Reading Comprehension Passages with Compare and Contrast Questions: Grade 4

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Comparing means finding the similarities between two or more things. What do they have in common?
• 💡 Contrasting means finding the differences between two or more things. How are they different?
• 📝 Look for keywords like "both," "similar," "different," "however," and "on the other hand" to help you identify comparisons and contrasts.
• 🍎 Use a Venn diagram or a T-chart to organize your thoughts when comparing and contrasting.
• 🧠 Read the passage carefully and highlight or underline key information.

🤔 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences shows a comparison?
   1. A. Apples are red, but bananas are yellow.
   2. B. Both cats and dogs can be good pets.
   3. C. The sun is hot, while the moon is cold.
   4. D. I like to play soccer, but my brother likes basketball.
2. Which of the following sentences shows a contrast?
   1. A. Goldfish and sharks both live in the ocean.
   2. B. Pizza and pasta are both Italian foods.
   3. C. Summer is hot, but winter is cold.
   4. D. Reading and writing are both important skills.
3. Passage: "Elephants and tigers are both animals that live in the jungle. Elephants are herbivores, meaning they eat plants, while tigers are carnivores, meaning they eat meat." What is one way elephants and tigers are similar?
   1. A. They both eat meat.
   2. B. They both live in the jungle.
   3. C. They are both herbivores.
   4. D. They are both carnivores.
4. Passage: "Elephants and tigers are both animals that live in the jungle. Elephants are herbivores, meaning they eat plants, while tigers are carnivores, meaning they eat meat." What is one way elephants and tigers are different?
   1. A. They both live in the jungle.
   2. B. They both eat plants.
   3. C. Elephants eat plants, while tigers eat meat.
   4. D. They are both animals.
5. Passage: "Reading books and watching movies are both forms of entertainment. However, reading requires imagination to create the scenes in your mind, while movies show you the scenes directly." What is the main difference between reading books and watching movies?
   1. A. They are both boring.
   2. B. Reading requires imagination, while movies show you the scenes.
   3. C. They are both educational.
   4. D. They are both expensive.
6. Passage: "Apples and oranges are both fruits. Apples are often red or green, while oranges are, well, orange! Apples are usually crisp and slightly tart, while oranges are juicy and sweet." Which sentence best compares apples and oranges?
   1. A. Apples are red or green, while oranges are orange.
   2. B. Apples are crisp and tart, while oranges are juicy and sweet.
   3. C. Apples and oranges are both fruits.
   4. D. Apples are better than oranges.
7. Passage: "Dogs and cats are popular pets. Dogs are known for their loyalty and often require a lot of exercise. Cats, on the other hand, are more independent and require less attention." What is a key difference between dogs and cats, according to the passage?
   1. A. They are both animals.
   2. B. Dogs are more independent than cats.
   3. C. Dogs require a lot of exercise, while cats require less attention.
   4. D. They are both popular.