Compare and Contrast

Passage 1

Reggie and his parents were going on a vacation to Maldives. He was delighted to sit by the window. He looked out of the window excitedly. The buildings gradually grew smaller until they looked like small dots. The moving vehicles were no longer visible. Occasionally, he could see clouds floating around. His mom was watching a movie and his dad was reading the newspaper. Reggie turned his attention to what other people were doing. He saw that most of the passengers had gone off to sleep. The flight attendants were busy providing passengers with blankets and pillows. Reggie knew that it would be a long time before they landed. However, he wasn't feeling sleepy. He took out his sketch book and began to sketch.

Passage 2

Reggie's eyes widened as he looked at his surroundings in wonder. It seemed as if he had entered into a new world. He could not wait to explore the place with his parents. The tall trees around them formed a thick, green umbrella which blocked the sunlight. All they could hear was the sound of insects, birds, and animals.

Reggie could barely contain his excitement when he saw a lioness with her cubs on the other side of the stream. He tried to look at the lioness closely from the window.

After a short ride they came to a place where they saw beautiful peacocks dancing in all their glory. To the right there were deer and stags. Reggie was loving every moment of this ride. He knew that he would never forget this day.

How are the settings in the stories different?

• The first story is set in an airplane, while the second story is set in a safari bus.

• The first story is set in a bus, while the second story is set in a toy train.

• The first story is set in Maldives, while the second story is set in a zoo.

• The first story is set in a train, while the second story is set in a car.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.W.5.9B

Passage 1

The Grumpy Dog

Not too long ago, one of the farmer's dogs had the good luck to be given a juicy bone. He decided to take it far from the farm yard to the edge of the woods. There, he would enjoy it by himself without sharing, for he was a grumpy, old dog.

Before long, he came a wooden bridge that crossed a clear, rushing stream. As the dog began to cross the bridge, he saw the image of a dog in the stream. He stopped to stare at the dog. He did not like it when the dog stared back at him. Gripping his precious bone in his teeth, he curled his lips back and growled. The dog in the stream growled.

Then, the grumpy, old dog said, "Well, I am not to be growled at. I'll take his bone and see how he growls then."

The grumpy, old dog opened his mouth to grab the bone he saw in the stream. The bone he held in his teeth fell. As soon as he heard the splish of it landing in the water, he understood. The dog in the stream was none other than him! He could only whimper as the stream carried his bone away.

Passage 2

The Greedy Dog

Once, a greedy dog found a juicy bone outside a city diner. He grabbed it at once and ran away to find a place to settle down and enjoy it in peace. He headed for the junk yard on the other side of the city.

On his way, he came to a deep ditch that was full of fresh, clear rain water. The water flowed loudly into drainpipes under the city streets. As the dog set his paw into the water to cross the ditch, he looked down and saw a dog with a bone that looked just like his. "Well, well," the greedy dog said to himself. "I'll have two bones for my meal."

The dog opened his mouth to snatch the bone he saw in the water. As he did so, his bone dropped into the ditch. The sound of the water seemed to grow louder as he watched the bone float away. "I was greedy, and now, I'm hungry," he whimpered. He turned and loped sadly back to the diner to wait for the cook to throw out another bone.

Which event happens in both stories?

• A dog wants to find a place to enjoy a bone.

• A dog buries his bone in the junkyard.

• A dog finds a bone outside a city diner.

• A dog loses the juicy bone he is given.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.W.5.9B

Passage 1

The Dance Practice

Michelle was at dance practice after school. She saw her friend Ashley sitting in the auditorium. Michelle took a break and ran up to meet her friend.

"Hi, Ashley. What are you doing here?" Michelle asked.

"I was just watching you all dance. You all are so talented," Ashley said.

"Thanks, Ashley! Have you ever thought of joining the dance crew?" Michelle asked with a smile.

Ashley looked away. Michelle knew Ashley loved dancing but was afraid to dance in front of an audience.

"Ashley, if you do not take a brave step then you will never know what it feels like to dance on a stage. You will never grow," Michelle said.

"But I feel so shy," Ashley replied.

"Ashley, you need to change the way you think. I know how much you love dancing. So, when you step on the stage, just enjoy the moment. Once you start dancing, you will forget your shyness. Now, come on," Michelle said, and took Ashley to meet the dance teacher.

Passage 2

Mark's Decision

Mark looked at his messy room. He walked downstairs and looked at the empty dining table. He felt sad and lonely.

His mother would always clean his room, wash his clothes, and make his breakfast. No matter how many times his mother had asked him to be responsible for his things, he had always refused to listen. Finally, his mother decided that she had had enough and stopped doing his work.

How will I manage without Mom's help? Mark thought.

Mark's dad walked in and saw his sad face.

"I know what is troubling you, Mark. But I think your mom knows what she is doing," Mark's dad said.

"But I cannot do any of this on my own!" Mark cried.

"Of course you can. I know it will take time and practice, but soon enough, you will change into a responsible person. We all learned this way," Mark's dad replied.

Mark silently nodded, knowing that the next few days were going to be tough.

Which theme do the stories have in common?

• Forgetting shyness can make one a winner.

• It is important to be responsible for cleanliness.

• Friends should support each other.

• Change is necessary for growth.

Passage 1

The Grasshopper and the Ant

One bright, summer day in the meadow, a grasshopper spent his time lying around singing. As he did, he watched an ant go back and forth to its hill with bits of corn and seeds.

"Ant, why do you work so hard on such a beautiful, sunny day? You should join me for some music and fun," the grasshopper said.

"Yes, today is beautiful, and it is warm. But winter will come, and music will not feed me. So I am getting ready. You should do the same," said the ant.

"Oh, you worry too much, Ant. There will be food when winter comes. You'll see," said the grasshopper.

"No, you will see, Grasshopper."

Weeks passed, and the grasshopper continued to lie around and sing while the ant continued to work. In time, the air grew cold, snow fell, and the grasshopper ran out of food. Just when he thought he might starve to death, he went to call on the ant.

Seeing the grasshopper at his door, the ant said, "Come in and I will give you food, Grasshopper. Then, when the warm days come again, may you sing songs to work by as you get ready for days such as this one."

Passage 2

A Lesson for the Grasshopper

On a hot summer day, a grasshopper lay in the shade of a great tree playing his fiddle as an ant passed by with a seed that was twice its size.

The grasshopper said, "How about some music to work by, Ant?" Then, he laughed and played a silly gig, making fun of the ant's hard work.

The ant replied, "If you are wise, you will join me in this work and gather food while you can. If not, you will learn a hard lesson when winter comes."

The grasshopper laughed and kept fiddling. The ant kept working.

Day after day, the ant worked while the grasshopper fiddled. Then, the winter winds came to the meadow.

The grasshopper soon ran out of food. At once, he went to see the ant, who opened his door and asked, "What song have you come to sing, now, Grasshopper?"

"I'm so hungry that I have no song left. Please feed me until the winds pass, and I'll work alongside you when the days are warm again."

Knowing the grasshopper had learned a lesson, the ant let him in. They enjoyed good food and good music for the rest of the winter.

How are the settings of the stories alike?

• The events in both stories happen during summer and winter in a meadow.

• The events in both stories happen during summer and spring in a meadow.

• The events in both stories happen during spring and winter in a forest.

• The events in both stories happen during summer and winter in a forest.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.W.5.9B

Passage 1

Fox and Stork

Fox met his neighbor Stork on the riverbank one morning. "Good to see you," he said with a sneaky grin. "Let's have lunch today." Stork agreed, and Fox went on his way, looking forward to the trick he had in mind.

Later, Stork arrived at Fox's down-river den with an empty stomach. She couldn't wait to taste the meal he had promised her. Fox led Stork to the dining room. Just inside, she stopped in her tracks.

Fox had served the soup in a flat plate! He ignored Stork's shock as she sat down to eat. He swallowed laughter by slurping and smacking his lips as loudly as he could, while poor Stork could only stick the tip of her bill into the soup.

Stork knew Fox had tricked her, but she kept calm. Then, she invited him to join her for dinner that evening.

With more trickery in mind, Fox arrived early. But that was fine by Stork, who seated him at once and served him. Fox stopped grinning.

Stork ate fish casserole from deep within a tall jar. She pretended not to notice that instead of eating, Fox could only lick the top of his jar.

Later, Stork led Fox to the door. "Come again," she teased. Fox left without answering or grinning.

Passage 2

Fox Learns a Lesson

One day near his home on the riverbank, the sneaky fox invited his neighbor the stork to have lunch at his den. The stork accepted the invitation. The fox went on his way with a huge grin and a trick on his mind.

Later, the hungry stork arrived at fox's den and settled down at once to eat. But anger crept over him as the fox set a fish-flavored broth on the table. It was served on shallow plates. The stork knew he had been tricked. He watched as the fox lapped up his own plate of the watery, but delicious, liquid without even looking up at him.

Soon, as the stork got up to leave, the fox said, "Oh, I'm so sorry you didn't like the soup."

"Oh, I liked it," answered the stork. "Join me for lunch tomorrow. You'll see."

The next day, the stork served a delicious stew—in a tall jar with a narrow opening. He watched the fox struggle to eat before giving him a fresh bowl of stew.

The fox ate knowing that he had just been taught a lesson.

How are the endings of the stories different?

• In one story, the stork is able to eat. In the other, the stork cannot eat.

• In one story, the stork tricks the fox. In the other, the stork does not trick the fox.

• In one story, the fox is able to eat. In the other, the fox cannot eat.

• In one story, the fox says he is sorry. In the other, the fox does not say he is sorry.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.W.5.9B

Clara Barton

1821 - 1912

Clara Barton was born in Oxford, Massachusetts. She was raised on a farm. She enjoyed helping others. Clara cared for sick pets. She also took care of her brother David when he fell from the roof of a barn.

Clara worked in the Civil War battlefields. She helped hurt soldiers and brought them food. She became known as the "Angel of the Battlefield." At one point, she almost lost her life. This did not stop her from helping others. Her courage was strong. Clara even looked for soldiers who were missing.

In 1870, Clara went to Europe. She worked for the International Red Cross while there. In 1881, she formed the American Red Cross. This took her several years of hard work.

Over the years, the American Red Cross has served people who need help from disasters, including forest fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Clara's faithfulness to help others has changed many lives, even after her death.

Joan of Arc

1412 - 1431

Joan of Arc was very faithful to God. She believed God had chosen her to lead the French army in a war with England. The English soldiers thought she had special powers. This made them afraid of her.

In the battle at Orleans, an arrow hit Joan of Arc. After pulling the arrow out, she went on fighting.

People spread news of her courage. Some people were afraid to battle with her. So, they would just give up.

How were Clara Barton and Joan of Arc alike?

• They both had a lot of courage.

• They both were struck by arrows.

• They both cared for hurt soldiers.

• They both looked for missing people

Passage 1

Cheetahs are large cats mostly found in Africa. They are the world's fastest land animal. Cheetahs' outstanding eyesight helps them hunt for animals to eat during the day. Their golden fur with black spots helps them to blend in with their surroundings. This makes it difficult for animals to see them as they hide in grassy and bushy areas. Their sudden, fast movements help them quickly catch an animal to eat. They hunt for animals such as gazelles, antelope, and rabbits.

Passage 2

The cheetah is a mammal made for speed. Cheetahs have slim, lean bodies, with long, thin legs and a long tail. These features help them to be the fastest mammal in the world. They can run up to 60 miles an hour in only three seconds. Male cheetahs travel in small groups, while the female cheetahs stay by themselves, or with their cubs. Cubs usually remain with their mothers for around two years.

In what way are these two passages similar?

• Both passages give details on what cheetahs eat.

• Both passages state that the cheetah is the fastest animal on land

• Both passages explain why cheetahs are great hunters.

• Both passages provide details on cheetahs' surroundings.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.5.6

Passage 1

Pangolins

Pangolins are strange-looking mammals. They have a small head and a long tail, and their body is completely covered in scales. Pangolins are nocturnal creatures, which means they usually come out only at night. During the day, they stay in their burrows. They hunt at night using their sharp sense of smell. Pangolins mostly eat ants and other insects. When startled, they curl up into a ball and lash out with their tail to protect themselves. Pangolins are mostly found in Africa and Asia.

Passage 2

Armadillos

Armadillos are small mammals that look like they are wearing a suit of armor on their back. In Spanish, the word "armadillo" means "little armored one." This armor is actually made up of bony plates. The plates cover the back, head, legs, and tail of armadillos. Only one type of armadillo can curl itself up into a ball. Armadillos have small eyes and a pointy snout. Since their eyesight is weak, they hunt using their sense of smell. They mostly eat insects and plants. Armadillos sleep for up to 16 hours a day in their burrows. They usually come out at night to hunt but may also hunt in the cool of the morning and evening. Most types of armadillo are only found in South and Central America.

In what way are these two passages similar?

• They both talk about Asia.

• They are both about animals in Africa.

• They both talk about forests.

• They are both about a type of animal.

Passage 1

Pangolins

Pangolins are strange-looking mammals. They have a small head and a long tail, and their body is completely covered in scales. Pangolins are nocturnal creatures, which means they usually come out only at night. During the day, they stay in their burrows. They hunt at night using their sharp sense of smell. Pangolins mostly eat ants and other insects. When startled, they curl up into a ball and lash out with their tail to protect themselves. Pangolins are mostly found in Africa and Asia.

Passage 2

Armadillos

Armadillos are small mammals that look like they are wearing a suit of armor on their back. In Spanish, the word "armadillo" means "little armored one." This armor is actually made up of bony plates. The plates cover the back, head, legs, and tail of armadillos. Only one type of armadillo can curl itself up into a ball. Armadillos have small eyes and a pointy snout. Since their eyesight is weak, they hunt using their sense of smell. They mostly eat insects and plants. Armadillos sleep for up to 16 hours a day in their burrows. They usually come out at night to hunt but may also hunt in the cool of the morning and evening. Most types of armadillo are only found in South and Central America.

What is one difference between pangolins and armadillos?

• Pangolins have a good sense of smell, while armadillos have good eyesight.

• Pangolins hunt during the night, while armadillos may hunt day or night.

• Pangolins have scales on their backs, while armadillos have smooth skin.

• Pangolins mostly eat insects, while armadillos only eat leaves.

Passage 1

Hippopotamuses

Hippopotamuses, or hippos, are the third largest land animals in the world. These animals are mainly found in African countries. They are herbivores. This means they eat grass, plants, and leaves rather than meat.

The skin of a hippopotamus is thick, smooth, and gray. Hippos do not have hair on their skin. The heads of these animals are huge. They have large and wide mouths, too. Their teeth are big and sharp, and they use them to protect themselves from other animals. Hippos do not have horns on their heads. The legs of hippopotamuses are short and plump. They are heavy animals and weigh around 3,900 pounds. Hippos are around 13 feet long and 5 feet tall.

These animals live near rivers or lakes and spend their time in and out of water. This helps their bodies stay cool in warm weather. Hippos do not know how to swim, so they go underwater for about five minutes and come up to breathe air. Sometimes, they sleep underwater, too. At night, they step out of water for a few hours to feed on grass and plants. These animals usually spend their time relaxing.

Passage 2

Rhinoceroses

Rhinoceroses, or rhinos, are huge animals. They are found in Africa and some parts of Asia. Rhinos usually live in grasslands or forests. There are five types of rhinoceroses: the Javan, the Sumatran, the black, the white, and Indian.

Rhinos do not eat meat. They eat only plants and grass. The lips of the white rhino are shaped like a square. This helps it to feed on grass. The pointed lips of the other types of rhinos help them to eat the leaves of trees and bushes easily.

Rhinos have large heads and bodies, short necks, and broad chests. These animals are usually around 6 feet tall and 12 feet long. They weigh around 6,000 pounds. Rhinoceroses may be gray, white, black, or yellowish brown in color. They live for about 35 years. These animals can run at a speed of 30 miles per hour. Horns are a useful part of the heads of rhinoceroses. Rhinos use their horns to fight against wild animals such as tigers, lions, and hyenas. The Indian and the Javan rhinoceroses have only one horn, while the other types of rhinoceroses have two horns on their heads.

What is one thing that hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses have in common?

• They have big, sharp teeth.

• They eat only plants and grass.

• They are six feet tall.

• They run at a great speed.