Table of Contents
Description:
Comparison questions ask you to set up a proper comparison between two or more things. The things being compared must be similar to each other (in real life) and should be phrased in the same way.
Approach
- Look for the word "than" or "as." These words often signal that two things or concepts are being compared.
- Make sure that the two things or ideas in the comparison (ie. both sides of the "than" or "as") are phrased in the same way.
1) Practice
For example, what's wrong with the following sentence?
Most musicians agree that composing a pop song is easier than a rock opera.
You guessed it. We can't compare a type of composing ("composing a pop song") to a type of song ("rock opera"). This sentence should say:
Most musicians agree that composing a pop song is easier than composing a rock opera.
In this form, the sentence compares two similar activities...two types of composing.
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2) Practice
Which underlined part of the following sentence makes an incorrect comparison?
Even though he is a very influential physicist, Enrico Fermi's name is less well known than the winner of the recent Daytona 500.
- he
- Enrico Fermi's name
- less well known
- the recent
- NO ERROR
What are we comparing in this sentence? "Enrico Fermi's name" vs. "the winner of the recent Daytona 500."
Is this a proper comparison? How can we change it to make it work?
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