Comparative
Reading
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®
Taylor Associates
Compare, Contrast, and/or Integrate
Comparing and Contrasting| H-1
COMPREHENSION SKILLS PR
Level H-1
Have
you ever noticed that white looks whiter and black looks blacker when these colors are
close to each other? Artists often take advantage of this fact to create a strong reaction in the people
who view their works. They are aware of the value of contrast.
Contrasting means noting the differences between things. Authors realize that things are often clearer
and more easily understood when they are contrasted with similar things. Therefore they make use of
contrast in their writing. The following paragraph shows how effective contrasting can be.
At the beginning of the American Revolution, the British had well-organized armies and
officers equal to those of any nation. At first, the colonists had no army and few leaders
capable of organizing and training men. Then too the British had factories for making
guns, swords, and bayonets, as well as great shipyards for the building of warships.
America, on the other hand, was not equipped to manufacture implements of war; nor
did she possess cannons to arm her warships. Finally, Great Britain had the strongest
navy in the world and many ships were available to carry troops and supplies across
the ocean and up and down the coast. The Americans did not have a single armed
naval vessel.
From this paragraph, you can readily see how contrasting can point out important differences.
Contrasting
British
American
Well-organized armies; good officers
No army; few capable leaders
Factories for making implements of war; shipyards
Not equipped to manufacture implements of war
Strongest navy in the world; many ships
Not a single armed naval vessel
Often in the process of contrasting, it becomes obvious that there are similarities between things as
well as differences. Noting the similarities as well as the differences is called comparing. The following paragraphs continue the contrast between Great Britain and the colonies, but they also contain a
similarity.
Other factors too favored the British. For one thing, the colonies were united only by
the Continental Congress, which had so few powers that it could scarcely be called
a government. Great Britain, on the other hand, had an enormously powerful central
government that commanded great respect. In addition, the population of the colonies,
which was only about 3 million, was not in agreement about the war. Almost a third of
the colonists were British sympathizers. These people, known either as Loyalists or
Tories, refused to fight against the mother country.
Internal disagreement was a disadvantage that the colonies and Great Britain had in
common. Like the colonists, the British too were not united in their feelings regarding the war. The Whigs, under the leadership of such great men as William Pitt and
Edmund Burke, did much to oppose the moves of the king’s followers, who were
known as Tories. This disagreement at home was a handicap to the British.
Comparing
Different
Similar
Continental Congress weak; British government very Both the colonies and Great Britain had people who
strong
were not united in their feelings about the war
Comparing (noting similarities and differences) and contrasting (noting only differences) information will
enable you to gain a deeper understanding of what you read.
Copyright © 2013 Taylor Associates/Communications,
Inc.
E
Comparative
Reading
ReadingPlus
®
Comparing and Contrasting| H-1
COMPREHENSION SKILLS PR
Taylor Associates
Level H-1
Compare, Contrast, and/or Integrate
E
Student Name_______________________________________________________________
Read the following paragraphs. Then contrast the views of those who were for imperialism with those who were
against it. Write your answers on the lines provided.
Between 1877 and 1914, Americans wanted
overseas expansion for many reasons. Business
people wanted to sell goods. They saw the Far
East, South America, and the Caribbean as
markets. Military men also called for expansion.
The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660–
1783, a book by Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan,
was widely read. It said that all great countries had
understood the need for colonies and sea power.
Many politicians believed this. They called for
colonies and a large navy.
was more advanced than any other race. They
believed that it was the duty of more advanced
peoples to uplift and govern less-advanced
peoples.
Those who wanted colonies were called imperialists.
Americans who did not want colonies were known
as anti-imperialists. The anti-imperialists said it was
wrong to tell other people how to live. They also
said the cost of defending colonies would be great.
They warned that overseas expansion would bring
the United States into the affairs of other colonial
New ideas about race were also important. At that powers.
time, many Americans believed that the white race
For
Against
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
Read the following paragraphs. Compare the Yalta Conference with the Potsdam Conference.
World War II left Germany’s fate in question. But
in 1945, two major Allied meetings were called,
mainly to discuss Germany’s future. At the Yalta
Conference in February 1945, plans were made
for the Allies’ postwar occupation of Germany. After
V-E Day, these plans were carried out. Germany
was divided into four occupation zones. The Soviet
Union occupied East Germany, which included the
German capital, Berlin. The United States, Britain,
and France each occupied one of the three zones
in West Germany. The city of Berlin was also
divided into four zones. Each was held by one of
the four powers. This plan caused major problems
during the years that followed.
At the Potsdam Conference in July 1945, plans
were made to destroy Germany’s war machine.
At Potsdam, it was also decided that Nazi leaders
should be tried as war criminals. Shortly thereafter, an International Military Tribunal was set
up at Nuremberg, Germany. The tribunal tried,
sentenced, and put to death several high-ranking
Nazis. However, Adolf Hitler was not among this
group. For he had met death, most likely by suicide,
in the war’s closing days.
Likenesses
Differences
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
Copyright © 2013 Taylor Associates/Communications,
Inc.