比较法是指出两件事物的相同点；对比法是指出不同点。这两种方法也是非常普通的说明方式，在日常生活中常常用得到。通常说到比较时，也包括对比的意思在内。

　　有一点必须特别注意的，就是比较的对象，不管是两个、三个、或者更多，应该是属于同一种类的(属于不同种类事物的比较叫做[类比])。例如，橘子必须和其他水果相比，玫瑰和其它花卉相比，一幢房子和其它建筑物相比。

　　<范文> Freemen and Those Who Are Not Free

　　You will, therefore, not listen to those who tell you that these matters are above you, and ought to be left entirely to thosesintoswhose hands the King has put(1) them. The public interest(2) is more your business than theirs; and it is from want of spirit, and not from want of ability, that you can become wholly unfit(3) to argue or to judge upon it. For in this very thing lies the difference between freemen and those that are not free. In a free country every man thinks he has a concern in all public matters; that he has a right to form(4) and a right to deliver(5) an opinion upon them. They sift(6) examine, and discuss them. They are curious, eager, attentive(7), and jealous; and by making such matters the daily subject of their thoughts and discoveries, vast numbers contract(8) a very tolerable(9) knowledge of them, and some a very considerable(10) one.And this it is that fills free countries with men of ability(11) in all stations(12). Whereas(l3) in other countries none but men whose office(14) calls them to itshavingsmuch care or thought about public affairs, and not daring to try the force of their opinions with one another, ability of this sort is extremely rare in any station of life. In free countries, there is often found more real public wisdom and sagacity(15) in shops and manufactories(16) than in the cabinets(17) of princes in countriesswheresone dares not to have an opinion until he comessintosthem.Your whole importance, therefore, depends upon a constant, discreet(18) use of your own reason(19); otherwise you and your country sink to nothing(20). If upon any particular occasion You should be roused, you will not know what to do. Your fire will be a fire in straw(21), fitting to waste and consume yourselves than to warm or enliven anything else. You will be only a giddy(22) mob(23) upon whom no sort of reliance(24) is to be had. You may disturb your country, but you never can reform(25) your government(26).

　　语汇说明

　　本文是英国名政论家爱德门·布克(Edmund Burke)所作，以对比法(Contrast)来写生活在自由中的人与生活在不自由中的人有何区别，也即是写自由与不自由的区别。第一段否定述说，第二段肯定述说，第三段正反两面作利害的对比。

　　(1)put onesintosone's hands；把(事)托付给(人)

　　(2)public interest；public matters；public affairs：公共事务

　　(3)unfit：不适于

　　(4)form：形成；产生

　　(5)deliver：此处作[表达]讲

　　(6)sift：详查

　　(7)attentive：非常注意的

　　(8)contract：此处作『获得』讲

　　(9)tolerable：相当(小量)的

　　(10)considerable：相当(大量)的

　　(11)of ability：有能力的

　　(12)in all stations：在各岗位上；在各阶层上

　　(13)whereas：相反的

　　(14)office：此处指官方

　　(15)sagacity：机智。

　　(16)manufactories：工厂

　　(17)cabinets：内阁(此处指宫帷政治或政治的内阁小团体)

　　(18)discreet：谨慎小心的

　　(19)reason：分析；理性；理由

　　(20)sink to nothing：一切落空；失败

　　(21)a fire in straw：微弱的火把

　　(22)giddy：昏的；晕的

　　(23)mob：乌合之众

　　(24)reliance：信赖

　　(25)reform：改造：改革；改善

　　(26)government：政府