Practice comparing nonfiction and fiction texts by looking at purpose, structure, evidence, characters, setting, and text features.
Read each problem carefully. Compare the texts using details from the question. Write complete sentences when an explanation is needed.
Identify text types, features, and purposes
Language Arts - Grade 4-5
- 1
Text A tells a made-up story about a girl who finds a talking turtle in her backyard. Text B explains how real turtles use shells for protection. Which text is fiction, and which text is nonfiction? Explain how you know.
- 2
A nonfiction article about volcanoes includes headings, photographs, captions, and a glossary. A fiction story about a volcano adventure includes characters, dialogue, and a problem to solve. Name one feature from each text type.
- 3
Read these two descriptions. Description 1: Maya packed her flashlight and stepped into the dark cave, hoping the map was real. Description 2: Caves form when water slowly wears away rock over many years. Which description is more likely from a fiction text? Explain your answer.
- 4
A student says, 'Nonfiction is always boring, and fiction is always exciting.' Do you agree? Use complete sentences to explain.
- 5
Both a fiction story and a nonfiction article can be about the same topic, such as space travel. How would the author's purpose usually be different in each text?
- 6
Text A: The wolf crept through the snowy forest, following the sound of the lost bell. Text B: Gray wolves live in packs and use howls to communicate with one another. Compare how the wolf is presented in the two texts.
- 7
A nonfiction text says, 'The first hot-air balloon flight with passengers happened in France in 1783.' A fiction text says, 'Leo climbed into the balloon basket and waved goodbye as the town shrank below him.' Which sentence gives a fact that can be checked? Explain.
- 8
List two ways a reader can tell that a text is nonfiction.
- 9
List two ways a reader can tell that a text is fiction.
- 10
A teacher gives you two books about hurricanes. One book is a story about a family preparing for a storm. The other book explains how hurricanes form and includes a diagram. Which book would be better for learning the science of hurricanes? Explain why.
- 11
Write one similarity between fiction and nonfiction texts.
- 12
Read the two summaries. Summary A: A boy and his dog travel through a forest to find a hidden waterfall. Summary B: A forest ecosystem includes plants, animals, fungi, soil, water, and sunlight. Write one sentence comparing the two texts.