COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Complete the sentence.

When you compare one thing to another, you explain how the two are _________________.

• different

• mysterious

• similar

• interesting

Complete the sentence.

When you contrast things, you explain how they are __________________.

• different

• mysterious

• similar

• interesting

Which of the following signal words show contrast?

• in the same way

• just as

• on the other hand

• also

Which of the following signal words show comparison?

• although

• besides

• however

• neither

Janet and Kylie were best friends. They liked to do everything together. Kylie loved horseback riding and so did Janet. Janet loved swimming, and although Kylie did not know how to swim, she loved the water. Janet enjoyed vacationing in tropic areas while Kylie liked arctic zones.

In what ways do the two girls contrast?

• Kylie loved horseback riding and Janet did not.

• Janet liked vacationing in tropic areas while Kylie liked arctic zones.

• Kylie liked to vacation in tropic areas while Janet liked peaceful grasslands.

• Kylie loved swimming and so did Janet.

Poison ivy and poison oak are woody plants that grow in almost any habitat and are very similar in appearance. Both poison oak and poison ivy have berry-like fruit and brown stems. But poison ivy acts more like a vine than a bush and can grow high in trees. The fruit of poison ivy is gray and smooth. On the other hand, poison oak acts more like a bush than a vine. The fruit of poison oak is hairy instead of smooth.

How are poison ivy and poison oak different?

• Poison ivy has smooth fruit, unlike poison oak which has hairy fruit.

• Poison oak can live in almost any habitat while poison ivy cannot.

• Poison ivy is a woody plant, but poison oak is not.

• Poison oak has a brown stem and poison ivy has a green stem.

Reptiles have scales and their toes have claws; amphibians have moist skin and their toes do not have claws. Both reptiles and amphibians lay eggs. However, reptile eggs have a thick hard shell and are laid on land, but amphibian eggs have no shell and are laid in water. Young reptiles are miniature replicas of their parents and are born with lungs, but young amphibians start out with gills. Once amphibians have matured to adults, they have lungs.

When comparing reptiles and amphibians:

• Both have scales.

• Both are born with lungs.

• Both have toes on their claws.

• Both lay eggs.

Reptiles have scales and their toes have claws; amphibians have moist skin and their toes do not have claws. Both reptiles and amphibians lay eggs. However, reptile eggs have a thick hard shell and are laid on land, but amphibian eggs have no shell and are laid in water. Young reptiles are miniature replicas of their parents and are born with lungs, but young amphibians start out with gills. Once amphibians have matured to adults, they have lungs.

When contrasting reptiles and amphibians:

• Reptiles lay eggs while amphibians don't.

• Reptiles do not have claws, but amphibians do.

• Reptiles lay eggs with a shell, unlike amphibians which lay eggs without a shell.

• Reptiles have lungs when they mature while amphibians are born with lungs.