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Blue Diamond Assessment 5

Page history last edited by Bill 14 years, 1 month ago

Blue Diamond Assessment 5

 

Blue Diamond Assessment 5 requires students to:

  1. Determine the main idea of a speech or selection.
  2. Find hidden messages in a speech or selection.
  3. Describe the author of a selection based on the text.
  4. Determine the difference between fact and opinion in a speech or selection.
  5. Describe why speeches are primary sources.
  6. Determine an author's purpose for giving a speech.
  7. Determine the effect that opening lines have on a speech or selection.
  8. Determine an author's bias.
  9. Determine what kinds of questions an audience would likely ask an author of a speech or selection.
  10. Determine an author's motivation for using particular lines or phrases in a speech or selection.
  11. Determine/decide why author's use maxims.

 

  1. Blue Diamond Assessment 5
    1. Latvia economy reels in recession
    2. Iceland EU bid to get boost
    3. France unveils plans for national identity
    4. McItaly causing controversy
    5. Russia's Putin invites Poles to Katyn Massacre Event
    6. Parading a deal breaker?
    7. French burka ban looms
    8. Nightmarish memories of Nazi Death Camp
    9. Minaret ban marks start of a tough Swiss debate
    10. France condems Swiss decision to ban minarets
    11. European Union Gives Niger 1 Billion
    12. Merkel, Sarkozy in first joint Armistice Day Appearance
    13. Audio Slideshow: Tommies Tales
    14. Berlin Marks the Demise of the Wall

 

BD 5 Archived Current Events

 

 

 

 

 

Latvia economy reels in recession

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8496925.stm

 

 

Questions to use:

 

Why does the author choose to refer to the Latvian economy as a "tiger that has lost its roar?"

 

  1. To suggest that Latvia's economy is an animated character that can roar like a lion.
  2. To convey the idea that Latvia's economy was once strong but has now weakened mightily.
  3. To communicate the noise that economies make when they are failing.
  4. To express the volume of Latvia's pleas for help to the EU. 

 

 

 

 

Iceland EU bid to get boost

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8533706.stm

Questions to use: 

 

Which experience is most similar to the EU's experience in this piece?

 

  1. A mother losing her child in the mall
  2. A judge sitting in a courtroom and sentencing a criminal. 
  3. A grandfather remembering the days of his youth.
  4. A boy feeling cheated by one of his friends.

 

 

 

France unveils plans for national identity

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8505751.stm

 

Question to use:

 

Which of the following best describes the French government?

 

  1. Concerned about their heritage getting lost in a sea of new immigrants
  2. Doubtful that visitors from other countries are capable and intelligent.
  3. Certain that any immigrant is useless and should be excluded.
  4. Anxious to be seen as strong by the world community. 

 

What is the main idea of this selection?

 

  1. French children will be required to sing the national anthem each morning in school.
  2. Copies of the French constitution will be placed in every classroom.
  3. The French government is wrestling with the challenge of integrating immigrants into French culture.
  4. New immigrants to France will be required to sign a statement of commitment to French ideals. 

 

 

 

McItaly causing controversy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8503430.stm

 

Question to use:

 

Why does the narrator refer to the McItaly as "cultural indigestion?"

 

  1. Because fast food often upsets peoples' stomachs.
  2. Because Italians often eat spicy foods.
  3. Because Italians don't like American food.
  4. Because he believes that McDonalds food takes away from Italian traditions.

 

 

Russia's Putin invites Poles to Katyn Massacre Event

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8497577.stm

 

Question to use:

 

How would a Soviet army officer who served in World War II react to this selection?

 

  1. He'd be embarrassed that the Russians were admitting responsibility for the massacre.
  2. He'd be proud that the Russians were finally taking responsibility for the massacre.
  3. He'd be angry that the world was forcing the Russians to apologize for the massacre.
  4. He'd be boastful about what he and his colleagues had done during World War II.

 

 

Parading a deal breaker?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8458780.stm

 

Question to use:

 

How would a Protestant likely react to the youth attacks at Orange Order parades?

 

  1. They would take sides with the injured police and see the attackers as criminals.
  2. They would emphathize with the attackers and understand their actions.
  3. They would doubt the abilities of the police to keep the peace in their country.
  4. They would have no opinion about the attacks and want to stay out of the conversation. 

 

 

French burka ban looms

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/01/french_burka_ban_looms.html

Questions to use:

 

According to the selection, why do the French people believe the burka should be banned?

 

  1. Because Muslim people don't deserve to have freedom of religion.
  2. Because burkas take away the rights of women.
  3. Because burkas are an insult to Christians.
  4. Because burkas violate the French constitution. 

 

 

Nightmarish memories of Nazi Death Camp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8381413.stm

 

Questions to use:

 

Based on this selection, which detail reveals the most information about the Nazi's desire to kill Jews without being caught?

 

  1. 84-year-old Philip Bialowitz shows me a battered gravestone among a tangle of bushes.
  2. Many people were screaming. They were injured. I couldn't help them.
  3. Even my seven-year-old niece knew she was going to die.
  4. After the uprising, the Nazis murdered the Jews who had stayed behind.

 

 

 

Minaret ban marks start of a tough Swiss debate

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8386456.stm

In Switzerland the soul-searching has begun following Sunday's nationwide referendum in which voters surprisingly backed a plan to ban the construction of minarets. 

 

Questions to use:

 

Based on the context of the following sentence, what does the word buoyed mean:  "There are already indications that, buoyed by the size of the vote in favour of the ban, the Swiss People's Party is planning further measures."

 

  1. discouraged by
  2. encouraged by
  3. frustrated by
  4. angered by

 

What solution does the Swiss Justice Minister propose for solving the minaret crisis?

 

  1. taking the right to vote away from people.
  2. forcing Muslims to integrate with Swiss society.
  3. ruling against Christian church steeples as well as minarets
  4. apologizing to the Muslim world.

 

France condems Swiss decision to ban minarets

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8385893.stm

 

France's foreign minister has condemned Switzerland's referendum vote to ban the building of minarets.

Bernard Kouchner said he was shocked by the decision which, he said, showed "intolerance" and should be reversed.

 

Questions to use:

 

Which of the following statements best suggests the strongest bias related to Bernard Kouchner's  statements on the Swiss minaret ban?

 

  1. As a Muslim, Kouchner can't support a ban against his religion.
  2. As a Swiss citizen, Kouchner is embarrassed by the actions of his nation.
  3. As a French citizen, Kouchner wants to intimidate his neighboring country.
  4. As a leader in a democracy, Kouchner believes in protecting the rights of everyone.

 

Based on this selection, which of the following best describes Bernard Kouchner?

 

  1. Satisfied with the idea that the voice of the people should be listened to regardless of the outcomes.
  2. Unconcerned with the outcome of the Swiss vote on minarets.
  3. Confident that the Swiss government will overtun the decision of the Swiss voters.
  4. Concerned that Muslims are being treated unfairly in Switzerland.

 

 

European Union Gives Niger 1 Billion

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8369974.stm

 

Questions to use:

 

What is most likely the effect of including the picture of armed soldiers near the top of this article?

 

  1. The audience realizes that Niger has a strong military.
  2. The audience realizes that Niger is a country in chaos that needs peace. 
  3. The audience realizes that the EU has been generous in giving money to the Nigerians.
  4. The audience realizes that poverty is real. 

 

Based on this selecion, which of the following best describes the European Union?

 

  1. A selfish group that doesn't care about the world.
  2. A group that is interested in seeing peace and safety spread to other countries.
  3. A group that wants attention for its good deeds.
  4. A group that is trying to shame the United States into action. 

 

 

 

Merkel, Sarkozy in first joint Armistice Day Appearance

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE5AA23M20091111?sp=true

 

French and German leaders joined together on Armistice Day for the first time to remember their war dead on Wednesday, and pledged to work more closely together as partners in Europe. To the sound of the national anthems of the two former enemies, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy laid down a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Questions to use:

 

Based on this selection, which belief is supported by the maxim, "Live and learn?"

 

  1. The belief that honoring soldiers who fought in World War I will enable you to be successful.
  2. The belief that avoiding wars can lead to better things later.
  3. The belief that all experiences---including those that are negative---can eventually lead to stronger people.
  4. The belief that people with great educations don't often make the best decisions.

 

What was most likely the effect of Sarkozy's decision to include the following phrase in his speech: "German orphans cried over the death of their fathers in combat just as French orphans did."

 

  1. The audience learns that Sarkozy doesn't value or appreciate the Germans.
  2. The audience values the reference to German children because they, too, feel badly over the death of German soldiers.
  3. The audience identifies that Sarkozy cannot relate to the experiences of fighting in a war.
  4. The audience feels a sense of forgiveness, understanding that World War I was tough on the German people, too. 

 

 

  

Audio Slideshow: Tommies Tales

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8352507.stm

 

Veteran's Day was first established as a holiday in the United States to remember the soldiers who fought and died in World War I.  It is set for November 9th because that was the date that World War I officially ended.  Like the United States, countries all over Western Europe were affected by World War I.  As a result, they celebrate November 9th as a day of remembrance, too.  In this audio slideshow, a World War I veteran shares his thoughts about the war. 

 

Questions to use:

 

Which statement best supports the argument that this speech is a primary source?

 

  1. The soldier shares personal knowledge about World War I based on his experience.
  2. The soldier collected facts from various sources to inspire his audience.
  3. The soldier compiled and presented data from textbooks to teach the listeners.
  4. The soldier gathered expertise from magazines and newspapers to share a message with listeners. 

 

Which detail from this presentation best supports the idea that soldiers during World War I were courageous and willing to fight for freedom?

 

  1. The fact that they were all afraid when going over the top of trenches.
  2. The fact that many died during the war in horrible ways.
  3. The fact that the first soldier pretended to be older than he was in order to get in the Army.
  4. The fact that the people of Europe wrote songs about the soldiers. 

 

 

Berlin Marks the Demise of the Wall

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8351506.stm

 

Yseterday, world leaders turned out in Berlin despite heavy rains to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the falling of the Berlin Wall.  This video includes highlights from the speeches given by world leaders and the events of the evening. 

 

Questions to use:

 

Based on this selection, which of the following best describes Gordon Brown?

 

  1. Gordon Brown cares only about the United Kingdom because that's the country that he leads.
  2. Gordon Brown believes that Communism was an evil that needed to end.
  3. Gordon Brown believes that being unified is important for the countries of Europe.
  4. Gordon Brown doesn't respect the people of Germany. 

 

 

Which of the following questions would a member of the audience last night most likely ask Hillary Clinton based on her message?

 

  1. Where were you when the Wall fell?
  2. What do you think of Communism?
  3. When will you be returning to the United States?
  4. Are there places in the world where people still aren't free?

 

 

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