Question

have you ever found it difficult to determine whether you have a cold or the flu? both of these illnesses can make you feel tired or achy, but the severity of your symptoms can help you tell them apart.
a cold can make you feel bad for a few days. it usually starts with a sore throat. this may go away after a day or two. this is followed by a runny nose, a stopped - up, achy chest, and a cough over the next few days. most adults do not have a fever when they have a cold. children sometimes do. during the first three days that you have cold symptoms, you are contagious. you should stay home and get rest to avoid passing your germs to others. a cold can be caused by any of several hundred different viruses.
however, the flu can make you feel really ill for days or even weeks. flu symptoms are more severe than those of a cold. they can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, achy chest, and cough. even though flu symptoms may start to get better after a few days, it is not unusual to feel tired and weak for a week or more.
one common thread between these two illnesses is what you can do to prevent them. frequently washing your hands and keeping them away from your nose and mouth are the best things you can do to avoid catching a cold or the flu.
which of the following best describes the text structure of this passage?
○a. the author discusses how a cold can cause you to get the flu.
○b. the author defines both the ideas of a cold and the flu.
○c. the author classifies all the different kinds of bacterial infections.
○d. the author compares and contrasts a cold with the flu.

Explanation:

The text first mentions the difficulty in determining between a cold and the flu. Then it describes symptoms of a cold (like feeling bad for a few days, starting with a sore throat, etc.) and symptoms of the flu (feeling really ill for days or even weeks, more severe symptoms like fever, chills, etc.). It is clearly comparing and contrasting the two illnesses.

• Option A: The text does not say a cold causes the flu.
• Option B: It's not just defining, but also showing differences.
• Option C: The text is about cold and flu (viral, not bacterial).
• Option D: Correct as it compares and contrasts.

Answer:

D. The author compares and contrasts a cold with the flu.