Compare and Contrast - Answer Keys

Grade 5 ELA | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.5.R.1.3

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Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 Answers may vary. Examples: Both are 12 years old; Both love drawing; Both go to their favorite spots every Saturday; Both dream of becoming artists.
2 Answers may vary. Examples: Maya draws in a busy city park while Jade draws on a quiet mountain trail; Maya finds inspiration in crowds while Jade prefers solitude; Maya draws city life while Jade draws nature.
3 Maya's city park is busy and noisy with joggers, children, and vendors. Jade's mountain trail is quiet with only birdsong. This affects their art - Maya draws people and energy, while Jade focuses on natural details like bark and leaves.
4 B. Both Maya and Jade are twelve-year-old artists who find inspiration in their surroundings, but Maya is energized by crowds while Jade prefers solitude.
This is the best answer because it includes both similarities AND differences with meaningful comparison.
5 Answers will vary. Example: "Both Maya and Jade are passionate artists who visit their favorite spots every Saturday; however, Maya draws energy from crowds while Jade needs silence to focus."

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question Answer
1 Both Anna and Marcus experience fear during the storm. Both are young people facing a dangerous weather event. Both have family members helping them cope.
2 Anna stays calm, comforts her brother, and starts cleaning up afterward. Marcus freezes in fear, shakes uncontrollably, and cries when he sees the damage. Anna takes action while Marcus is overwhelmed.
3 B. Anna has experience with storms while Marcus has never faced one before.
The text states Anna "had seen plenty of storms" while Marcus "had never seen a real storm before."
4 Anna lives on a rural farmhouse where storms are common; Marcus lives in a city apartment where bad weather just means watching rain through windows. Anna's rural experience prepared her; Marcus's city life left him unprepared for the intensity.
5 Anna comforts her crying little brother Ben, telling him "It's going to be okay" and keeping her voice steady. Marcus's aunt and cousin take care of him, and his uncle comforts him afterward. Both passages show family support during crisis.
6 Diego approaches the competition with intense pressure and expectations - he practiced 4 hours daily for months and needs to win. Jasmine approaches it with joy and low pressure - she's "just excited to participate" and doesn't expect to win.
7 This contrast teaches us that happiness depends on our expectations and how we define success. Diego defines success as winning, so 2nd place feels like failure. Jasmine defines success as participating and improving, so 4th place feels like victory. Perspective matters more than the actual result.
8 A. Both characters are talented musicians, but Diego measures success by winning while Jasmine measures success by personal enjoyment.
9 Both are young musicians; Both participate in the same regional competition; Both are passionate about their instruments; Both have people cheering for them (family).
10 A. Samira tries to fit in quietly while Tyler tries to impress others right away.
11 Samira seems more likely to make friends. By the end, Lily has sat down with her and started a conversation, showing connection. Tyler, by contrast, ends up sitting alone on the bus because his bragging pushed people away. Samira's quiet openness attracts friendship; Tyler's showing off repels it.
12 SIMILAR: Both are new to their schools and want to fit in. Both feel lonely at some point.

DIFFERENT: Samira's challenge is language and cultural adjustment from another country. Tyler's challenge is fitting into a different culture (Texas vs. Ohio) and realizing his old status doesn't transfer. Samira is humble; Tyler is overconfident.
13 Making real friends requires being genuine and open to others, not trying to impress them or prove yourself. (Or: True connection comes from humility and interest in others, not from bragging or showing off.)
14 Answers will vary. Strong responses will include 2+ similarities, 2+ differences, signal words (both, however, while, similarly, in contrast), and specific text evidence from both passages.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question Answer
1 B. Both are strong in some areas but struggle in others.
Kai excels on the river but struggles in school; Nina excels academically but struggles socially.
2 A. Kai lives in a quiet, natural environment while Nina lives in a crowded, noisy city.
3 B. Both adults encourage the children by recognizing their unique strengths.
Both say variations of "You're smart in ways that..." and offer metaphors for their strengths.
4 A. Kai struggles academically but excels physically; Nina excels academically but struggles socially.
5 B. Kai is called a hero in the newspaper; Nina helps other kids and makes friends.
6 B. Everyone has unique strengths, even if they don't fit traditional measures of success.
7 A. Kai shows practical, hands-on intelligence while Nina shows academic, book-based intelligence.
8 A. Both the river and the library allow the characters to use their natural talents and feel competent.
9 See rubric and sample response below.
10 See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric

Score Criteria
2 Includes at least 2 meaningful similarities AND 2 meaningful differences; uses signal words; includes specific text evidence from both passages
1 Includes some similarities and differences but may be missing one category; limited signal words or evidence; may focus more on one passage
0 Does not provide meaningful comparisons; lacks evidence; only discusses one character; response off-topic
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Kai and Nina are similar in several ways. Both are twelve years old, and both have unique talents that set them apart. Additionally, both have supportive family members who encourage their strengths - Kai's father says the river is his classroom, while Nina's grandmother says books are her wings. However, there are important differences between them. While Kai struggles in traditional school and feels trapped in classrooms, Nina excels academically and wins spelling bees. In contrast to Kai's outdoor, hands-on skills like navigating rivers, Nina's strengths are in reading and helping others learn. Despite their differences, both characters prove that success comes in many forms.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric

Score Criteria
2 Clearly explains how both passages show different types of intelligence; uses specific evidence from BOTH passages; connects to the shared theme
1 Addresses the theme but uses evidence from only one passage; explanation is vague or incomplete
0 Does not address the theme of multiple types of intelligence; lacks text evidence; response off-topic
Sample 2-Point Response for Question 10:
Both passages work together to show that "there are many kinds of intelligence" by presenting two very different types of smart. In "The River's Edge," Kai represents practical intelligence - he can "read the currents" and "navigate blindfolded," even though school feels like "a cage" to him. His father tells him he's "smart in ways school doesn't measure." In contrast, "The Library Corner" shows Nina's academic intelligence - she's "the top student in every subject" and helps others learn to read. But she struggles socially and can't play sports. By showing Kai succeed on the river and Nina succeed in the library, the passages prove that intelligence isn't just about school grades. Both characters are smart in different ways, and both contribute something valuable to their communities.
FAST Success Kit | Grade 5 | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.5.R.1.3
Answer Key - For Teacher Use Only