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Grade 5 English Language Arts · Comparing Texts

Grade 5 Comparing Texts Practice Test

Build Grade 5 English Language Arts skills with five 10-question practice tests on comparing ideas, details, evidence, purposes, perspectives, and summaries across texts.

Comparing Texts Practice Tests

These Grade 5 English Language Arts practice tests help students compare two literary or informational passages. Students identify shared main ideas, differences in details, author purpose, point of view, tone, organization, evidence, and combined summaries.

Skills covered

  • Finding shared topics and main ideas
  • Identifying important similarities and differences
  • Comparing characters, settings, events, and perspectives
  • Comparing author purpose and text organization
  • Selecting evidence from one or both texts
  • Writing summaries that combine information accurately

How to use these practice tests

Read both passages before comparing them. Make a two-column note of what each text says, then mark ideas that overlap and details that appear in only one text. Choose an answer supported by both passages when the question asks for a shared idea.

For more Grade 5 English Language Arts practice, return to the Grade 5 English Language Arts category.

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Grade 5 Comparing Texts Practice Tests

A 10-question Grade 5 English Language Arts practice test on comparing literary and informational texts, main ideas, evidence, author purpose, and similarities and differences.

Read both passages, identify their shared and different ideas, and choose the comparison best supported by evidence from the texts.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

Passage A: "Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity for the community center." Passage B: "A wind turbine uses moving air to generate electricity for nearby homes." What main idea do both passages share?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Renewable energy sources can produce electricity..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: Both passages explain how a renewable natural source is used to generate electricity.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Renewable energy sources can produce electricity..

Both passages explain how a renewable natural source is used to generate electricity.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Which detail appears only in Passage A?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is The energy system uses sunlight..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: Only Passage A identifies sunlight as its energy source.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is The energy system uses sunlight..

Only Passage A identifies sunlight as its energy source.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

Passage A says that a solar panel works best on a clear day. Passage B says that a wind turbine works best when air moves steadily. What do these details show?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Each energy system depends on conditions that support its source..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: Sunlight and moving air are different conditions, but each supports its matching system.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Each energy system depends on conditions that support its source..

Sunlight and moving air are different conditions, but each supports its matching system.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

Passage A explains how to build a small solar oven. Passage B describes why a town chose wind turbines. How do the authors’ purposes differ?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Passage A gives instructions, while Passage B explains a decision..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: The first text teaches a process; the second explains a community choice.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Passage A gives instructions, while Passage B explains a decision..

The first text teaches a process; the second explains a community choice.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

Passage A: "A school installed solar panels on the roof and used the electricity for computers." Passage B: "A farm installed a wind turbine and used the electricity for a milking machine." What common effect is described?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Both places use renewable electricity to support daily work..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: The school and farm each use generated electricity for a practical task.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Both places use renewable electricity to support daily work..

The school and farm each use generated electricity for a practical task.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Passage A lists the steps for testing a solar oven. Passage B lists reasons a town selected wind power. Which statement compares the organization?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Passage A is organized as a process, while Passage B is organized around reasons..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: Steps show how to do something, while reasons explain why a choice was made.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Passage A is organized as a process, while Passage B is organized around reasons..

Steps show how to do something, while reasons explain why a choice was made.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

Passage A uses the word capture to describe a panel taking in sunlight. Passage B uses capture to describe a turbine receiving wind energy. What does capture mean in both passages?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Take in or collect.

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: In both contexts, capture means to take in or collect energy.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Take in or collect.

In both contexts, capture means to take in or collect energy.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Which conclusion is supported by both passages?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Renewable energy projects can be designed for different places and needs..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: The examples show different technologies serving different locations and purposes.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Renewable energy projects can be designed for different places and needs..

The examples show different technologies serving different locations and purposes.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Which evidence best supports the conclusion that both authors focus on practical uses of energy?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is One passage uses energy for computers and the other uses it for a farm machine..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: The examples of computers and farm equipment show concrete uses.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is One passage uses energy for computers and the other uses it for a farm machine..

The examples of computers and farm equipment show concrete uses.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

A reader wants instructions for building a solar oven. Which passage is the better source?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Passage A, because it explains the steps for building and testing one..

  1. Read both texts: Identify the subject, main idea, details, and purpose of each passage.
  2. Compare the evidence: Passage A is organized as instructions and directly matches the reader’s purpose.
  3. Check the choice: The correct choice is Passage A, because it explains the steps for building and testing one..

Passage A is organized as instructions and directly matches the reader’s purpose.

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Frequently asked questions about Grade 5 Comparing Texts

What does it mean to compare two texts?

Comparing two texts means identifying what they share and how they differ in ideas, details, purpose, organization, or perspective.

How should students support a comparison?

Use a specific detail from each passage and explain how the details show a similarity or difference.

How many questions are on this page?

The page includes five mini tests with 10 questions each, for 50 Grade 5 Comparing Texts questions in total.