My fellow-citizens, no people on earth have more cause to be than ours, and this is said reverently, in no spirit of boastfulness in our own strength, but with gratitude to the giver of good who has blessed us with the conditions which have enabled us to achieve so large a measure of well-being and of happiness. to us as a people it has been granted to lay the foundations of our national life in a new continent. we are the heirs of the ages, and yet we have had to pay few of the penalties which in old countries are exacted by the dead hand of a bygone civilization. we have not been obliged to fight for our existence against any alien race; and yet our life has called for the vigor and effort without which the manlier and hardier virtues wither away. under such conditions it would be our own fault if we failed; and the success which we have had in the past, the success which we confidently believe the future will bring, should cause in us no feeling of [vanity], but rather a deep and abiding realization of all which life has offered us; a full acknowledgment of the responsibility which is ours; and a fixed determination to show that under a free government a mighty people can thrive best, alike as regards the things of the body and the things of the soul. much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. we have duties to others and duties to ourselves; and we can shirk neither. we have become a great nation, forced by the fact of its greatness into relations with the other nations of the earth, and we must behave as beseems a people with such responsibilities. toward all other nations, large and small, our attitude must be one of cordial and sincere friendship. we must show not only in our words, but in our deeds, that we are earnestly desirous of securing their good will by acting toward them in a spirit of just and generous recognition of all their rights. but justice and generosity in a nation, as in an individual, count most when shown not by the weak but by the strong. while ever careful to refrain from wrongdoing others, we must be no less insistent that we are not wronged ourselves. we wish peace, but we wish the peace of justice, the peace of righteousness. we wish it because we think it is right and not because we are afraid. no weak nation that acts manfully and justly should ever have cause to fear us, and no strong power should ever be able to single us out as a subject for insolent aggression.
which word suggests a topic of the speech?
aggression
duty
peace
realization

The correct answer to the question "Which word suggests a topic of the speech?" is the second option: Duty.

The speech talks about a nation's duty towards righteousness and justice, not only when discussing political and public matters, but also personally, as a virtue all people must carry inside themselves. At the beginning of his speech, the speaker conveys a feeling of gratitude for all that was given to his people, when he says "with gratitude to the Giver of Good who has blessed us with the conditions which have enabled us to achieve so large a measure of well-being and of happiness". Then, the speaker calls attention to the fact that "Under such conditions it would be our own fault if we failed", meaning that his people should consider their responsibility any wrong actions they would be driven to take. As free and mighty people, he/she says that "a full acknowledgment of the responsibility which is ours" is necessary. When the speaker states that "We must show not only in our words, but in our deeds", he/she makes it clear that, as consequence of their well-being and success, they have the opportunity and the obligation to be right and just toward other nations. Therefore, the main topic of this speech would be the people's duty towards others, considering their privileged position.

The correct answer couldn't be the first option, "Aggression", because this word is only mentioned in the end, when the speaker says that "no strong power should ever be able to single us out as a subject for insolent aggression", as a result of their actions taken with justice, which takes the reader one more time to the main topic, the duty of righteousness toward others.

The correct answer couldn't be the third one, "Peace", because, although being at peace seems to be one of the speaker's objectives, he/she states that only by avoiding wrong deeds and always acting according to their duty to justice could the people reach and keep peace with other nations.

The correct answer couldn't be the fourth one, "Realization", because, even though the realization of the people's blessings could take them to feel like they are in a position to act right and help others, the main objective and topic of the speech are still fulfilling a duty.

modern day technological advancements are constantly seen throughout every aspect of life. cell phones, portable internet availability, laptop computers, ipods, mp3 players of every brand, and many other devices, are everywhere. they seem to possess unending possible detriments, but, along with such issues, technology also has positive impacts on today’s youth. in some situations, the internet and ipod prevent sociability, though in others they may be the cause of increased social activity. overall, modern technology has the capability to bring people together as well as enhance the social abilities of the today’s youth; however, if used without discretion, can also create a less interactive generation, frequently depending on technology for contentment.  

the immense capabilities of the internet today are astonishing, and offer many positive opportunities for teens. primarily, the internet makes sharing information fast and simple, despite factors that in other cases would prohibit such simple distribution. according to jean-francois coget in source c, “with the internet, information can be transmitted and received with ease at any time of the day to and from any number of friends.” it is possible to send videos, pictures, papers, projects, and a quantity of other things with the click of a button. the transfer can happen in seconds. the amazing capability of modern day internet simplifies teenage life, by providing a way to convey knowledge. another way in which internet proves positive is by providing a way to keep in touch with friends and family worldwide, or just across town. whether it’s a friend that switched schools and is never around, or a family member in london, the internet makes it possible to email, instant message, and even video chat. such qualities of internet communication bring people together with more frequent contact, boosting sociability and relationships. in addition, the internet also has the capability to, “foster openness, self-confidence, and a greater sense of ease, and comfort in dealing with others” (source c). since it is not obligatory to reveal physical appearance or social status over the internet, it grants an opportunity to be a completely new person, who is entirely open and confident. internet chats, even with mere acquaintances, can supply a chance for socially challenged teens to experience a form of social interaction, in order to create a sense of composure. modern day internet advancements not only offer an easier way to share information, but also contribute to sociability by providing a way to communicate with distant friends and family, as well as giving socially challenged teenagers an opportunity for interaction.

likewise, another modern day technology, the ipod, may also have a positive effect on some teenagers, by presenting a different view of the world as well as uniting individuals through musical taste. in the eyes of kelly doyle-mace, in source d, “music deepens the experience of walking through the world, rather than detracting from it.” there are millions of songs out there, one to match every possible mood. sometimes, turning on just the right song can be motivational and provide a completely new outlook on a certain circumstance. in addition, lyrics are often relatable to personal life and can be significant or simply encouraging. another way in which ipods and personal musical taste is a positive effect on teens is by uniting people of different backgrounds and diversities through their music choice. lisa and johnny rocket, hosts of “ipod dj nights,” describe that one night a month they invite guests to bring their ipods to a london bar. where they can play whatever songs they choose (source d). “even more diverse than the music are the members… the ipod acts to bring people together,” lisa explains (source d). these gatherings prove that as diverse as music can be, it is also unifying. the multitudes of people attending these parties, from every race background and belief, are united through their assorted music taste. ipods have the potential to positively affect today’s youth by matching any and every mood with music, resulting in a deeper walk through life, as well as bringing people together by means of musical interest.

the alternative argument is that the internet can be a significantly negative influence on teenagers, if overused. constant internet use detracts time that could be spent with friends and family. hours wasted away typing useless messages is detrimental to personal relationships with the ones who really matter. it was discovered through a study in pittsburgh that people who use the internet most often are “spending less time talking with their families…keeping up with fewer friends” (source b). it is of no use to spend so much time talking to people over the internet, when one could just as easily walk down the stairs and spend time with family, or go to see friends instead. according to source