College Composition CLEP Prep Practice Exam

A compare and contrast essay is typically used to examine two or more topics or subjects and identify their similarities and differences. This differs from analyzing a text, which involves critically examining the content and meaning of a single text. Additionally, a compare and contrast essay is not focused on providing an evaluative opinion, but rather on presenting objective information and analysis. Therefore, the main purpose of a compare and contrast essay is to explain the differences between two ideas or subjects, making option A the correct answer.