Compare and Contrast Two Texts

What is one of the main differences between the character Sarah and the narrator of passage 1?

• The narrator has accepted her move, while Sarah is still fighting it.

• The narrator is hiding in a monastery, while Sarah hides on a train.

• The narrator misses her parents, while Sarah is only missing her doll.

• The narrator is scared of living away from home, while Sarah is excited.

Both passages are set in Nazi Germany era. In what way are the passages similar?

Passage 1

Living in France was nothing like I thought it would be. There were dozens of Jewish children hidden in the monastery west of town, waiting for their families to come to them, but Benjamin and I lived with the Laurent family. Our family sent us there to protect us from the Nazis, and I thought I would hate it, but it wasn’t so bad—I even started to like it, after a while. I missed my parents, but I knew they would come soon and take us home.

Monsieur and Madame Laurent had just one child of their own, Clara, a twelve-year-old girl, just like me. It was a lot of fun having someone to play with that wasn’t as little as Benjamin, but I promised Mama and Papa I would take care of him, so I did.

Passage 2

“Papa,” I whispered as he tightened and knotted the laces on my boots, “please don’t send us to France without you.”

“My dear child,” he said, standing up and kissing the top of my head, “it is for the best.” He picked up our suitcase, which had clothes and one picture of our family inside of it, nothing else; I couldn’t even pack Ayelet, my favorite doll, or my silver Star of David necklace. We took one last look at our home.

“Mama,” I said in the quietest voice I had, hoping she would still hear me.

“Hush, Sarah,” she replied, “and put this on.” She handed me my overcoat, the only one I had left.

I reached out and grabbed my sister’s hand. Esther was thirteen and refused to cry, but her hand was sweating. She squeezed my fingers twice which meant, “I love you.”

Soon, we were on a train speeding through the countryside, on our way to safety, but Papa and Mama had to stay in Germany

• Both describe sending children to France to protect them from Nazi rule.

• Both describe daily life for children hidden from the Nazis in France.

• Both describe what life was like in Nazi Germany for Jewish families.

• Both describe sending women and children to France during Nazi rule.

Next time you are thirsty, try drinking a glass of water instead of a soda. Although both will quench your thirst, soda is full of sugar and chemicals. Water, on the other hand, is a much healthier choice. Water helps your digestive system to function properly and keeps you immune system strong so you won't get sick. Which key words tell you this is organized as compare contrast?

• water instead of soda

• on the other hand, although

• and, so

• is a much healthier choice

How are Aedan and the narrator of passage 2 similar?

• Both boys are excited to see their dads again.

• Both boys want a colorful birthday cake.

• Both boys are celebrating their birthdays.

• Both boys feel lucky to have sugar for a cake.

In the track of the hurricane much damage was done. Fences and stone walls were blown down, and the stalks of Indian corn were bent over and broken off near the ground. Hay in the fields was suddenly whisked up, and scattered over adjoining territory for a mile away, being lost. As the wind increased in force many large apple and other kinds of trees were torn up by the roots ; in some instances enclosing animals in such a manner that they could not get away by their efforts alone, though they were not injured.

A large portion of the roof of the church, and boards from tile roofs and sides of several other buildings were carried away. Several dwelling houses were shattered, and two or three buildings were entirely destroyed. In the space covered by the wind was a house, with a wing which was barricaded. The whirlwind swept down upon the wing with such violence that it was instantly demolished, three of its sides falling to the ground.

The first passage focuses more on the rain, whereas the second passage (a firsthand account) focuses on...

• The wind

• The water

• The destruction

• Both the wind and destruction

to identify similarities in two or more items

• compare

• contrast

• analogy

• rhetoric

to identify differences in two or more items

• compare

• contrast

• analogy

• rhetoric

What is one of the main differences between the themes of Text A and Text B?

• Text A focuses on hope, while Text B focuses on despair.

• Text A is about friendship, while Text B is about loneliness.

• Text A discusses freedom, while Text B discusses captivity.

• Text A highlights courage, while Text B highlights fear.

In what way are the settings of Text A and Text B similar?

• Both are set in urban environments.

• Both take place during the winter season.

• Both are set in historical contexts.

• Both occur in small rural towns.

Which literary device is used in both Text A and Text B to enhance the narrative?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

• Irony