Which needs more imagination, reading stories or watching cartoons?

I'd say reading stories requires more imagination because you have to visualize everything yourself. When you read, the words are just descriptions, so your mind has to fill in the details about how characters look, how scenes are set up, and even the tone of their voices. That's why, for example, when I read novels, I sometimes imagine Shanghai's streets or parks as the settings, even if the story is set somewhere else. Watching cartoons, on the other hand, gives you the visuals and sounds ready-made, so there's less for your brain to create. That said, cartoons can still spark imagination, especially with their creative plots and characters, but the effort is different. Reading feels more like active participation, while watching is more passive.