential in everyday life.

Text 2
Economist Mariana Mazzucato has made a similar argument but frames it more broadly. She contends that government investment in ambitious research programs, whether in space, energy, or medicine, drives innovation that the private sector alone would not pursue because the risks are too high and the payoffs too uncertain. In her view, the key factor is not space exploration specifically but bold public investment in any frontier research area.

Based on the texts, how does Mazzucato's argument (Text 2) relate to Tyson's argument (Text 1)?

Text 1
Sleep researchers have consistently found that exposure to blue light from screens in the hour before bedtime suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that signals the body to prepare for sleep. Based on these findings, many health organizations recommend avoiding screens for at least 30 minutes before bed.

Text 2
A 2021 study from Brigham Young University found that the specific type of screen activity mattered more than the screen light itself. Participants who used their phones for stimulating activities, such as social media or video games, took longer to fall asleep than those who used their phones for passive activities like reading. The researchers suggested that mental engagement, not just light exposure, plays a significant role in screen-related sleep disruption.

Based on the texts, how does the study in Text 2 add to the understanding of screen use and sleep presented in Text 1?

Text 1
Urban ecologist Peter Groffman has argued that suburban lawns, despite their manicured appearance, function as ecological dead zones. The heavy use of fertilizers, pesticides, and frequent mowing eliminates native plant species and reduces habitat for insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Text 2
Landscape designer Thomas Rainer advocates for replacing traditional lawns with plantings that mimic the structure of natural ecosystems, using layers of native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. Rainer argues that these "living landscapes" require less water and maintenance than conventional lawns while supporting far greater biodiversity.

Based on the texts, Rainer's approach in Text 2 can best be understood as _______.