Question

read this passage from chapter 5 of the prince. there are, for example, the spartans and the romans. the spartans held athens and thebes, establishing there an oligarchy: nevertheless they lost them. the romans, in order to hold capua, carthage, and numantia, dismantled them, and did not lose them. they wished to hold greece as the spartans held it, making it free and permitting its laws, and did not succeed. which features of the passage are typical of a compare/contrast structure? select three options. it identifies two groups that will be discussed. it explains the reasons invading forces did not succeed. it uses the signal word nevertheless to indicate a difference. it uses the signal phrase for example to introduce evidence. it describes similar and different outcomes to similar actions.

Explanation:

• First option: The passage starts by identifying the Spartans and Romans, which are the two groups to be discussed, a key element of compare/contrast.
• Third option: The word “nevertheless” shows a difference (Spartans lost the held cities while Romans didn't in a similar situation), which is typical in compare/contrast.
• Fifth option: It describes similar actions (holding cities) but different outcomes (Spartans lost, Romans didn't lose in some cases; Romans tried a similar - to - Spartans approach in Greece and failed), which is a core of compare/contrast.

Answer:

It identifies two groups that will be discussed.
It uses the signal word nevertheless to indicate a difference.
It describes similar and different outcomes to similar actions.