Comparative Reading - RP

Comparative Reading - RP

What does it mean to compare and contrast two pieces of writing? It means you figure out how they are the same or different. You figure out how the two pieces work together.

Read the following sentences:

John F. Kennedy was the youngest elected President of the United States.

One of the hottest summers we ever had in these parts was in 2015.

• How do these sentences work together? Let's take a closer look.

• Each sentence is about a different topic. That is how they contrast.

• How do they compare? The first sentence uses the word "youngest." The second sentence uses the word "hottest." Each sentence makes a comparison within the statement. Compared to all other presidents, John Kennedy was the youngest. Compared to all the other summers in these parts, the hottest was in 2015.

Open Ended

Read these two sentences. How do they work together?

Did you see the lunar eclipse last night? I though it was interesting?

Multiple Choice

Read these examples and answer the questions that follow.

SENTENCE 1: Sports isn't the only area in which people compete

SENTENCE 2: Students complete at school

How do these sentences work together?

• Both sentences list reasons why competing is good for students' physical and mental health.

• Both sentences ask questions about sports injuries that doctors have not been able to answer.

• The first sentence makes a statement about competing. The second sentence offers an example to support the statement.

• The first sentence explains how sports began. The second sentence describes some of the most popular sports.

Multiple Choice

SENTENCE 1: If a cat falls from a high place, it can turn its body in a special way to land on its feet.

SENTENCE 2: The same high fall might hurt or kill a different animal that cannot turn the same way a cat can.

How do these sentences work together?

• The first describes why most cats like high spaces, while the second describes why most cats do not like being in water.

• Both offer opinions about why black cats are thought to be good luck in some areas of the world but bad luck in others.

• The first explains how a cat can land safely from a high fall, while the second explains how a different animal may not land safely from the same fall.

• Both list common items found in most homes that can be dangerous to cats.

Multiple Choice

PARAGRAPH 1: Do you want to keep your heart healthy? Then you must do exercise that makes you breathe faster. This could be running. Or jumping rope as fast as you can. Walking very fast is good too. When you work hard, you breathe fast. This makes your heart pump faster.

PARAGRAPH 2: Other kinds of exercise help make your muscles strong. Try lifting weights. Or go to the playground and swing from the bars. If you climb up a rope, your arm muscles get very strong. If you ride a bike, your leg muscles get stronger.

How do the two paragraphs above compare to each other?

• Both use quotes from doctors to support claims about exercise.

• Both describe types of exercised and how they are good for your body.

• Both list reasons why lifting weights is the best type of exercise.

• Both explain the history of the most popular kinds of exercises.

Multiple Choice

PARAGRAPH 1: The first coins were made from metal. Some were made from gold. Others were made from silver. These coins lasted for a very long time. But they were very heavy to carry around.

PARAGRAPH 2: Paper money is much lighter than coins. But it does not last as long. Paper money can tear. It can wear out. Many hands touch the money as people buy and sell things. A new dollar will last for about two years. Then it has to be replaced.

How do the two paragraphs above contrast each other?

• The first paragraph describes good and bad things about coined money, while the second describes good and bad things about paper money.

• The first paragraph explains why some people used only silver coins, while the second explains why some people used only gold coins.

• The first paragraph tells how paper money was made hundreds of years ago, while the second tells how paper money is made today.

• The first paragraph gives details about the history of the paper dollar, while the second gives details about the history of the silver dollar.