Steve Jobs' Stanford University Commencement Speech

To whom was this speech written?

• the graduating class of Stanford University

• the graduating class of Reed College

• the 6th graders of Bossier Parish

• everyone who has dropped out of school

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which of the following best explains the meaning of the following quotation from paragraph 8?

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards."

• Don't concern yourself by looking back on the past; focus on your drive for the future.

• It's impossible to know how to get where you want to go, but as long as you're working hard, you'll get there.

• While you cannot predict the future, looking back you can often see how you got to where you are.

• It is okay to not have an expressed purpose in life; you'll find success once you find what you love.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Which sentence describes how Jobs' message is introduced in the text?

• The speech is presented as cause and effect.

• The speech is a series of problems with possible solutions.

• The speech is a series of three stories (anecdotes) about his life.

• The speech is an autobiography.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

Steve's parents promised to send him to college because...

• they only wanted the best for him

• only then, they would be able to adopt him

• they did not go to college, so they wanted him to go

• it was the law

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Where was Apple first started?

• in Steve's parents' basement

• in the Hare Krishna temple

• in Steve's friends' dorm rooms

• in Steve's parents' garage

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CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.7.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

Which of the following best summarizes the first story?

• Steve Jobs' parents promised to send him to college. They were both uneducated, which upset his biological mother. Steve went to college, but dropped out after six months. Steve dropped in on the classes that interested him.

• Jobs stayed with friends and collected bottles for money. He was happy with his decision.

• Jobs went to Reed College and dropped out after six months. He foolishly dropped out and disappointed his parents.

• Jobs explains how the events in his life such as dropping out of college and taking a calligraphy class helped him to eventually become successful.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Steve Jobs says, "My first story is about connecting the dots." Which of the following is the central idea of the first story?

• Adoption can provide children much more success in life.

• One should only learn things that are interesting.

• Dropping out of college can be beneficial.

• Individual events in your life can be connected when you look back.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

Steve Jobs says, "My second story is about love and loss." What is the central idea of this story?

• You should never settle for doing something less than your best.

• Loss is the most unfortunate part of life.

• Sometimes it takes losing something to finally discover what you love to do.

• Starting over made Jobs feel like a beginner again.

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CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which of the following best explains the meaning of this quote from paragraph 15?

"It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it."

• The cancer treatment Jobs had to endure was difficult physically and emotionally.

• The experience was extremely difficult, but in hindsight, it was very valuable.

• Sometimes you need to be able to swallow difficult information or experiences.

• You have to suffer in order to grow.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

In 2004, Steve Jobs was diagnosed with...

• liver disease

• kidney failure

• a brain tumor

• pancreatic cancer

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CCSS.RI.11-12.10

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RI.7.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RI.9-10.10