Question

Read the excerpt from John F. Kennedy’s opening statement.

I’m not satisfied when the Soviet Union is turning out twice as many scientists and engineer as we are. I’m not satisfied when many of our teachers are inadequately paid, or when our children go to school in part-time shifts. I think we should have an educational system second to none. I’m not satisfied when I see men like Jimmy Hoffa—in charge of the largest union in the United States—still free. I’m not satisfied when we are failing to develop the natural resources of the Unites States to the fullest. Here in the United States, which developed the Tennessee Valley and which built the Grand Coulee and the other dams in the Northwest United States at the present rate of hydropower production—and that is the hallmark of an industrialized society—the Soviet Union by 1975 will be producing more power than we are. These are all the things, I think, in this country that can make our society strong, or can mean that it stands still.


Which evidence is relevant to his claim that the United States is falling behind the Soviet Union?

Responses

we are failing to develop the natural resources of the Unites States to the fullest
we are failing to develop the natural resources of the Unites States to the fullest,

the Soviet Union by 1975 will be producing more power than we are
the Soviet Union by 1975 will be producing more power than we are,

we should have an educational system second to none
we should have an educational system second to none,

many of our teachers are inadequately paid, or when our children go to school in part-time shifts

Answer 1

The evidence that is relevant to Kennedy's claim that the United States is falling behind the Soviet Union is:

We are failing to develop the natural resources of the United States to the fullest.

The Soviet Union by 1975 will be producing more power than we are.

While the other two points he mentions are also relevant to the strength of the United States as a society, they do not directly support his claim that the Soviet Union is surpassing the United States in certain areas.