Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd Edition

Finding the Facts
1. What two things are being compared and
contrasted here?
2. In what ways are these two things similar?
(There are four similarities; list them here.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
3. In what ways are these two things different?
(There is one aspect that is different; write it
here.)
Answers
1. The two things being compared and contrasted are
a parent and a gardener.
2. Gardeners are like parents in that: a) plants are
dependent on gardeners as children are on parents;
b) plants require care from gardeners as children
do from their parents; c) gardeners tidy up after
their plants, as parents do after children; and d)
gardeners protect their plants, as parents protect
their children.
3. Gardeners are unlike parents in that their respon-
sibility for their plants ends when the plant dies or
goes into winter dormancy.
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S I M I L A R I T I E S A N D D I F F E R E N C E S : C O M PA R E A N D C O N T R A S T
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Finding the Main Idea
Now that you’ve answered those questions, consider
one more. Read the previous passage again, and then
answer this question:
4. What is the main idea of this passage?
Did you notice that the opening sentence, “Planting
a garden is a lot like having a family,” is the topic sen-
tence that expresses the main idea of this paragraph?
The paragraph does mention a difference between these
two roles, but notice that the topic sentence does not
claim that gardeners and parents are exactly alike.
Instead, it asserts that they are “a lot” alike.
Transitional Devices
As you read the paragraph about gardeners and parents,
did you notice the transitional words and phrases that
show you when the writer is comparing (showing sim-
ilarity) and when the writer is contrasting (showing dif-
ference)? Here’s the passage once more. As you read it
this time, underline the transitional words and phrases
you find.
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 need to be pulled.
To keep children healthy, parents protect their children
against disease with medicine, and gardeners do the
same with insect repellent. 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 and
become dormant during winter, children still maintain
a vital role in the family unit.
There are several transitional words and phrases
writers use to show comparison and contrast. In this
paragraph, you should have underlined the following
words: much like, in the same way, similarly, and however.
These words and phrases show similarity:
These words and phrases show difference:
but
on the other hand
however
conversely
yet
on the contrary
nevertheless
similarly
likewise
like
just as
in the same way
in a like manner
and
also