Comparing Texts — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. A farmer writes about wolves as dangerous pests. A wildlife biologist writes about wolves as important to ecosystems. Why do these texts include different information?
A) Because one author is lying about wolves
B) Because their different points of view shape what facts they choose to include
C) Because wolves are both dangerous and safe at the same time
D) Because the texts were written in different years
Each author's perspective (farmer vs. biologist) shapes which facts they select and how they frame the information.
2. Text A by a candy company says sugar gives children energy. Text B by a dentist says sugar causes cavities. What should a careful reader consider?
A) Only Text A is correct because companies do research
B) Only Text B is correct because dentists are always right
C) Each author's point of view and purpose may affect which facts they share
D) Neither text can be trusted because they disagree
Both authors have professional perspectives that shape what they highlight — readers should consider each author's bias and purpose.
3. A travel website describes a city as exciting and fun. A local newspaper describes the same city as noisy and crowded. What explains this difference?
A) The travel website wants to attract visitors, so it highlights positives
B) The newspaper has never actually visited the city
C) The city changed completely between the two articles
D) The travel website copied wrong information from another source
The travel website's purpose (attract tourists) shapes its positive framing; the newspaper's purpose (report local issues) leads to a different perspective.
4. Which question best helps you analyze how point of view affects a text?
A) How many paragraphs does this text have?
B) What information might the author have left out and why?
C) What color is the book cover?
D) How many pages is the text?
Asking what was omitted and why reveals how point of view shapes selection of information.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. An author's point of view can cause them to leave out information that does not support their argument.
Authors with a strong point of view may omit information that contradicts their argument.
2. When an author has a strong opinion, the text may show bias toward one side of an issue.
Bias is a tendency to favor one side of an issue, which affects what information is included or excluded.
3. A reader should ask what facts an author may have omitted when presenting only one side.
Critical readers consider what information was left out and why.
4. An author who works for a company may have a conflict of interest when writing about that company.
A conflict of interest occurs when an author has personal gain from presenting information in a certain way.
5. Reading texts from multiple perspectives helps readers form a balanced understanding of a topic.
Multiple perspectives provide a more complete, balanced view than any single source.