Comparing two views means reporting each writer’s position and reason accurately, then naming how they differ. The skill is faithfulness: nothing in your comparison should be something neither writer said.
This lesson is part of evidence-led Chinese reading. It builds on choosing evidence that proves an inference.
How do you compare two passages?
Extract the same three things from each text, then line them up.
- Position: what does the writer want or believe?
- Reason: what reason does the writer actually give?
- Clue words: which words in the passage show this?
A table keeps the two sides level and stops you from writing more about the view you prefer.
Worked example: two views on phones at school
甲：“手机应该在校内全面禁止。学生上课偷看手机，成绩自然下滑。”
乙：“手机不必全面禁止。只要规定上课时收起来，午休时用来查资料，反而有助学习。”
| 甲 | 乙 | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | 校内全面禁止手机 | 不必全面禁止 |
| Reason given | 上课偷看，成绩下滑 | 上课收起，午休查资料有助学习 |
| Clue words | “全面禁止”, “偷看” | “不必”, “收起来”, “反而有助学习” |
Differences: 甲 wants a complete ban and focuses on damage to results. 乙 wants limited use and focuses on study benefit.
Model answer: “甲主张全面禁止手机，理由是学生上课偷看会使成绩下滑；乙主张限制使用，理由是上课收起手机、午休用来查资料有助学习。两人的分别在于一个要完全禁止，一个只要规定使用时间。”
A similarity is also supportable: both texts connect phones to what happens in class. Only claim it if the question asks for common ground.
The mistake that costs marks
The slip is extending a view beyond its words.
| Unsupported answer | Why it fails | Faithful version |
|---|---|---|
| “甲讨厌科技。” | The text only says phones in school. | “甲认为手机影响课堂学习。” |
| “乙支持学生整天玩手机。” | 乙 sets a rule for class time. | “乙主张限制使用时间。” |
| “乙不在乎成绩。” | 乙 links phones to study benefit. | “乙认为合理使用有助学习。” |
Before writing each sentence, point to the clue words. If you cannot, delete the sentence.
Check yourself
甲：“夜市应该搬到郊外。路边摆摊使交通堵塞，行人也不安全。”
乙：“夜市不宜搬走。它是邻里聚会的地方，搬走后摊贩的生意会受影响。”
Write one difference in reasons, and one thing you must not claim.
Answer
甲 reasons from traffic and safety: roadside stalls block traffic and endanger pedestrians. 乙 reasons from community and livelihood: the market is a neighbourhood gathering place, and moving it would hurt the stall owners’ business.
A model answer: “甲的理由是路边摆摊造成交通堵塞和行人不安全，乙的理由是夜市是邻里聚会的地方，搬走会影响摊贩生意。”
You must not claim that 乙 does not care about safety or that 甲 dislikes stall owners, because neither passage says so.
What to study next
Test all four skills together with the integrated practice set. Record any answer that added a claim with the mistake log and paper-error review.
To practise comparing views with a teacher, see online one-to-one Chinese tuition.