Compare and Contrast

Passage 1 Freyja's Necklace "Yes, I really must have some flowers to wear to the feast to-night," said Freyja to her husband, Odur. Freyja was the goddess of love and beauty; she was the most beautiful of all the Æsir, and every one loved to look at her charming face, and to hear her sweet voice. "I think you look quite beautiful enough as you are, without flowers," Odur replied, but Freyja was not satisfied; she thought she would go and find her brother Frey, the god of summer, for he would give her a garland of flowers. So she wandered forth from Asgard on her way to Frey's bright home in Alfheim, where he lived among his happy, busy little elves. As Freyja walked along she was thinking of the feast to be given that night in Asgard, and knowing that all the gods and goddesses would be there, she wished to look her very best. On and on she wandered, not thinking how far she was getting away from home. Finally the light began to grow fainter and fainter, and Freyja found herself in a strange place. The sunlight had faded away, but there was still a little light that came from lanterns carried by funny little dwarfs, who were busily working. Some were digging gold and gems, others were cleaning off the dirt from the precious stones, and polishing them to make them bright, while four little fellows were seated in one corner, putting the sparkling stones together into a wonderful necklace. Suddenly a giant shadow passed over the sky spreading darkness everywhere. Freyja had hardly lifted her head when there was a sound of the beating of huge wings and she found herself in the clutches of a huge eagle. It beat its huge wings and screeched as it rose into the sky with the goddess in its claws. adapted from Passage 2 A Rash Decision Maria was famous for her beauty and charming manners. She was married to the mayor of the city and lived a life of comfort and luxury. Women of the city envied her good looks and imitated her style and sophisticated tastes. One day, her husband informed her about a grand party that they had been invited to. All the wealthy and popular people around the world were expected to show up at the party. Maria wanted to look the best for the party and asked her husband to get her an expensive diamond necklace to adorn her delicate neck. She felt that the necklace would accentuate her beauty and make her the talk of the town. Her husband did not support her views and felt that Maria didn't need a diamond necklace to look the most beautiful and attractive. However, Maria was not satisfied with her husband's response and she made up her mind to get the necklace by all means. She decided to visit her father and ask him for it. She got into her car and asked the driver to take her to her father's place. She knew very well that her father would never say no to his favorite daughter's wish. While on her way, she started day dreaming about the party and she imagined how pretty she would look in her dazzling dress and how everyone would stare at her necklace. Suddenly the car stopped and on looking out Maria realized that she had reached an unfamiliar place. When the driver pulled out a gun and pointed it at Maria, it didn't take her long to realize that she had been kidnapped. What do the passages reveal about Freyja and Maria?

Both are vain.

Passage 1 The Galapagos Islands are the only places in the world with a combination of large, sea-going lizards, seabirds that can't fly, and turtles the size of desks. Unsustainable fishing practices and a lack of well-managed protected areas have driven these island ecosystems to the edge of collapse and threaten the Galapagos' irreplaceable plants and animals. In collaboration with local communities in Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, the Nature Conservancy is implementing new, sustainable fisheries programs and working to protect over 30 million acres of Pacific marine habitat in the region. Their progress is inspiring. Passage 2 Manhattan Island is a part of New York City. It teems with people, pets, traffic, towering skyscrapers and 24-hour noise. A visitor only has to go a few blocks before recognizing famous landmarks, like the Guggenheim Museum or the stately lions guarding the entrance to the public library. The island, which looks out over the Atlantic Ocean, is home to Broadway and Wall Street. As the center of the financial and entertainment industries, it contains intoxicating promises of fame and fortune and attracts many people year after year, though few really make it to the top. Called the "Big Apple," New York City is also known as the "Asphalt Jungle" due to its highly competitive nature. Anyone who can survive on this island can make it almost anywhere. What similarities can be found in these two passages?

Both passages are about islands.

Passage 1 Emily stretched her calves and thighs, then grasped her hands behind her back and bent forward. Standing straight, she twisted to the left and right before doing a dozen instep touches, which she followed with 15 deep squats. Now she was ready for her workout, a five-mile run in 45 minutes. That would be a feat for all but the most dedicated exerciser, but Emily loved the exertion. "After I finish that jog is when I feel most alive of all," Emily said. "All my problems seem to have been washed out of my system by the sweat. I love jogging, I hardly ever miss a day." Passage 2 "Tony! Tony! Here kitty-kitty!" Veronica called. Her cat Tony had been gone for several hours, and she was worried. Tony was pretty much a house cat and was rarely gone more than 30 minutes when he went outside. "Here Tony-maroni," she called in that sing-song voice cat owners often use. At the end of the block, she stopped and started to call again, but when she had to take a deep breath, she realized that the little bit of exertion had left her winded. That was strange, she thought, and a little frightening. She called Tony again and started back toward her house. On the steps, she had to stop again and catch her breath. She sat down on the steps and took several deep breaths. How had she gotten so out of shape? It hadn't been that long since she'd worked out. Then she remembered that it had been almost two years since she'd been to the gym. How are these two passages similar?

Both passages feature a woman as the main character.

Beautiful Runner He ran, as if a man can never walk or stop to breathe. He turned the dirt into dust, and the water into waves. He ran like no other man. A breathing bronze sculpture, he ran for fame and gold. They say he moved like a deer. He ran like water that flows from mountains to the river. He moved in beauty, he moved. Goodbye, Emmitt Some would argue that it's time to tell Emmitt Smith goodbye. The Dallas Cowboys running back holds the record for the most rushing yards ever by a professional football player, but very few of those yards have been gained this season. In fact, one wonders why Emmitt is still on the field as often as he is. He is considerably slower than he was when he gained most of his many thousands of yards. He is no longer an important cog in the offensive wheel—a wheel with a flat tire and many busted spokes. Oh, for the glory days, "Emmitt up the middle!" "Emmitt down the sideline!" But we seldom hear those calls from amazed announcers anymore. Now Emmitt's name is most often mentioned in the context of "When will Emmitt retire?" What similarities can you find in these two passages?

Both reflect on the career of star athletes.

Passage 1 Every day the boy kicked an imaginary soccer ball down the littered streets. The people in their doorways watched his agile movements, shaking their heads, wondering. No one spoke, not wanting to break the spell of childhood. For a few moments each day, the boy distracted them from their dismal surroundings, cracking their watching faces with a brief smile, lifting their hearts with their own memories of childhood. Passage 2 Ten soccer fields stretched north from the parking lot. Towering lights allowed the multiple games to last into the darkness. Players wore matching uniforms and played with regulation equipment. Parents sat in neat bleachers encouraging their kids to crush the other team, screaming in frustration when their children missed kicks. What comparison can be made between the two paragraphs?

Both talk about people watching intently.

Passage 1 Picabo Street is a skiing legend. Born in Idaho, she began skiing at an early age. She did well in junior competitions and eventually joined the US ski team in 1988. She skied inconsistently for five years before winning a silver medal in the combined competition at the Alpine skiing world championships in Morioka, Japan. She also won the super-giant-slalom race at the US national championships in Winter Park, Colorado, that same year. During the 1993-94 ski season, Street won the silver medal in the downhill at the 1994 Olympics. Then, in the 1994-95 season, she won six World Cup competition victories and the World Cup downhill season title. In the 1996-97 season, Street crashed while taking a practice run in Colorado and tore a ligament in her left knee. She rehabilitated the knee and returned to competition, winning the gold medal in the giant slalom at the 1998 Olympics. Shortly after that, she crashed again and broke her left leg and tore a ligament in her right knee. Most fans feared that Street's phenomenal career was over, but the skier returned once again and raced in the 2002 Winter Olympics. She failed to win a medal, but her return was a victory for all who believed in her and wanted to see her race one more time. Shortly afterwards, she announced her retirement. Passage 2 Wilma Rudolph was one of America's first great track and field athletes. Born in Tennessee, Rudolph had far from a normal childhood. At the age of four she came down with pneumonia, polio, and scarlet fever. The illnesses so ravaged her body that Rudolph could not even walk normally until she turned eleven years old. In high school, Rudolph was an outstanding basketball player. But track was the sport in which she really shone. In 1956, she ran at the Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and won a bronze medal in the 4X100-meter relay. At the 1960 Olympics, Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals. She won the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes and again ran on the 4X100-meter relay team. In 1961, Rudolph won the James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, an award that goes each year to the outstanding amateur athlete in the US. Later that year, Rudolph retired from competition. What similarities were there in these two athletes' careers?

Each one won a gold medal in the Olympics.

Passage 1 Emily stretched her calves and thighs, then grasped her hands behind her back and bent forward. Standing straight, she twisted to the left and right before doing a dozen instep touches, which she followed with 15 deep squats. Now she was ready for her workout, a five-mile run in 45 minutes. That would be a feat for all but the most dedicated exerciser, but Emily loved the exertion. "After I finish that jog is when I feel most alive of all," Emily said. "All my problems seem to have been washed out of my system by the sweat. I love jogging, I hardly ever miss a day." Passage 2 "Tony! Tony! Here kitty-kitty!" Veronica called. Her cat Tony had been gone for several hours, and she was worried. Tony was pretty much a house cat and was rarely gone more than 30 minutes when he went outside. "Here Tony-maroni," she called in that sing-song voice cat owners often use. At the end of the block, she stopped and started to call again, but when she had to take a deep breath, she realized that the little bit of exertion had left her winded. That was strange, she thought, and a little frightening. She called Tony again and started back toward her house. On the steps, she had to stop again and catch her breath. She sat down on the steps and took several deep breaths. How had she gotten so out of shape? It hadn't been that long since she'd worked out. Then she remembered that it had been almost two years since she'd been to the gym. What contrast can be made between these two passages?

Emily is in shape while Veronica is not.

The Story of Prometheus Prometheus did not care to live amid the clouds on the mountain top. He was too busy for that. While the Mighty Folk were spending their time in idleness, drinking nectar and eating ambrosia, he was intent upon plans for making the world wiser and better than it had ever been before. He went out amongst men to live with them and help them; for his heart was filled with sadness when he found that they were no longer happy as they had been during the golden days when Saturn was king. Ah, how very poor and wretched they were! He found them living in caves and in holes of the earth, shivering with the cold because there was no fire, dying of starvation, hunted by wild beasts and by one another—the most miserable of all living creatures. "If they only had fire," said Prometheus to himself, "they could at least warm themselves and cook their food; and after a while they could learn to make tools and build themselves houses. Without fire, they are worse off than the beasts." Then he went boldly to Jupiter begged him to give fire to men, so that so they might have a little comfort through the long, dreary months of winter. "Not a spark will I give," said Jupiter. "No, indeed! Why, if men had fire they might become strong and wise like ourselves, and after a while they would drive us out of our kingdom. Let them shiver with cold, and let them live like the beasts. It is best for them to be poor and ignorant, so that we Mighty Ones may thrive and be happy." Prometheus made no answer; but he had set his heart on helping mankind, and he did not give up. He turned away, and left Jupiter and his mighty company forever. Passage 2 Jessica Helps the Poor Jessica worked as a fashion designer for a top brand boutique and her clients included the rich and crème de la crème of the city. Although she loved her work she always felt the need to do something for the less fortunate. Every day on her way to work, she would see several homeless people sleeping on the benches. Her heart went out to them, them for most of them didn't even have suitable clothes to keep them warm. Winter was approaching and Jessica made up her mind to do something to help the homeless. She came up with the idea to start a project which would involve creating a new line of clothes specifically designed to meet the needs of the poor and homeless. She realized that she alone could not put her plan into effect and she needed the help of as many people as possible. She approached the owner of her boutique and shared her idea with him. He refused to help her because the project would bring no profit to his business. He was a stingy man and therefore hated the idea of spending a large amount to help the poor. Although Jessica was discouraged at first, she refused to give up easily. Suddenly, she remembered that she had a lot of unused or leftover cloth at her workshop. To save cost, she decided to use that cloth for her new project. She also gathered all her clients and presented her ideas to them. She talked about the kinds of clothes she had in mind, the materials that she would use and so on. She also expressed her ideas about organizing a garage sale for the poor and donating clothes to the homeless. Thankfully, Jessica's effort was appreciated and she received a positive response. She felt grateful as many people showed interest in her project and decided to help her. Based on the given passages, how is a story of mythology different from a modern story?

Mythology usually involves gods or people with supernatural powers as main characters, whereas a modern story involves humans.

Passage 1 The Galapagos Islands are the only places in the world with a combination of large, sea-going lizards, seabirds that can't fly, and turtles the size of desks. Unsustainable fishing practices and a lack of well-managed protected areas have driven these island ecosystems to the edge of collapse and threaten the Galapagos' irreplaceable plants and animals. In collaboration with local communities in Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, the Nature Conservancy is implementing new, sustainable fisheries programs and working to protect over 30 million acres of Pacific marine habitat in the region. Their progress is inspiring. Passage 2 Manhattan Island is a part of New York City. It teems with people, pets, traffic, towering skyscrapers and 24-hour noise. A visitor only has to go a few blocks before recognizing famous landmarks, like the Guggenheim Museum or the stately lions guarding the entrance to the public library. The island, which looks out over the Atlantic Ocean, is home to Broadway and Wall Street. As the center of the financial and entertainment industries, it contains intoxicating promises of fame and fortune and attracts many people year after year, though few really make it to the top. Called the "Big Apple," New York City is also known as the "Asphalt Jungle" due to its highly competitive nature. Anyone who can survive on this island can make it almost anywhere. What contrast can be made between these two passages?

One concerns a city; the other is about endangered islands.

Beautiful Runner He ran, as if a man can never walk or stop to breathe. He turned the dirt into dust, and the water into waves. He ran like no other man. A breathing bronze sculpture, he ran for fame and gold. They say he moved like a deer. He ran like water that flows from mountains to the river. He moved in beauty, he moved. Goodbye, Emmitt Some would argue that it's time to tell Emmitt Smith goodbye. The Dallas Cowboys running back holds the record for the most rushing yards ever by a professional football player, but very few of those yards have been gained this season. In fact, one wonders why Emmitt is still on the field as often as he is. He is considerably slower than he was when he gained most of his many thousands of yards. He is no longer an important cog in the offensive wheel—a wheel with a flat tire and many busted spokes. Oh, for the glory days, "Emmitt up the middle!" "Emmitt down the sideline!" But we seldom hear those calls from amazed announcers anymore. Now Emmitt's name is most often mentioned in the context of "When will Emmitt retire?" How are these two athletes different?

One exhibited magical beauty in sports, the other did not.

Passage 1 The Galapagos Islands are the only places in the world with a combination of large, sea-going lizards, seabirds that can't fly, and turtles the size of desks. Unsustainable fishing practices and a lack of well-managed protected areas have driven these island ecosystems to the edge of collapse and threaten the Galapagos' irreplaceable plants and animals. In collaboration with local communities in Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, the Nature Conservancy is implementing new, sustainable fisheries programs and working to protect over 30 million acres of Pacific marine habitat in the region. Their progress is inspiring. Passage 2 Manhattan Island is a part of New York City. It teems with people, pets, traffic, towering skyscrapers and 24-hour noise. A visitor only has to go a few blocks before recognizing famous landmarks, like the Guggenheim Museum or the stately lions guarding the entrance to the public library. The island, which looks out over the Atlantic Ocean, is home to Broadway and Wall Street. As the center of the financial and entertainment industries, it contains intoxicating promises of fame and fortune and attracts many people year after year, though few really make it to the top. Called the "Big Apple," New York City is also known as the "Asphalt Jungle" due to its highly competitive nature. Anyone who can survive on this island can make it almost anywhere. How do these two passages differ?

One is about islands in the Pacific, while the other is about an island in the Atlantic.

Passage 1 Graystone Manor Alia stood in front of Graystone Manor and took a deep breath. It was a fairly large house, with big windows and a wooden door. The house belonged to Alia's aunt, who had left it to her in her will. Alia had visited the house only once before, when she was five, and so she did not remember much about it. She was back now after 20 years, excited to explore her new home. She unlocked the door and slowly pushed it open. The house was dark and dusty because no one had lived there for many months now. There was a layer of dust on all surfaces, and Alia dreaded the fact that she would have to clean the entire place soon. Everything in the house had an old-world look, including the furniture, which was old-fashioned and worn out, and looked like it needed to be reupholstered. There was a huge chest of drawers against a wall, and Alia walked over to take a closer look at the photographs on top of the chest. They were old photographs of her aunt and her family, and Alia smiled when she recognized a photograph of her mother as a young girl. Alia then went up the stairs to explore the rooms on top, holding on to the railing as the stairs creaked and groaned under her feet. There were two rooms on the floor above, and Alia decided to use the bigger of the two as her bedroom. The room had a musty smell, but it looked cozy and comfortable. Alia was already beginning to feel at home in her new house. Passage 2 The Birthday Present Taylor checked her watch and picked up her pace. She was hurrying back home from school because she had to reach her friend Shauna's house in an hour. It was Shauna's birthday, and she had invited all her friends over for a party. Taylor had been busy the whole week, and she had not had time to buy Shauna a birthday present. It was too late to go to the mall now because the party was going to begin in an hour. As she rushed around her room getting dressed, Taylor couldn't help but feel guilty. Shauna was one of her closest friends and she wanted her to know how much she meant to Taylor. But showing up without a birthday present would probably suggest that she didn't care at all for Shauna! Besides, it would be rude to go to a birthday party without a present. Taylor looked at a framed photograph of the two of them on her desk and suddenly, she had an idea. Taylor loved to collect things like ticket stubs and napkins from movies or dinners with her friends and family. She liked preserving these objects for the good times they represented. She happened to have a box full of small objects from the time she had spent with Shauna. She put these together in a box, along with some photographs of the two of them, and tied the box with a ribbon. Pleased with what she had made, Taylor rushed out the door to Shauna's house. When she gave the box to Shauna, Taylor was nervous, feeling that her gift paled in comparison to the other presents. But she need not have worried, because when Shauna opened the box, her eyes filled with tears and she warmly hugged her friend. "This is the best present ever," she said, "I can't believe you have been saving all of this!" How is the text in passage 1 structured in comparison to the text in passage 2?

Passage 1 has a descriptive text structure whereas passage 2 has a problem/solution text structure.

Passage 1 Every student in Mrs. Baker's class was looking forward to going out and basking in the Sun on a pleasant afternoon. Jeremy, the baseball team captain, was the most enthusiastic of the lot. As soon as the school bell rang, Jeremy hooted and ran toward the cafeteria with a wide grin on his face. After grabbing a sandwich for lunch, Jeremy proceeded toward the locker room. Jeremy had to catch up with his team and practice before the finals. As the captain, Jeremy had planned the practice schedule for the whole week. As Jeremy dashed out of the cafeteria and walked toward the locker room, he came across Mrs. Dorothy, who was struggling to mow the front lawn of the school. Jeremy wanted to reach out to her and help her with the task, but he was already running late for the practice. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he asked the whole team to gather near the front lawn of the school. Once the whole team gathered, Jeremy suggested that they would begin their regular practice differently. As part of their warm up ritual, everyone from the team would take turns to help Mrs. Dorothy mow the front lawn. In 45 minutes, the whole baseball team and Mrs. Dorothy had managed to mow the vast front lawn of Riverdale High School. We managed to finish our warm up ritual before the practice and helped Mrs. Dorothy too, Jeremy thought as he proudly watched his team cheering with joy. Passage 2 Sara pinched herself to realize that she was not dreaming. Her initial shock slowly faded, and she squealed with joy. I can't believe this is going to be my own, Sara thought to herself as she walked toward her newly furnished room. The freshly painted white walls of Sara's room gave it a serene look. The white walls were decorated with Sara's childhood and family photographs. One wall sported a painting and a quote from Sara's favorite book. Next to that painting, there was a new bookshelf where Sara's books were stacked neatly. The room also had a small reading corner near the bookshelf, which had a "Do Not Disturb" sign. Sara's attention was caught by the new, handmade, colorful quilt on the bed that lay in the middle of the room. Sara got really emotional as she looked at the quilt. She turned toward Alyssa, her younger sister, and said, "This is the best homecoming surprise anyone could get." How is passage 1 structured in comparison to passage 2?

Passage 1 has a problem/solution text structure, whereas Passage 2 has a descriptive text structure.

Passage 1 Every day the boy kicked an imaginary soccer ball down the littered streets. The people in their doorways watched his agile movements, shaking their heads, wondering. No one spoke, not wanting to break the spell of childhood. For a few moments each day, the boy distracted them from their dismal surroundings, cracking their watching faces with a brief smile, lifting their hearts with their own memories of childhood. Passage 2 Ten soccer fields stretched north from the parking lot. Towering lights allowed the multiple games to last into the darkness. Players wore matching uniforms and played with regulation equipment. Parents sat in neat bleachers encouraging their kids to crush the other team, screaming in frustration when their children missed kicks. What is the contrast

Passage 1 is about a lone boy; passage 2 involves whole teams.

Passage 1 There's more than one reason to slow yourself down in the Cayman Islands. Besides iguanas, you may see everything from turtles to parrots, stingrays to red-footed boobies. Divers in the know ready their air tanks at the mere mention of the Cayman Islands. Exceptional visibility, extraordinary walls, reefs, and wrecks: The islands are world-renowned for their underwater beauty. Passage 2 Crystal clear water, abundant marine life and a living coral reef mean Hanauma Bay is one of the premiere snorkeling destinations in the Hawaiian islands. A gently sloping beach fronts directly on the horseshoe shaped bay, formed in the remains of Koko Head Crater, an ancient cinder-cone volcano, now breached and filled with sea water. Within this half-mile-wide bay is one of the prettiest reefs and the most abundant fish life in Hawaii. What contrast can be made between the two passages?

Passage 1 is about the Cayman Islands; passage 2 is about Hawaii.

Passage 1 (from a 2005 article) Secretary of State Colin Powell assured America's European allies this week that the Bush administration was not engaging in a "phony consultation" with them about missile defenses. We hope he means it, because Washington's closest global partners have grave misgivings about the administration's plans. Unless Secretary Powell and his colleagues take these concerns seriously, the United States could needlessly strain the Atlantic alliance. Passage 2 (from a 2005 article) In his first effort to sell President Bush's missile defense plan to allies, Secretary of State Colin Powell was unable to convince NATO that a threat of a missile attack against their countries exists. At a meeting of foreign ministers, Secretary Powell pressed the administration's case for abandoning the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty. What contrast can be made between the two passages?

Passage 1 is an opinion piece; passage 2 is a news story.

Passage 1 Freyja's Necklace "Yes, I really must have some flowers to wear to the feast to-night," said Freyja to her husband, Odur. Freyja was the goddess of love and beauty; she was the most beautiful of all the Æsir, and every one loved to look at her charming face, and to hear her sweet voice. "I think you look quite beautiful enough as you are, without flowers," Odur replied, but Freyja was not satisfied; she thought she would go and find her brother Frey, the god of summer, for he would give her a garland of flowers. So she wandered forth from Asgard on her way to Frey's bright home in Alfheim, where he lived among his happy, busy little elves. As Freyja walked along she was thinking of the feast to be given that night in Asgard, and knowing that all the gods and goddesses would be there, she wished to look her very best. On and on she wandered, not thinking how far she was getting away from home. Finally the light began to grow fainter and fainter, and Freyja found herself in a strange place. The sunlight had faded away, but there was still a little light that came from lanterns carried by funny little dwarfs, who were busily working. Some were digging gold and gems, others were cleaning off the dirt from the precious stones, and polishing them to make them bright, while four little fellows were seated in one corner, putting the sparkling stones together into a wonderful necklace. Suddenly a giant shadow passed over the sky spreading darkness everywhere. Freyja had hardly lifted her head when there was a sound of the beating of huge wings and she found herself in the clutches of a huge eagle. It beat its huge wings and screeched as it rose into the sky with the goddess in its claws. adapted from Passage 2 A Rash Decision Maria was famous for her beauty and charming manners. She was married to the mayor of the city and lived a life of comfort and luxury. Women of the city envied her good looks and imitated her style and sophisticated tastes. One day, her husband informed her about a grand party that they had been invited to. All the wealthy and popular people around the world were expected to show up at the party. Maria wanted to look the best for the party and asked her husband to get her an expensive diamond necklace to adorn her delicate neck. She felt that the necklace would accentuate her beauty and make her the talk of the town. Her husband did not support her views and felt that Maria didn't need a diamond necklace to look the most beautiful and attractive. However, Maria was not satisfied with her husband's response and she made up her mind to get the necklace by all means. She decided to visit her father and ask him for it. She got into her car and asked the driver to take her to her father's place. She knew very well that her father would never say no to his favorite daughter's wish. While on her way, she started day dreaming about the party and she imagined how pretty she would look in her dazzling dress and how everyone would stare at her necklace. Suddenly the car stopped and on looking out Maria realized that she had reached an unfamiliar place. When the driver pulled out a gun and pointed it at Maria, it didn't take her long to realize that she had been kidnapped. Which of the following statements is true about the passages?

The mythological story uses unearthly elements to describe the events whereas the modern story uses natural, ordinary elements to describe the events.

Passage 1 (from a 2005 article) Secretary of State Colin Powell assured America's European allies this week that the Bush administration was not engaging in a "phony consultation" with them about missile defenses. We hope he means it, because Washington's closest global partners have grave misgivings about the administration's plans. Unless Secretary Powell and his colleagues take these concerns seriously, the United States could needlessly strain the Atlantic alliance. Passage 2 (from a 2005 article) In his first effort to sell President Bush's missile defense plan to allies, Secretary of State Colin Powell was unable to convince NATO that a threat of a missile attack against their countries exists. At a meeting of foreign ministers, Secretary Powell pressed the administration's case for abandoning the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty. What comparison can be made between the two selections?

They both address America's dealings with foreign countries.They both address America's dealings with foreign countries.

Passage 1 The Story of Prometheus Prometheus did not care to live amid the clouds on the mountain top. He was too busy for that. While the Mighty Folk were spending their time in idleness, drinking nectar and eating ambrosia, he was intent upon plans for making the world wiser and better than it had ever been before. He went out amongst men to live with them and help them; for his heart was filled with sadness when he found that they were no longer happy as they had been during the golden days when Saturn was king. Ah, how very poor and wretched they were! He found them living in caves and in holes of the earth, shivering with the cold because there was no fire, dying of starvation, hunted by wild beasts and by one another—the most miserable of all living creatures. "If they only had fire," said Prometheus to himself, "they could at least warm themselves and cook their food; and after a while they could learn to make tools and build themselves houses. Without fire, they are worse off than the beasts." Then he went boldly to Jupiter begged him to give fire to men, so that so they might have a little comfort through the long, dreary months of winter. "Not a spark will I give," said Jupiter. "No, indeed! Why, if men had fire they might become strong and wise like ourselves, and after a while they would drive us out of our kingdom. Let them shiver with cold, and let them live like the beasts. It is best for them to be poor and ignorant, so that we Mighty Ones may thrive and be happy." Prometheus made no answer; but he had set his heart on helping mankind, and he did not give up. He turned away, and left Jupiter and his mighty company forever. Passage 2 Jessica Helps the Poor Jessica worked as a fashion designer for a top brand boutique and her clients included the rich and crème de la crème of the city. Although she loved her work she always felt the need to do something for the less fortunate. Every day on her way to work, she would see several homeless people sleeping on the benches. Her heart went out to them, them for most of them didn't even have suitable clothes to keep them warm. Winter was approaching and Jessica made up her mind to do something to help the homeless. She came up with the idea to start a project which would involve creating a new line of clothes specifically designed to meet the needs of the poor and homeless. She realized that she alone could not put her plan into effect and she needed the help of as many people as possible. She approached the owner of her boutique and shared her idea with him. He refused to help her because the project would bring no profit to his business. He was a stingy man and therefore hated the idea of spending a large amount to help the poor. Although Jessica was discouraged at first, she refused to give up easily. Suddenly, she remembered that she had a lot of unused or leftover cloth at her workshop. To save cost, she decided to use that cloth for her new project. She also gathered all her clients and presented her ideas to them. She talked about the kinds of clothes she had in mind, the materials that she would use and so on. She also expressed her ideas about organizing a garage sale for the poor and donating clothes to the homeless. Thankfully, Jessica's effort was appreciated and she received a positive response. She felt grateful as many people showed interest in her project and decided to help her. Which of the following themes is found in both passages?

making efforts to help the needy