1. PSAT Practice
Week #2
February 26-March 2

2. PSAT Practice 26 February 2018
Read and annotate Passage 1, excerpted from President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, given in 1961 for Connections and Vocab.
Highlight textual evidence using your yellow highlighter.
Label all annotations

3. PSAT Practice 27 February 2018
Part I
Referencing Passage 1, what is the theme of President Kennedy’s inaugural address?
Highlight textual evidence using your blue highlighter
Annotate your explanation of the theme

4. Part II A central theme of the passage is that
those nations that dedicate themselves to democracy will receive aid and support from the United States.
cooperation among all nations is necessary to protect the future of humanity.
the Founding Fathers of the United States would be proud of the country’s progress over the last century.
the United States should dedicate more resources to fighting tyranny around the world.

5. Answer B

6. PSAT Practice 28 February 2018
Part I
Referencing Passage 1, what is the main focus of Kennedy’s inaugural address?
Highlight textual evidence using your orange highlighter
Annotate your explanation of the main focus

7. Part II Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts from
A description of the history of the United States to a proposal for improving the lives of its citizens.
A commitment to helping allies of the United States to a call for better cooperation among opposing nations.
An argument for improving the lives of people around the world to a recognition of that argument’s weaknesses.
An explanation of the foreign policy of the United States to an example illustrating these policies.

8. Answer B

9. PSAT Practice 1 March 2018 Part I
Referencing Passage 1, summarize President Kennedy’s perspective on scientific progress.
Highlight textual evidence using your green highlighter
Annotate your summary

10. Part II
Which choice best summarizes Kennedy’s perspective on scientific progress?
The advancement of science should be a central priority for the United States.
Scientific knowledge will inevitably improve the lives of people on this planet.
Science has the potential to both improve and harm humanity.
Investment in the sciences will enable humans to better understand how the universe works.

11. Answer C

12. PSAT Practice 2 March 2018
Write a 2 paragraph essay in which you explain how President Kennedy builds an argument to persuade his audience that all nations must work together to protect the future of mankind.
In your essay, analyze how Kennedy uses facts or examples to support his claim and persuasive elements such as word choice or appeals to emotion.
Your essay should not explain whether you agree with Kennedy’s claim, but rather explain how Kennedy builds an argument to persuade his audience.