Reading closely: comparisons and evidence
Writers often compare one thing to another to help us see an idea. In the sentence A club is like a garden, the writer compares a club to a garden. The question Why does the writer compare …? asks for the reason. To answer it, do three things. First, name the two things. Second, find what they share in the text, for example both need care and both grow slowly. Third, write the answer in a full sentence with because and give the evidence from the text. A good answer does not only say what the text says; it explains the link. For a synonym question, read the whole sentence and choose the word with the same meaning and the same kind of word. Check that only one word in the text fits, because two words may look similar but have different meanings. Your book has a longer text on pages 19 and 20 about how pride grows from history. Read it after this lesson and try the same steps.
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| Name the two things | a school club and a garden |
| Find what they share | both need care and time to grow |
| Give evidence | “Nobody can rush the first flowers.” |
| Write a full answer | The writer compares them because both grow slowly with care. |
A school club is like a garden. In September the ground is empty, and nobody can rush the first flowers. A few students arrive with ideas, like seeds, and the teacher gives them water and light, which means time and attention. Some seeds do not grow, but this is normal, and the gardener tries another place. By March the club has its first achievement: a small show that the whole school comes to watch. Parents say that the show is impressive, and younger students say that it inspires them to join next year. A garden does not become beautiful in one day, and a club does not either. Both need care, patience and people who return every week.
Compare and explain. Choose a pair such as a library and a river or a team and a family. Write two sentences: “A … is like a … because …”. Give one piece of evidence for each sentence and read them to a grown-up.