Speech Passage #1 Instructions: Please read the passage below and answer the questions in full sentences.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, teachers, parents, and my fellow students. Our today’s meeting is an outstanding event for all of us as another academic year has come to an end. This means that another group of students graduates from our school and is to start its way into the ‘adult life’. Actually, this ‘adult life’ seems to be less appealing and more terrifying with its close oncoming, and it is a great fortune that it is not my turn to enter it yet.

I have one more year of study left, so this occasion does not have a direct relation to me, still there are a few important things I am eager to tell our graduates, among which is my older sister. The first one is: please, do not be afraid of the changes that come to your life; they are crucial, unpredictable, and overwhelming but you are able to deal with them. Thus, just built your own way and remember that your families and friends are always there to provide you with any needed support. In addition, please, keep in mind the fact that we are graduating after you and look up for you as the examples and inspirations, so, do not be up to anything you would not like us to do. I believe that would be the most suitable advice and recommendation you can hear from someone my age.

Another point that I would like to highlight is the crucial value of your dreams as, like the great Steve Jobs pointed out, the way to success is to “dream bigger”, and this tool is available for everyone. There has barely been one person in the world that had never failed, so, you, most probably, will not become such an exception. Thus, do not limit yourself by the fear of losing; you will lose one day anyway, and this occasion is unpredictable and unpreventable. It may sound absolutely discouraging but have a think about it: if there is nothing to hold you back, everything is possible.

With this in mind, make a bold, confident, and reckless step in the life, hurry to fall, because the sooner you will do this, the more time you will have for getting back to the top. Do not let the obstacles and failures stop you as they are just other twists of a great life adventure you are to embark on, and we are looking forward to witness.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the main topic of this speech?

2. Which form of speech is being used in the text? (i. e., informative, persuasive, humorous)

3. What are the supporting details?

4. By reading this speech, who do you think is the target audience? Give reasons to support your answer?

5. How do think the speech could further improved?