compare texts

Let's practice integrating information by comparing and contrasting

Read the text and then answer the questions

Comparing and contrasting what is the same and what is different between two texts helps readers understand what they read better.

Passages can be compared and contrasted by theme, setting, or plot.

Read the following texts. Pay attention to the similarities and differences between the two stories.

My name is Millie, and I currently live in Alaska. Alaska is the largest state in the United States, but not many people live here. We do have a lot of visitors, but people do not choose to make Alaska their home because it is a freezing state most of the year.

I love living in Alaska, though! Winter is my favorite, so the cold weather and snow do not bother me. It’s a tranquil life that we have here. We go to school and participate in other everyday activities like most other kids.

My dad works in the oil business. It is a really popular type of job to have here in Alaska. With the vast amount of water, fishing is a popular activity in this beautiful state. Other Alaskans use the water that surrounds this state to find fish.

The mountains are beautiful to look at. We also like to hike when the weather is nice enough. There are so many amazing animals that live here, and they are so peaceful to watch. Alaska has a lot of water, so fishing is a popular activity here.​

​ My name is Barrett and I’m a Texan. That means that I am from Texas, which is one of the biggest states in the country. There are a lot of people who live in this state. It’s also ranked second in terms of the size of land.

The cities and towns in Texas are very spread out. There is a lot to do here. Many people live in the cities, and many people live in more rural areas. My dad works in the oil business, and we live in the suburbs of Houston. I really enjoy spending time outside when I’m not in school. It is warm for most of the year. The summers are hot, but that doesn’t bother me. I play in the pool and sometimes go to the beaches at the Gulf of Mexico. A lot of fishermen make a living by catching fish in the waters off the coast. What a cool job!

The land in Texas is mostly flat, but there are some mountains in west Texas. One time my family went on a road trip to California, and we drove through west Texas. I saw an armadillo! It was so cool to see one in real life.

Texas isn’t always an extremely hot place. Certain parts of the state get snowfall in the winter. It makes living in Texas fun. We get both hot and cold weather.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence most accurately combines information from both paragraphs about Benjamin Franklin?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences accurately combines information from both passages?

Multiple Choice

Read this sentence from "Honest Abe": "Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery, and his proclamation ensured that all Southern slaves would be freed." What evidence from "The Civil War President" supports that Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery?

Multiple Choice

Which sentence most accurately combines the information from both passages about the Wright Brothers?