John F.

Kennedy – Speech

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.
Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to
its national loyalty.

The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet
summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though
embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out,
"rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" - a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny,
poverty, disease, and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that
can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending
freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not
believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The
energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it
-- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your
country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can
do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of
strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history
the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but
knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

Questions:

1. The word “summoned” in Paragraph 1 means:

a. Required
b. Provided
c. Asked
d. Included
2. “The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service around the globe” is in
reference to:
a. Americans who were allowed the right to vote
b. Americans who returned from another country
c. Americans who listened to the President of the United States
d. Americans who lost their lives in War

3. Put the events of the speech in order of which they appear:

a. Ask what your country can do for you
b. Tribute to Americans who lost their lives for America
c. Defending freedom in trying times
d. Giving testimony to national loyalty

Put the letters in order: B, D, C, A

4. What are the common enemies of man?:

a. Tyranny, Faith, Recklessness and Abandonment
b. War, Global Alliances, Future Crimes, Unsettlement
c. Distrust, Unworthiness, Hopelessness, and Isolation
d. Poverty, Tyranny, War, and Disease

5. PART A: Kennedy is asking people to:

a. Assure a better life for all mankind
b. Rejoice in the peace that is now befallen the United States
c. Stand up for soldiers
d. Preserve the Constitution

6. PART B: The quote that supports the answer to #5:

a. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you
b. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
c. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and
West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind?
d. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we
can do for the freedom of man.

7. The word “shank” in Paragraph 4 most closely means:

 a. Break
b. Defend
c. Shrink
d. Salute

8. The theme of this speech is:

a. Come together to fight and disrupt peace globally as well as domestically
b. Fight for strength of others
c. Come together and fight for the freedom of man with loyalty
d. Kennedy wants people to follow him.

9. This speech that Kennedy makes shows:

a. Logos – he argues to the audience through logic and facts
b. Ethos – he argues that he is a good person and people should listen to him
c. Pathos – he argues to convince the audience to believe in their feelings
d. None of these.

10. “Asking His blessing and His help” is referring to:

a. Peace
b. His father
c. Religion
d. The father of knowledge