Question

there are many ways to fix broken ceramics, like bowls and vases, so that they look like new. some glues have special dyes that match the color of ceramics when the glue dries. this glue can help make small cracks look invisible. fillers can be used to replace tiny missing chips and pieces so there are no holes in the fixed ceramics. and there are thick paints that can be used to completely cover over and hide cracks in broken ceramics.
text 2
the craft of kintsugi reflects a traditional japanese way of repairing ceramics. kintsugi uses a special golden glue to put together broken ceramic pieces. when the special glue dries, all of the cracks become very noticeable. many people believe that kintsugi helps highlight an object’s history, revealing the beauty of having a broken past.
which sentence best combines the main, or central, ideas of both texts?
a special japanese tradition uses different colored dyes to make cracks in ceramics look invisible.
some glues, fillers, and paints try to hide cracks in ceramics, but kintsugi draws attention to an object’s broken past.

Explanation:

To determine the sentence that combines the main ideas of both texts, we analyze each option:

• The first text (left) talks about various ways to fix broken ceramics, including hiding cracks (using dyes, fillers, thick paints). The second text (blue) focuses on Kintsugi, a Japanese tradition that uses golden glue to repair ceramics and highlights the object's broken past (instead of hiding cracks).
• Option 1: "A special Japanese tradition uses different colored dyes to make cracks in ceramics look invisible." This is incorrect because Kintsugi (the special Japanese tradition) does not use colored dyes to make cracks invisible; it uses golden glue to highlight the cracks, and the first text's dyes are for matching ceramic color to hide cracks, not Kintsugi.
• Option 2: "Some glues, fillers, and paints try to hide cracks in ceramics, but kintsugi draws attention to an object’s broken past." This works: The first part ("Some glues...hide cracks") summarizes the first text's methods (dyes, fillers, thick paints to hide cracks). The second part ("but kintsugi...broken past") summarizes the second text's Kintsugi tradition, which contrasts with hiding cracks by highlighting the object's history.

Answer:

Some glues, fillers, and paints try to hide cracks in ceramics, but kintsugi draws attention to an object’s broken past.