CASE Review: President Obama’s National Address

How does President Obama develop the central idea of paragraphs 1-2?

• by stating that famous people usually do not fail at what they do

• by explaining how to select the activity that will be most successful for you

• by using the lessons from real experiences of people familiar to his audience

• by highlighting the number of failures you should allow before you change your habits

Which quote from paragraph 8 must be included in a summary of the speech?

• “What problems are you going to solve?”

• “What discoveries will you make?

• “So I expect all of you to get serious this year.”

• “I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.”

Drag each quote into the box on the right to show if it is a main idea or a key detail of paragraphs 4-5.

Groups:

(a) Main Idea

,

(b) Key Detail

• . . . don't ever give up on yourself, . . .” (paragraph 5)

• “I do that every day.” (paragraph 4)

• “Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, . . .” (paragraph 4)

• “. . . even when you’re struggling, . . .” (paragraph 5)

• “Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.” (paragraph 4)

Which central idea does President Obama hope to convey in paragraphs 6-7?

• the changes in the ways that we communicate

• the refusal to quit regardless of circumstances

• the impact of the Great Depression upon society

• the beginnings of the United States as an independent nation

What is a central idea of the passage?

• the importance of giving your best effort

• the importance of having a well-equipped school

• the importance of finding adults that are trustworthy

• the importance of overcoming fears of certain school subjects

Which quotation supports the idea that it is important to always give your best?

• “Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.” (paragraph 4)

• “So find an adult that you trust–parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor-. . .” (paragraph 4)

• “. . . get you the books and the equipment and the computers you need to learn.” (paragraph 8)

• “I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do.” (paragraph 8)

People who have been successful in life have refused to think of themselves as failures. These people have used their failures to learn ​ (a)   . People who get into trouble should not think of themselves as troublemakers, and people who get a bad grade should not question their intelligence. Instead, these people should use their energy to ​ (b)   .

• what to change the next time
• how to shorten the learning process
• what subjects successful people enjoy
• work harder to correct the problem
• find better ways to concentrate
• develop a sense of humor about making mistakes

Which two quotes convey the central idea of paragraph 3?

• “No one's born being good at all things.”

• “You become good at things through hard work.”

• “The same principle applies to your schoolwork.”

• “You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.”

• “You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.”

Which is an accurate summary of the speech?

• Famous people only became famous because they had a lucky start. Most people will not get that kind of success without working hard and getting a break of some kind.

• The President wants students to be successful in school so they can go to college and get good jobs. Without a good education, it will be hard for the youth of America to be successful.

• In order to make your country and your family proud, you should make sure you do well in school. You should rework your math problems and reread your essays before turning them in.

• Success does not always come easy. Even some of the most successful people failed many times before they started. You should always work hard at whatever you do and that will help you be successful in life.

How does the speaker support his point that failures can lead to success? A. by persuading students to work hard B. by stating that no one starts out good at everything C. by describing people for whom success did not come easily D. by explaining how working hard in school will be necessary

• by persuading students to work hard

• by stating that no one starts out good at everything

• by describing people for whom success did not come easily

• by explaining how working hard in school will be necessary