Which of the following is an advantage of combining visuals with supporting text?

A) Today's audiences are bombarded with messages, so anything that communicates quickly is welcome.
B) Visuals along are less effective at describing complex ideas, making supporting text essential.
C) Visuals often show parts and relationships that make up the whole, and supporting text is used to fill in the gaps.
D) Diagrams and symbols must be explained to other cultures to ensure understanding.
E) Visual images can offer explanations and text can be used to identify essential elements of the visual.

Answer: A
Explanation: A) Messages that combine powerful visuals with supporting text can be effective for a number of reasons. Today's audiences are pressed for time and bombarded with messages, so anything that communicates quickly is welcome. Visuals are also effective at describing complex ideas and processes because they can reduce the work required for an audience to identify the parts and relationships that make up the whole. Also, in a multilingual business world, diagrams, symbols, and other images can lower communication barriers by requiring less language processing. Finally, visual images can be easier to remember than purely textual descriptions or explanations.