Aiming high in a comparative summary | Exit Quiz | Oak National Academy

If differences are very slight then they can be described as...

(a)  

Answer explanation

Nuanced - the very best analysis and comparison will look for subtle differences between texts.

If something is described as 'raucous' then it is...

• loud and unpleasant

• quiet and peaceful

• boring and uninteresting

Answer explanation

Words like 'raucous' could be considered ambitious vocabulary that we could use as part of our comparative analysis. It would serve as a better adjective than 'loud', 'annoying' or 'harsh' for example.

In her article on Glastonbury festival, Day presents Glastonbury as an event with a calm, family-friendly atmosphere. Dickens presents Greenwich Fair as...

• more chaotic and out of control than Glastonbury.

• just as family-friendly as Glastonbury.

• dull and unexciting, unike Glastonbury.

• as an event he dislikes, the total opposite of Day who enjoys Glastonbury.

Answer explanation

Dickens presents Greenwich Fair as much more chaotic and out of control than Glastonbury. When comparing two extracts it is important to be able to identify differences in the writer's attitudes to what they are writing about.

In 'Greenwich Fair', Dickens describes a crowd that is 'extremely dense' and 'swinging to and fro'. What might be reasonable inferences to make about this description?

• The crowd is potentially dangerous

• The crowd is chaotic and out of control

• The crowd is having a good time

• The crowd are unhappy in some way

• The event is finished and the crowd are making their way home.

Answer explanation

These are two potential inferences we could make. There is not enough evidence in these quotes alone to justify the other inferences.

Which conjunctions need to go in the following sentence for it to make sense: '__________Day __________ Dickens have a sense of excitement and enjoyment from the respective events they are describing.

• Both/and

• Neither/nor

• Both/nor

• Neither/and

Answer explanation

Comparative and correlative conjunctions can be highly effective in our nuanced comparisons of two texts.

If Day describes 'broad grins' wherever she looks, but Dickens describes 'Ladies screaming' at every new diversion then which of the below is the best comparative sentence?

• Both Dickens and Day describe people having fun at the events they attended.

• Whilst Day describes people having fun, Dickens describes fear and unhappiness.

• Fun at Glastonbury is more restrained whereas at Greenwich it is more chaotic.

• Neither at Glastonbury or Greenwich do people appear to be having fun.

Answer explanation

This answer is successful at showing how the meaning of the quotes are broadly similar, but then it picks out a key difference between.