The President’s Speech to Students

This question has two parts. Answer Part A, and then answer Part B.

Part A

What is President Obama’s opinion about students as it is expressed in the speech?

• They should focus on getting good grades.

• They should focus on one subject or goal.

• They should take responsibility for their futures.

• They should help older people make decisions.

Part B

Choose one sentence from the passage that best supports the answer in Part A

• That’s what school is for: discovering new passions, acquiring new skills, making use of this

  incredible time that you have to prepare yourself and give yourself the skills that you’re going to need to pursue the kind of careers that you want.

• And that’s why when you’re still

  a student you can explore a wide range of possibilities.

• One hour you can be an artist; the

  next, an author; the next, a scientist, or a historian, or a carpenter.

• This is the time where

  you can try out new interests and test new ideas. And the more you do, the sooner you’ll

  figure out what makes you come alive, what stirs you, what makes you excited. . . .

What is one characteristic of Will Kim mentioned in the text?

• He is very cautious.

• He is creative and takes initiative.

• He prefers to work alone.

• He avoids taking risks.

Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that students should take responsibility for their futures?

• They should focus on getting good grades.

• They should focus on one subject or goal.

• They should help older people make decisions.

• This is the time where you can try out new interests and test new ideas.

What is the main purpose of school according to the passage?

• To discover new passions and acquire new skills.

• To focus on one subject or goal.

• To help older people make decisions.

• To get good grades.

According to the passage, what can students explore while they are still in school?

• Only one subject or goal.

• A wide range of possibilities.

• Helping older people make decisions.

• Getting good grades.

What does the passage suggest students can become by exploring a wide range of possibilities?

• Only an artist.

• Only a scientist.

• Only a historian.

• Any of these: an artist, a scientist, a historian, or a carpenter.

Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that students should not be afraid to explore new possibilities?

• "You’re this country’s future. You’re young leaders."

• "You can’t avoid the class that you think might be hard because you’re worried about getting the best grade."

• "You’ve got to work as hard as you know how to work."

• "You’re not supposed to be good at everything right away."

How does President Obama view the role of students in shaping the future?

• They should wait until they are adults to make an impact.

• Their ideas and energy are needed now to help solve current challenges.

• They should rely on adults to solve problems while they focus on school.

• They are responsible only for themselves and their academic success.

What is the central idea of President Obama’s message to students?

• The importance of focusing solely on academics.

• The necessity of immediate success in everything they do.

• The value of perseverance, curiosity, and exploring a variety of interests.

• The need to compete with older generations for leadership roles.