SAT OwlQuestion bank / Cross-Text Connections
Text 1: Wind turbines kill birds that fly into their spinning blades. At a wind farm in Norway, researchers painted one of the three blades on several turbines black, making the blades easier for birds to see. Bird deaths at those turbines fell by about 70 percent compared with deaths at unpainted turbines.
Text 2: Wind turbines do kill birds, but far fewer than many people assume. In the United States, collisions with buildings and attacks by outdoor cats each kill many times more birds every year than turbines do. Concern for birds, while understandable, is a weak reason to oppose wind power.
Based on the texts, the authors of both texts would most likely agree with which statement?
Painting turbine blades is the most effective way to protect birds.
Outdoor cats kill more birds than any other cause.
Wind turbines are responsible for some bird deaths.
Concern for birds is a strong reason to oppose wind power.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C
Text 1 opens by saying turbines kill birds that fly into their blades, and Text 2 says turbines "do kill birds," though fewer than people think. Both accept choice C.
Choice B overstates Text 2, which says cats kill many more birds than turbines but doesn't rank cats above every other cause.
Why the other choices are wrong
- A. Only Text 1 discusses painted blades, and even it doesn't call this the most effective method.
- B. Text 2 says cats kill far more birds than turbines but doesn't rank them first overall, and Text 1 doesn't mention cats.
- D. Text 2 calls bird deaths "a weak reason" to oppose wind power.
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