異同對比:孿生姐妹-Twin Sisters
【內容提示】
蘭蘭和苗苗是一對孿生姐妹。她們的相貌很像，但穿戴各有所好；她們的氣質很相似，愛和她們的年齡同樣大小的年輕人在一起玩，討厭小孩子；愛參加舞會，不愛進圖書館。但是，苗苗喜歡音樂和現代舞，而蘭蘭一進夜總會就頭疼；苗苗喜歡和朋友、老師在一起，而蘭蘭喜歡獨處。她倆多次想住在同一個房間，而且對顏色和傢俱也有同樣的愛好。但是，蘭蘭喜歡整齊、條理，而苗苗總是亂丟東西；蘭蘭喜歡早睡早起，苗苗則沒有規律，忽而早，忽而晚。
【作文示範】
Twin Sisters
Twins are supposed to be alike, are they not? Well, the twin sisters, Lanlan and Miaomiao do look alike. Some of the time when they are both dressed up, which is not often, or when they go to the beach, which is not really often either, people recognize the likeness of their features①. However, they like very different styles of clothes. Lanlan prefer informal clothes, but Miaomiao dresses like a model, always wearing the latest fashions②.
They have very similar temperaments in most ways. Lanlan does not get angry easily, enjoys being around people of her own age, finds young children a little irritating③, and would rather spend time at a party than in a library. In these respects Miaomiao feels the same. But Miaomiao likes loud music and modern dances, while Lanlan finds that nightclubs④give her a headache. Miaomiao is always with friends, and is a favorite with all the teachers, whereas Lanlan prefers to be alone at times, and does not really try to impress her teachers.
They have tried to live in the same room several times, and even agreed on the color they liked best and the kind of furniture they wanted. But Lanlan likes to keep things neat and tidy, while Miaomiao acts as if there were a servant around to pick up all the things that get thrown on the floor or over the edge of the chair or into the bathtub⑤. Lanlan likes to go to bed early and get up early. In contrast Miaomiao does not seem to have any definite habits, often goes to bed very late, and then wants to sleep late the next day when Lanlan wants to get the day started.
【詞語解釋】
①feature [＇fi:t>M ]n．（複數）面貌；相貌
②latest fashion[＇leitist＇f$M n]最新流行式樣
③irritating[＇iriteitiR] a．引起不愉快的
④nightclub[＇naitl)b] n．夜總會
⑤bathtub[＇b%:It)b] n．浴缸；澡盆
【寫法指要】
1）本文每個段落都是用異同型（samdiff pattern）組織起來的，先寫二者相同點，後寫二者的不同點。談到不同點時，每一段用的'都是交替型（seesaw pattern），先說A，後說B，或先說B後說A。
2）用上述方式寫對比型說明文時，作者多用表示相反或對照的銜接詞（adversatives），如本文中用到的“however, but, while, whereas, in contrast”等，使段落和全文的語義連貫。