You may need to compare ideas within a passage in order to find similarities or differences.
The words compare and contrast are sometimes used interchangeably.
Strictly speaking, compare means to find similarities between two ideas, while contrast means to discover the differences.
Now look at the compare and contrast passages below.
Compare and Contrast − Passage 1
The roots of some plants can go extremely deep into the soil. In fact, the roots of some plants extend nearly one hundred feet below ground. However, roots can appear in the most unusual places, including the air. The roots from the banyan tree in southern Asia grow downward from the tree until they reach the ground and anchor into the earth. The banyan tree therefore starts growing as an air plant before its roots grow underground. Conversely, not every part of a plant located below ground is a root. The black locust tree, for instance, sends up sprouts from underground. These sprouts do not come from roots, but rather from underground stems called rhizomes.
The description of the banyan tree and the black locust tree are similar because:
A. both are used to illustrate the growth and function of roots.
B. both plants are thought to grow in the same part of the world.
C. both of them describe how parts of the plant come to grow below ground.
D. they refute the notion that roots always grow underground.
E. they both depict how roots begin to anchor into the earth.
The sentences on the banyan tree describe how its roots grow above ground before they begin to grow underground.
The description of the black locust tree mentions that sprouts grow underground.
Therefore, both descriptions mention parts of the plants that grow below the earth.
So, the correct answer is C.
Compare and Contrast − Passage 2
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States. During his tenure in the White House, Roosevelt was required to attend many functions and was introduced to thousands of people from around the world. He came to believe that most people paid little attention to what he actually said to them during these brief introductions. At one such event in the White House, the former president decided to put his theory to test. When introduced to his guest, Roosevelt quipped, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” Much to the president’s surprise, his guest responded, “She certainly had it coming!”
What does the author compare and contrast in the passage above?
A. The exciting and boring aspects of life as a U.S. president
B. Roosevelt’s perception and the response of his guest
C. The serious and playful aspects of Roosevelt’s personality
D. Roosevelt’s tenure and the tenure of other U.S. presidents
E. Life inside and outside the White House
Roosevelt was convinced that his guests did not listen to him.
The response of this particular guest reveals that the guest was listening very well.
Therefore, Roosevelt’s perception that his guests did not listen to him was very different than what actually happened during the event.
So, the correct answer is B.