Daily Reading Practice

Day 10 of 10
Grade 8 ELA | Comparing Genres | Part A/Part B Format
FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.8.R.3.3 - Compare and contrast the presentation of a topic across genres.
IXL Skill: Compare texts on the same topic
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Directions: Read both passages below carefully. Then answer the questions comparing how each genre presents information about the same topic.
Two Perspectives on the Moon Landing
Read both texts, then answer questions comparing them.

Text A: Encyclopedia Entry

On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon. The mission, known as Apollo 11, launched on July 16 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Armstrong descended the lunar module's ladder at 10:56 p.m. EDT and spoke his famous words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Aldrin joined him approximately 19 minutes later. The astronauts spent 2 hours and 31 minutes outside the spacecraft, collecting samples and conducting experiments. Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit aboard the command module Columbia. The crew returned safely to Earth on July 24, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Text B: Personal Narrative

I was twelve years old when the whole world stopped to watch the Moon landing. My family gathered around our small black-and-white television, the grainy image flickering as we held our breath. When Armstrong's boot touched the lunar surface, my father--a man who rarely showed emotion--wiped tears from his eyes. "We actually did it," he whispered. In that moment, the impossible became possible. I remember thinking that if humans could walk on the Moon, then perhaps all the problems of 1969--the war, the protests, the uncertainty--could be solved too. That night, I walked outside and looked up at the Moon with new eyes. Someone was standing up there, looking back at Earth, at me. The universe had become both larger and smaller in the same moment.

Questions 1-2: Comparing Purpose and Content
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
How do the TWO texts PRIMARILY differ in their purpose?
A
Text A aims to persuade while Text B aims to inform.
B
Text A aims to provide factual information while Text B aims to convey personal experience and emotion.
C
Text A aims to entertain while Text B aims to educate.
D
Both texts have the same primary purpose but different audiences.
Part B
Which pair of details BEST illustrates the difference identified in Part A?
A
Text A mentions Kennedy Space Center; Text B mentions a small television.
B
Text A provides the exact time of the moonwalk; Text B describes a father wiping tears from his eyes.
C
Text A mentions three astronauts; Text B mentions only Armstrong.
D
Text A discusses the Pacific Ocean; Text B discusses the war and protests of 1969.
Questions 3-4: Genre Characteristics
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A
What does Text B achieve that Text A CANNOT achieve due to genre limitations?
A
Providing accurate dates and times of the event
B
Conveying the emotional and cultural impact of the event on ordinary people
C
Naming the astronauts involved in the mission
D
Explaining the scientific significance of the Moon landing
Part B
Which statement BEST describes what a reader gains from reading BOTH texts together?
A
The reader understands only the scientific aspects of the Moon landing.
B
The reader gains both factual knowledge and an understanding of the event's human significance.
C
The reader learns that personal narratives are more accurate than encyclopedia entries.
D
The reader discovers that the two texts contradict each other on key facts.
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Answer Key (Teacher Reference)

Question 1 Part A: B - Text A aims to provide factual information while Text B aims to convey personal experience and emotion.
The encyclopedia provides facts; the narrative shares personal meaning and emotional response.
Question 1 Part B: B - Text A provides the exact time of the moonwalk; Text B describes a father wiping tears from his eyes.
These details perfectly illustrate the fact-versus-emotion distinction between genres.
Question 2 Part A: B - Conveying the emotional and cultural impact of the event on ordinary people
Personal narratives can capture subjective experience that encyclopedias cannot include.
Question 2 Part B: B - The reader gains both factual knowledge and an understanding of the event's human significance.
Together, the texts provide a more complete picture than either alone.