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Worksheets

Cause and Effect / Compare and Contrast

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 39mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Forest fires sometimes begin through natural events. Very little rainfall and dry forests are ideal situations for fires to start. All it takes is a lightning strike, sparking a fire that can destroy the entire forest. Often, forest fires are so large that firefighters can't stop them, and these fires sometimes threaten homes and businesses. Then, people are forced to flee the fire and hope that their property isn't destroyed.


Based on this passage, what is the initial cause of some forest fires?

a)

a lightening strike

b)

little rainfal

c)

campfires

d)

dry forests

2.

Suri and Dawson are rock climbing. Suri decides to attempt a new skill she has learned. At first, she is successful, but then she loses her grip and falls. Suddenly, the safety ropes catch her, but she smashes her hand on the rock.


What is the effect of Suri's fall?

a)

Suri decides to try a new skill.

b)

Suri smashes her hand.

c)

At first, she is successful.

d)

Suri is rock climbing.

3.

One reason streams become polluted is storm water runoff. When rain or melted snow runs off, it carries trash from sidewalks and streets with it. These pollutants flow into storm sewers or directly into a lake, stream, or river. Then, bacteria from the trash spread to create health hazards. The trash itself can choke and suffocate ducks, fish, turtles, and birds. Used motor oil, paint, and insecticides can poison fish.


According to this passage, which of the following is caused by storm water runoff?

a)

Swimming pools fill up.

b)

Snow melts and runs off.

c)

Trash chokes ducks, fish, and turtles.

d)

People leave trash on sidewalks and streets.

4.

Because Amelia was determined to be a famous actor one day, she auditioned for every school play, signed up for after-school acting classes, and subscribed to a special magazine for actors.


What causes Amelia to audition for school plays, sign up for acting classes, and subscribe to an acting magazine?

a)

her determination to be a well-known actor

b)

her dream of being rich one day

c)

her determination to get the lead in the school play

d)

her willingness to try new activities

5.

Which of the following words signal cause-and-effect organization?

a)

since, as a result of, due to

b)

what, when, where

c)

how, how much, what kind

d)

before, after, nearly

6.

Cause of Colds

The common cold is caused by a virus, which travels through the air into the nose. There are more than 100 types of cold viruses! The most common is the rhinovirus.


Which sentence from this passage reflects the main idea?

a)

The common cold is caused by a virus, which travels through the air into the nose.

b)

There are more than 100 types of cold viruses!

c)

The most common is the rhinovirus.

d)

Everyone gets colds.

7.
The design of roller coasters is based on the laws of physics.

Which of the following details does NOT support this main idea?
a)
There are no engines on roller coasters; kinetic energy drives the coaster forward.
b)
The amount of friction on the wheels affects the speed of the ride.
c)
Wooden roller coasters are scarier than steel roller coasters.
d)
Inertia is the force that keeps you in your seat during a loop-the-loop.
8.

In which of the following situations could you compare and contrast?

a)

You are voting for class president and there are three students running

b)

You are writing an essay about which time period you’d rather live in: the 1980s or the 1880s.

c)

You are deciding what the major differences are between the first and last Harry Potter books.

d)

All of the above

9.

Kelvin is writing about the Greek myths that he recently read. He describes how they each focus on a hero’s quest and how each hero is different. Kelvin is ________.

a)

comparing Greek myths but not contrasting them

b)

comparing Greek myths with Roman myths

c)

comparing and contrasting Greek myths

d)

not comparing or contrasting

10.

Before you write a compare and contrast essay, you should, ________.

a)

choose one difference between the items that is most important

b)

pick which item is better

c)

revise your essay using a flow chart

d)

pre-write for your essay using a Venn diagram

11.

When comparing and contrasting, you should ________.

a)

write similarities in the overlapping sections of a Venn diagram

b)

write differences in the overlapping sections of a Venn Diagram

c)

write similarities in the arrows of a flow chart

d)

skip pre-writing and begin writing the essay right away

12.

If you’re comparing and contrasting three items, you ________.

a)

can’t use a Venn diagram

b)

only have to describe two of them

c)

can add a third circle to your Venn diagram

d)

can compare them without contrasting

13.

What would you compare and contrast to respond to the following essay prompt?


"Compare and contrast mammals and reptiles. Discuss their life cycles, habitats and bodies."

a)

mammals and reptiles

b)

humans and insects

c)

vertebrates

d)

deserts and rainforests

14.

Which of the following statements contrasts mammals and reptiles?

a)

Humans are mammals.

b)

Both mammals and reptiles are vertebrates.

c)

Mammals are warm blooded while reptiles are cold blooded.

d)

Mammals and reptiles can live in the same habitat.

15.

Using ________ in your essay helps readers know when you're comparing and contrasting.

a)

nouns

b)

transition words

c)

punctuation

d)

prepositions

16.

Which of the following words or phrases can be used to show a comparison?

a)

On the other hand

b)

Similarly

c)

In contrast

d)

While

17.

Which of the following words or phrases could be used when contrasting?

a)

Similarly

b)

In Conclusion

c)

On the other hand

d)

Nonetheless

18.
Tana and Lua like to go hiking. While Lua loved to bring her dog and walk the trail, Tana loved to bike. Both girls really enjoyed finding natural waterfalls to swim in. Tana and Lua also really loved eating fresh fruit along the trails. Tana loved the hike up, while Lua loved the trek back down.
In what ways can you compare the two girls?
a)
Tana and Lua both liked to bring their dogs on the trail.
b)
Tana and Lua both were scared to eat fruit along the trail
c)
Tana loved the hike up, while Lua loved the trek back down.
d)
Tana and Lua both liked finding natural waterfalls to swim in.
19.
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?
a)
Kylie loved horseback riding and janet did not.
b)
Kylie loved swimming and so did Janet.
c)
Janet liked vacationing in tropic areas while Kylie liked arctic zones.
d)
Kylie liked to vacation in tropic areas while Janet liked peaceful grasslands.
20.

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 berrylike 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 similar?

a)

Both are vines

b)

Both have hairy fruit

c)

Both look exactly alike

d)

Both have berrylike fruit