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1: Glossary reading and multiple-choice questions (20 minutes, 20 points) 1. Chuck Todd is the co-author, with Sheldon Gawiser, of How Barack Obama Won: A State-by- State Guide to the Historic 2008 Presidential Election. (Choose B) 2. The Man Show is an American comedy television show that simultaneously celebrated and lampooned the stereotypical loutish male perspective in a humorous light. (Choose D) 3. The term truther can be used to describe people who reject the official explanation provided for September 11, 2001. (Choose D) 4. David Axelrod was a top political advisor to President Bill Clinton as well as campaign advisor to President Barack Obama during Obamas successful run for the Presidency. (Choose B) 5. The GSA, which helps manage and support the basic functioning of US federal agencies, is the General Services Administration. (Choose A) 6. Which of the following statements is NOT true of Mitt Romney? He used to be the head of American Motors. (Choose B) 7. Jimmy Kimmel has NOT hosted The Rachel Maddow Show. (Choose C) 8. ABC announced that beginning January 8, 2013, The start time of Nightline will be moved to 12:35 a.m., following Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the show will run for 30 minutes. (Choose B) 9. Article I Section 7, states that the president can veto legislation presented to him - as all legislation must be for his acceptance signature. If a president does not sign what is presented to him, then that legislation in its current form does not become law. To overturn a presidential veto, Congress has to muster a two-thirds majority. (Choose C) 10. The native American tribe of Kansas is known as people of the wind or people of the south wind. (Choose C) Scoring criteria: The correct answer gets full points; no points will be awarded for incorrect/omitted answers. Section 2: Listening, note-taking, and cloze (15 minutes, 40 points) PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Good evening, everybody. Good evening. I could not be more thrilled to be here tonight (laughter) at the White House Correspondents Dinner. This is a great crowd. Theyre already laughing. Its terrific. Chuck Todd love you, brother. (Laughter.) Im delighted to see some of the cast members of Glee are here. (Laughter.) And Jimmy Kimmel, its an honor, man. (Laughter.) Whats so funny?

Answer Keys

My fellow Americans, we gather during a historic anniversary. Last year at this time in fact, on this very weekend we finally delivered justice to one of the worlds most notorious individuals. (Applause.) Now, this year, we gather in the midst of a heated election season. And Axelrod tells me I should never miss a chance to reintroduce myself to the American people. So tonight, this is how Id like to begin: My name is Barack Obama. My mother was born in Kansas. My father was born in Kenya. And I was born, of course, in Hawaii. (Laughter and applause.) In 2009, I took office in the face of some enormous challenges. Now, some have said I blame too many problems on my predecessor, but lets not forget thats a practice that was initiated by George W. Bush. (Laughter.) Since then, Congress and I have certainly had our differences; yet, Ive tried to be civil, to not take any cheap shots. And thats why I want to especially thank all the members who took a break from their exhausting schedule of not passing any laws to be here tonight. (Laughter.) Lets give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) Despite many obstacles, much has changed during my time in office. Four years ago, I was locked in a brutal primary battle with Hillary Clinton. Four years later, she wont stop drunk- texting me from Cartagena. (Laughter.) Four years ago, I was a Washington outsider. Four years later, Im at this dinner. Four years ago, I looked like this. Today, I look like this. (Laughter.) And four years from now, I will look like this. (Laughter and applause.) That's not even funny. (Laughter.) Anyway, its great to be here this evening in the vast, magnificent Hilton ballroom or what Mitt Romney would call a little fixer-upper. (Laughter and applause.) I mean, look at this party. Weve got men in tuxes, women in gowns, fine wine, first-class entertainment. I was just relieved to learn this was not a GSA conference. (Laughter.) Unbelievable. Not even the mind reader knew what they were thinking. (Laughter.) Of course, the White House Correspondents' Dinner is known as the prom of Washington D.C. a term coined by political reporters who clearly never had the chance to go to an actual prom. (Laughter.) Our chaperone for the evening is Jimmy Kimmel (applause) who is perfect for the job since most of tonights audience is in his key demographic people who fall asleep during Nightline. (Laughter.) Jimmy got his start years ago on The Man Show. In Washington, thats what we call a congressional hearing on contraception. (Laughter and applause.) Scoring criteria for each blank: Any response that (a) keeps the original meaning of the utterance, (b) is grammatically correct, is awarded 4 points. Any response that (a) keeps the original meaning of the utterance, but (b) is grammatically incorrect, is awarded 3 points. Any response that (a) keeps part of the original meaning of the utterance, and (b) is grammatically correct, is awarded 2 points. Any response that (a) keeps part of the original meaning of the utterance, but (b) is grammatically incorrect, is awarded 1 point. Any response that includes a major meaning shift from the original utterance/an omitted response wont be awarded a point.