What strategy helps connect and distinguish elements in a text?

• A. Compare/contrast
• B. Predict
• C. Define terms
• D. Edit for grammar

Answer: (A)

Comparing and contrasting helps connect and distinguish elements in a text by inviting you to examine how things are alike and how they differ across characters, ideas, events, or settings. This approach lets you map relationships and patterns, showing how one part of the text relates to another and why differences matter. For instance, when you compare two characters, you look at their motivations, actions, and consequences, noting similarities that reveal shared themes and differences that explain their choices and the tension in the story. By contrasting them, you gain a clearer sense of how the author develops ideas and drives the plot.

Predicting focuses on what might happen next, not on mapping relationships among elements. Defining terms clarifies vocabulary, which helps understanding individual words or concepts but doesn’t illuminate how elements connect or differ. Editing for grammar addresses writing mechanics rather than the deeper relationships within the text.