Comparing and Contrasting Nonfiction Texts
A Grade 7 worksheet designed to help students understand and practice comparing and contrasting information presented in nonfiction texts.
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Comparing and Contrasting Nonfiction Texts
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Read the following passages carefully. Then, answer the questions by comparing and contrasting the information presented in each text.
Passage 1: The Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest, located in South America, is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. It covers an enormous area, spanning across nine countries, with the majority in Brazil. Known for its incredible biodiversity, the Amazon is home to millions of species of plants, insects, birds, and mammals, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The climate is hot and humid year-round, receiving abundant rainfall. The Amazon River, the second-longest river in the world, flows through it, providing a vital water source and transportation route for both wildlife and human communities. Deforestation and climate change pose significant threats to this invaluable ecosystem.
Passage 2: The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert, situated in North Africa, is the largest hot desert in the world. It stretches across vast expanses, covering much of eleven countries. Unlike the Amazon, the Sahara is characterized by extreme aridity, with very little rainfall throughout the year. Temperatures can soar during the day and drop dramatically at night. Despite its harsh conditions, the Sahara supports a unique array of adapted plant and animal life, including camels, fennec foxes, and various reptiles. Oases, fertile spots in the desert where water is available, are crucial for both wildlife and human settlements. Desertification, the process of fertile land becoming desert, is a major environmental concern in the region.
1. Which of the following is a key difference in the climate of the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert?
The Amazon has extreme temperature fluctuations, while the Sahara is consistently hot.
The Amazon receives abundant rainfall, while the Sahara is arid.
Both experience heavy rainfall throughout the year.
Both have consistently cold temperatures.
2. What is one similarity between the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert, despite their differences?
Both are home to millions of species of plants and animals.
Both are located in South America.
Both face significant environmental threats.
Both have large rivers flowing through them.
3. The Amazon Rainforest is known for its incredible , while the Sahara Desert is characterized by extreme .
4. A major environmental concern in the Amazon is , whereas in the Sahara, it is .
5. In your own words, explain how the geographical locations of the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert contribute to their differing climates.
6. Use the Venn Diagram below to compare and contrast the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert. Write characteristics unique to each in the outer circles and shared characteristics in the overlapping section.