Psychologists say hope beats optimism in dark times. In her concession speech, Kamala Harris showed she understands the difference.
Read the article:
and pick the right answer a)-d)!
1. According to the passage, which of the following best describes the key difference between hope and optimism?
a) Optimism focuses on positive emotions, while hope is about having a plan to succeed.
b) Hope relies on luck, while optimism requires clear-headed action.
c) Optimism ignores challenges, while hope acknowledges difficulties.
d) Hope is about believing in a positive outcome, while optimism is about insisting things will work out.
2. What is the main message Kamala Harris conveyed in her concession speech, as described in the passage?
a) Supporters should remain positive and have faith that things will improve.
b) Supporters should accept the election result and focus on moving forward.
c) Supporters should acknowledge the difficulties but continue to take action to improve their situation.
d) Supporters should work together to fight for their shared values and make a difference.
3. According to the passage, what does research suggest about the benefits of hope compared to optimism?
a) Optimism is better at predicting academic success, while hope is more effective for coping with pain.
b) Hope is stronger at predicting academic success and resilience, while optimism is not as effective.
c) Optimism and hope are equally effective at predicting success and resilience.
d) Hope is better for improving individuals’ health and well-being, while optimism is not as beneficial.
4. The passage suggests that one reason hope may lead to greater resilience is that it:
a) Encourages people to focus on their own happiness and self-care.
b) Allows people to avoid facing the challenges and difficulties ahead.
c) Provides a false sense of security and positivity.
d) Promotes a sense of community and helping others.
5. How does the passage describe the type of hope that Kamala Harris advocated for in her concession speech?
a) A hope that ignores the current difficulties and focuses on a positive outcome.
b) A hope that is based on a belief in luck or chance rather than action.
c) A hope that acknowledges the challenges but still believes in taking action to improve the situation.
d) A hope that involves accepting the election result and moving on without further action.
6. According to the passage, what does research suggest is a more effective way for people who are feeling despondent to cope?
a) Engaging in self-care activities like taking a bubble bath to improve their mood.
b) Trying to remain optimistic and telling themselves that everything will work out.
c) Looking for ways to help others and find meaning in their actions.
d) Accepting the current situation and resigning themselves to the difficulties ahead.
7. What is the main message the passage aims to convey?
a) Clear-eyed hope, which acknowledges challenges but still believes in taking action, is more resilient than blind optimism.
b) Optimism is a more effective strategy for coping with difficult situations than hope.
c) Supporters of Kamala Harris should focus on their shared values and work together to make a difference.
d) The best way to cope with difficult situations is to accept the current challenges and move on without further action.
Key: 1c; 2c; 3b; 4d; 5c; 6c; 7a
Glossary
- concession speech is usually made after an election; it’s the act of a losing candidate publicly yielding to a winning candidate after an election after the overall result of the vote has become clear
- stinging (defeat) – making somebody feel angry or upset
- affiliation – a person’s connection with a political party, religion, etc.
- to dispel – to remove fears, doubts, and false ideas, usually by proving them wrong or unnecessary
- to lean – to incline in opinion, taste, or desire
- pinprick – a very small area of something, especially light
- to pick sides – to support one person or cause and not the other
- despondent – unhappy and with no hope or enthusiasm
- to buck up – to become more cheerful
Practice makes perfect
Match the words in bold to their synonyms below:
(…) Resilience, conventional thinking assumes, is something we must find within ourselves when we’re tested—a kind of internal grit that allows us to bounce back. But my research into high performers (…) suggests resilience doesn’t rely on personal strength. Rather, it’s possible to survive challenges by building and maintaining a diverse array of connections, personal and professional, who can help you in different categories of resilience. (…) This isn’t about having one or two ride-or-die friends. People in your resilience network should offer different things: The person who helps you laugh may not be the best person to help you see a path forward. But you need both. That’s why consciously developing a broad-ranging network is so important. And that’s where entrepreneurs can fall short. (…)
a) to recover e) courage
b) network f) struggle
c) deliberately g) to depend on
d) steadfast h) envision a solution
Retrieved from: https://www.inc.com/karen-dillon/true-resilience-isnt-about-being-strong-its-about-building-the-right-support-network
Key: grit – e); bounce back – a); rely on – g); array – b); ride-or-die – d); see a path forward. – h); consciously – c); fall short – f)
Fill in the sentence gaps with the words
in bold below:
fall short pick sides stinging grit
ride-or-die bounce back despondent buck up
1. Despite his efforts, he felt he would ………….. of his goals this year.
2. Mike is my ………… friend, always there to support me through tough times.
3. After facing difficulties, I know I can ………….. stronger than before.
4. Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back from setbacks; it’s about having the ……….. to persevere through adversity and keep pushing forward, even when the odds are against you.
5. It can be hard, but sometimes you just need to ………….. and keep going.
6. In arguments, it’s important not to …………… too quickly without knowing the facts.
7. She felt ……………. after failing her exam, but she quickly found new motivation.
8. That ………………. defeat taught them valuable lessons about teamwork and preparation.
Key: 1. fall short; 2. ride-or-die; 3. bounce back; 4. grit; 5. buck up; 6. pick sides; 7. despondent; 8. stinging
Watch and revise!
Kamala Harris’s Speech_ Hope vs. Optimism
https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/JHASQqpfg8qF2YX
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