from “The President’s Speech to Students” Quiz

"The idea, though, is that you keep on expanding your horizons and your sense of possibility. Now is the time for you to do that." (Paragraph 4)

Question:

What does President Obama suggest students should focus on during their school years?

• • Specializing in one subject to ensure they master it.

• • Avoiding risks in order to secure a safe future.

• • Exploring new interests and expanding their possibilities.

• • Sticking to familiar subjects to maintain high grades.

"But I also want to emphasize this: With all the challenges that our country is facing right now, we don’t just need you for the future; we actually need you now. America needs young people’s passion and their ideas." (Paragraph 6)

Question:

What can be inferred about the role President Obama believes young people should play in society?

• • Young people should only focus on their education and leave societal issues to adults.

• • Young people are too inexperienced to have a meaningful impact.

• • Young people should actively contribute to solving current challenges.

• • Young people should wait until they are older to contribute to society.

Which of these statements is not supported by the remarks made in President Obama’s

speech?

• Work hard in school and try out new possibilities.

• While in school, acquire a variety of skills and interests.

• Figure out different ways to become energetic leaders.

• Explore a wide range of ideas and career options.

What evidence from the speech best shows how students can prepare themselves for

the future?

• Students need to act responsibly during their time in school.

• Students should focus on courses that will help them earn good grades.

• Students should realize that they will not excel at everything that they try.

• Students need to try new possibilities to discover what excites them.

Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that President Obama thinks students

must take responsibility for their own futures?

• “Now, that doesn’t always mean that you have to have a perfect score on every

  assignment.”

• “Down the road, those will be the traits that will help you succeed, as well—the traits

  that will lead you to invent a device that makes an iPad look like a stone tablet.”

• “Your first obligation is to make sure that you’re preparing yourself for college and

  career.”

• “Soon enough, you will be the ones leading our businesses and leading our government.”

What example does President Obama give of a student who made a difference while still in school?

• • A student who became a famous artist

• • A student who started a nonprofit to give loans to other students

• • A student who invented a new technology

• • A student who became a professional athlete

According to the speech, what does President Obama believe about the potential of young people?

• • They should wait until they are adults to contribute to society.

• • They have the potential to make a difference right now.

• • They should focus only on their future careers.

• • They are too young to have useful ideas.

Who is President Obama addressing in his speech?

• • Politicians

• • Students

• • Parents

• • Teachers

According to President Obama, what is one trait that will help students succeed in the future?

• • Fear of failure

• • Popularity

• • Perseverance

• • Laziness

What does President Obama suggest students do if they’re not good at something right away?

• • Avoid it in the future

• • Ask someone else to do it for them

• • Keep working at it and not be embarrassed

• • Quit and try something easier