UGE Practice Set - Comparison and Contrast Rev1
UGE Practice Set - Comparison and Contrast Rev1
UGE Practice Set - Comparison and Contrast Rev1
Activity 3.1
Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow.
Planting a garden is a lot like having a family. Both require a great deal of work, especially as
they grow and as the seasons change. As summer days lengthen, your plants become dependent on
you for sustenance, much like your children depend on you for food and drink. Like a thirsty child
asking for a drink of water, your plants do the same. Their bent, wilted “body” language
translated, issues a demand much the way your child requests milk or juice. When their collective
thirsts are quenched, you see the way they both thrive in your care. The fussy child becomes
satisfied, and the plant reaches toward the sun in a showy display. You might also find that you
have to clean the space around your plants much like you would pick up toys and clothes that have
been thrown helter-skelter in your toddler’s room. Similarly, plants shed spent petals, roses need
to be pruned, and weeds to be pulled. To keep children healthy, parents protect their children
against disease with medicine, and gardeners do the same with insect repellant. To nourish them,
parents give children vitamins, and gardeners use fertilizer, as both promote healthy growth. As
children grow and become adults, they need less and less care. However, here’s where the
similarity ends. While plants die or become dormant, children still maintain a vital role in the
family unit.
Planting a garden and having a family are the two things being compared and contrasted in
the paragraph.
a. Both require a great deal of work, especially as they grow and as the seasons change.
b. As summer days lengthen, your plants become dependent on you for sustenance, much like
your children depend on you for food and drink.
c. You have to clean the space around your plants much like you would pick up toys and clothes
that have been thrown helter-skelter in your toddler’s room. Similarly, plants shed spent petals,
roses need to be pruned, and weeds to be pulled.
d. To keep children healthy, parents protect their children against disease with medicine, and
gardeners do the same with insect repellant. To nourish them, parents give children vitamins, and
gardeners use fertilizer, as both promote healthy growth.
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING
The difference between the two things is that while plants die or become dormant,
children still maintain a vital role in the family unit.
Activity 3.2
Read the following definitions written in Column A. Then, identify what is being referred to by
matching the definitions with their correct terms listed in Column B. Write ONLY the letter of
your choice on the space provided for each item.
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING
Activity 3.3
Read the two fairy tales below. Each is from a different culture. What are the similarities between
two tales? What are the differences? Use the Venn diagram on the next page to list three (3)
similarities and three (3) things that are different about each tale.
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING
Though its back was singed to ash, the mouse kept at its task. Finally, the mouse freed the sun
from its bondage, but not before the heat shrunk it to a fraction of its former size. When it began
its task, the mouse was the largest of all animals. By the time it finished, it was the smallest. To this
day, the mouse remains one of the tiniest animals, and its coat is still the color of ashes.
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING
that he gave the boy a diamond bigger than himself. The boy hitched the diamond to his stork and
flew home, and he and his parents lived in peace and prosperity for the rest of their lives.
Venn Diagram
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING
Story 1 Story 2
Pierre changed into his track clothes Francesca was the best swimmer on
and laced up his shoes. He left the locker the team. She swam the fastest. She swam
room to meet the rest of the kids outside on long distances. She was chosen as the captain
the field. It was the first day of track tryouts. for this season. All the other girls wanted to
The coach walked up and greeted the be like Francesca.
athletes. The biggest race of the season was this
“I see you are all interested in being Friday. The whole school was excited. The
on Town Creek Middle School’s track team would race against Leeward
team,” the coach stated. “Let’s see if you have Middle, the school’s rival team. Every year
what it takes.” the schools compete against each other. The
winner gets a special trophy.
The boys began to complete the tryout
Francesca was always nervous in the
drills. The coach wanted to see who could
days before the big race. She had a hard time
run the farthest, who could run the longest,
eating. She couldn’t sleep. It was hard to
and who could run the fastest. Pierre liked to
focus in class. All she could think about was
run and he knew he was talented, but he
how she would beat the other team.
didn't know how well the other boys ran.
On Wednesday, Francesca realized
Would he be good enough to make the team?
that she really wasn’t feeling right. This was
Each time it was Pierre’s turn to run,
more than just being nervous and excited.
he began shaking and it was hard to breathe.
She visited the school nurse who took her
He was so nervous! The coach realized
temperature and checked her throat. The
Pierre was panicking and pulled him aside.
He put his hand on his shoulder and spoke nurse called Francesca’s mom and sent her
calmly to Pierre. home from school early.
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING
“Pierre, I’ve seen your running skills. Francesca was devastated. She was so
You have no reason to be nervous! Take a upset that she came down with a cold right
deep breath and join this group. You’ve got before her big race. The trophy meant so
this! I know you can do it,” he said. much for her school. What if she could not
Taking a deep breath, Pierre lined up compete? Would her team stand a chance?
with the other boys. As soon as the whistle The next morning, Francesca woke up
blew, he took off running. His arms and legs feeling better. Her mom kept her home from
moved faster than they ever had before. He school so she could rest more.
controlled his breathing and stayed focused On Friday after school, Francesca
on the finish line. Sweat dripped down his and her teammates raced at the swim meet.
forehead as he used every muscle in his body Her team won in every event at the meet.
to win the race. Pierre knew he had won first Francesca even set a school record! All of
place. Francesca’s rest from being sick had paid off
to help her achieve and lead her team to
Inside, Pierre was grinning from ear
victory.
to ear. He had successfully turned his first
day jitters into the fuel that helped him win
the race and make the team.
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING
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Practice Set Worksheet
Comparison and Contrast NOW I KNOW | A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO READING