Compare and Contrast
Passage A
Dogs are popular pets because they are loyal and enjoy spending time with people. Many dogs need daily walks and training to stay healthy and happy.
Passage B
Cats are common household pets that enjoy companionship but are often more independent. Most cats exercise by playing indoors and grooming themselves.
What is one similarity between dogs and cats as pets?
Both dogs and cats are popular household pets that enjoy companionship with humans.
Liam forgot to water the class plant for two weeks. The soil became dry, and the leaves turned brown and wilted.
What is the effect of Liam forgetting to water the plant?
The plant’s leaves turned brown and wilted (the plant became unhealthy).
The classroom became very noisy during group work, making it difficult for students to concentrate. The teacher introduced a noise-level chart to remind students to keep their voices low.
What is the problem described in the passage?
The classroom was too noisy, making it hard for students to concentrate.
The orange sunset painted the sky, reflecting on the calm lake and casting long shadows of the trees along the shore.
What sense is being used in the description?
Sight — the passage describes how the sunset looks and its effect on the surroundings.
Chocolate is the best flavor of ice cream because it tastes sweet and creamy, and most people enjoy it more than other flavors.
What is the claim in the passage?
Chocolate is the best flavor of ice cream.
Passage A
Solar energy comes from the sun and can be used to power homes using solar panels. It does not produce pollution during use.
Passage B
Coal energy comes from burning fossil fuels found underground. Burning coal releases smoke and pollution into the air.
What is one important difference between solar energy and coal energy?
Solar energy does not cause pollution, while coal energy produces pollution when burned.
The school cafeteria added healthier lunch options this year. As a result, more students began choosing fruits and vegetables during lunch.
What is the cause of more students choosing fruits and vegetables?
The cafeteria added healthier lunch options.
Many students were forgetting to turn in homework assignments. To help, the teacher created an online reminder system that sent alerts each afternoon.
What is the solution to students forgetting homework?
The teacher created an online reminder system.
The soft, fragrant petals of the rose brushed against Maria’s fingers as she carefully plucked one to examine.
Which words describe the rose?
“Soft” and “fragrant” describe the rose.
Many students who drink water instead of soda during school report feeling more alert and having more energy throughout the day.
What evidence supports the claim that drinking water is better than soda?
Students report feeling more alert and having more energy.
Passage A
Mountain climates are usually cooler because of higher elevation. Snow often falls during winter months, and trees grow slowly due to colder temperatures.
Passage B
Desert climates are hot and dry with very little rainfall. Plants must store water to survive extreme temperatures.
How are mountain and desert climates different in temperature and plant life?
Mountain climates are cooler with slow-growing trees, while desert climates are hot and have plants that store water.
A strong storm moved through the town overnight. Heavy rain flooded roads, and fallen trees blocked several neighborhoods the next morning.
What event caused flooded roads and blocked neighborhoods?
A strong storm with heavy rain caused the flooding and fallen trees.
Trash often covered the park after weekend events. Community leaders organized monthly clean-up days and added more trash cans throughout the area.
How was the problem of trash in the park solved?
Community clean-up days were organized, and more trash cans were added.
Thunder rumbled through the darkened sky as rain poured in sheets, drenching the empty streets. Lightning flashed, illuminating the city in sudden bursts of white.
How does the description create a mood?
The descriptive words create a tense, frightening, or stormy mood.
Reading every day improves vocabulary. Students who read 20 minutes daily score higher on vocabulary tests than those who read less often.
Which evidence supports the claim?
Students who read 20 minutes daily score higher on vocabulary tests.
Passage A
Public transportation reduces traffic congestion by allowing many people to travel together. Cities with buses and trains often experience less pollution.
Passage B
Driving personal cars gives people freedom to travel whenever they want. However, heavy car use increases traffic and air pollution.
How do the authors present different viewpoints about transportation?
One author focuses on the benefits of public transportation, while the other explains the convenience but environmental drawbacks of personal cars.
The city built new bike lanes throughout downtown. Because more people felt safe riding bicycles, traffic decreased and air quality improved.
How did building bike lanes lead to improved air quality?
Building bike lanes made people ride bikes instead of driving, which reduced traffic and improved air quality.
The school library noticed fewer students were reading books. Librarians started a reading challenge with prizes and allowed students to recommend new titles for purchase.
How did the library attempt to solve the problem of low student reading?
They created a reading challenge and allowed students to help choose books to increase interest in reading.
Ella tiptoed across the creaking floorboards, her heart racing. She clutched the old, tattered journal to her chest, careful not to make a sound.
What can you infer about Ella’s feelings or personality from the description?
Ella feels nervous or cautious, and she is careful and possibly curious.
Playing video games improves hand-eye coordination. One student played a video game and caught a ball more easily the next day.
Is this evidence strong or weak for the claim, and why?
Weak — it only uses one student’s experience, which is not enough to prove the claim.
Maria studied every afternoon before her science test. She reviewed notes, completed practice questions, and asked her teacher for help. On test day, she felt confident and earned a high score.
Passage B
Jordan waited until the night before his science test to study. He rushed through his notes and felt nervous during the exam. His score showed he needed more preparation.
What is the main idea revealed by comparing Maria’s and Jordan’s experiences?
Preparing early leads to success, while procrastination can result in poorer performance.
During the semester, Ava completed assignments on time and reviewed feedback from her teacher. By the end of the term, her writing scores increased significantly.
What two actions caused Ava’s writing scores to improve?
Completing assignments on time and reviewing teacher feedback caused her scores to improve.
Traffic congestion near the school caused buses to arrive late each morning. School officials adjusted arrival times, opened an additional drop-off lane, and encouraged carpooling.
What was the problem, and what solutions were used to address it?
The problem was traffic causing late buses, and the solutions included adjusting arrival times, adding a drop-off lane, and encouraging carpooling.
The abandoned mansion loomed on the hill, its broken windows like hollow eyes staring down. Ivy crawled across the cracked walls, and the wind whistled through the gaping doors as if whispering secrets.
How does the descriptive language affect the reader’s perception of the mansion?
The imagery and word choice make the mansion seem spooky, mysterious, and unwelcoming.
Claim: Exercise improves mental health.
Students who jog three times a week report feeling less stressed. Researchers found that regular exercise releases chemicals in the brain that reduce anxiety. Some students still feel tired after exercising.
Which pieces of evidence best support the claim?
The first two sentences best support the claim that exercise improves mental health; the third sentence does not support it.