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.

 

Blue Diamond Assessment 5 Minaret ban marks start of a tough Swiss debate France condems Swiss decision to ban minarets European Union Gives Niger 1 Billion Merkel, Sarkozy in first joint Armistice Day Appearance Audio Slideshow: Tommies Tales Berlin Marks the Demise of the Wall

 

BD 5 Archived Current Events

 

 

 

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?