Passage A
Thomas Jefferson could many things. As a young man, he was a farmer and a lawyer in
Virginia. He was also a scientist, an inventor, a philosopher, and an architect. He designed his
own home, called Montecello. He could communicate in French, Italian Spanish, Latin, and
Greek.
Many of Jefferson’s ideas became basic principles of the government of the United States For
example, he believed that "all men are created equal". That is we axe bon the same and should
receive the same treatment under the law. He also said that power must come from "the consent
of the governed” (the voters, not the leaders). He wanted free elections, a free press, and free
speech.
Thomas Jefferson held many important government jobs. He was ambassador to France,
Secretary of State (under George Washington), Vice President of the United States, from 1801
to 1809. As President, Jefferson bought the huge Louisiana terri-tory fox the United States from
France. However, he was killed on April 1865 by x well-known actor and Confederate sympa-
thizer, John Wilkes Booth at Fordk Theater in Washington DC
Passage B
John F Kennedy was President for only three years, from 1961, but his personality and ideas
changed America. He was both the first Roman Catholic and the youngest President in the
history of the country. He set clear goals for America. For example, he promised that the United
States would land a man on the moon before 1970
Kennedy supported the ideas of Martin Luther king, Jl. and fought for civil light, fair housing,
and program to stop poverty. He asked Congress for more money for education and medical
care for elderly people.
Kennedy against Communism. For example, when the Soviet Union put missiles in Cuba, he
sent US ships to surround the island. But he believed that the best way to fight Communism was
not by sending armies but by attacking poverty and injustice. He started the Peace Corps and
sent
Americans to over sixty countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. These young volunteers
worked and lived with the people, built school, and thought farmers more modern methods.
Kennedy was a man for the future. He worked to stop the testing of nuclear weapons. But on
November 22, 1963, he was assassinated.
1. The topic discussed in both passages is…
a. Effort of US president to fight against Communism.
b. Intentions of two men to become the US president.
c. The risk of getting killed for being a US president.
d. The two brilliant and charismatic US presidents
e. Great deeds done by two presidents of the US.
2. The statement about Jefferson and Kennedy is true in that they both ...
a. Experienced a joyous end of their lives
b. Served short periods in their presidency
c. Tried hard to fight poverty in their country
d. Bore similar ideas on uniting their country
e. Had development programs for their country
3. Both passages are similar in that they
a. Describe two important leaders in the US
b. Give an illustrasion of the life of a president
c. President similar leadership of the two president
d. Put forward arguments against human inequality
e. Show the struggles to become the US president
4. The best summary for both passage is that Jefferson ...
a. And Kennedy came from an ordinary family
b. Promoted human right; Kennedy attacked poverty
c. Sent a man on the moon; Kennedy threatened Cuba
d. Was a man of the past; Kennedy was a men of the future
e. And Kennedy got a similar job before going to White House
5. If Kennedy were still the US president today, he would
a. Send more army to stop Communism
b. Fight poverty in many parts of the world
c. Develop the nuclear weapons more rapidly
d. Buy some territories like what Jefferson did
e. Attack countries like China, Russia, and Cuba
