Question

select the correct answer from the drop-down menu.

read these excerpts from president bushs \9/11 address to the nation\ and president reagans \explosion of the space shuttle challenger speech\ (given on the evening of the challenger disaster).

\9/11 address to the nation\

(6) tonight, i ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened...

\explosion of the space shuttle challenger speech\

(4) for the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. but we feel the loss, and were thinking about you so very much. your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, \give me a challenge and ill meet it with joy.\ they had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. they wished to serve, and they did. they served all of us.

what is similar about these two passages?

in both passages, the speakers choose an answer

choose an answer
show humility to people who have been shaken by tragedy
reach out with empathy to people who have been shaken by tragedy
use analogies to connect with people who have been shaken by tragedy

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpts for common themes and speaker actions

In the first excerpt, President Bush asks for "prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered..." which directly expresses deep sympathy and care for the victims and their families. In the second excerpt, President Reagan speaks directly to the families of the Challenger crew, stating, "we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much."

Evaluate the drop-down options

• "show humility to people who have been shaken by tragedy": Neither passage focuses on the speakers' humility; rather, they focus on comforting the victims.
• "reach out with empathy to people who have been shaken by tragedy": Both speakers express deep emotional connection, shared grief, and understanding (empathy) toward those directly affected by the national tragedies.
• "use analogies to connect with people who have been shaken by tragedy": Neither excerpt relies on analogies to establish this connection.

Select the best matching option

The option "reach out with empathy to people who have been shaken by tragedy" accurately describes the shared purpose and tone of both presidential addresses.

Answer:

• show humility to people who have been shaken by tragedy
• reach out with empathy to people who have been shaken by tragedy (Correct answer)
• use analogies to connect with people who have been shaken by tragedy