Multiple Choice Q&As

Regarding: Stanford 2005 Commencement Address

Question 1: The theme of the 3rd paragraph is

A)
B)
C)
D)

Jobs early childhood

Where Jobs lived as a child
How Jobs was adopted
The irony in Jobs reason for adoption

Explanation: Jobs mother gave him up for adoption to better his chances of going to college, his
adoption parents promised to send Jobs to college for his best sake. The irony is that Jobs ended
up dropping out of college shortly after beginning because he viewed it as a waste of his parents
savings and did not see the importance.
Question 2: Steve Jobs attitude about college is best described as
A)
B)
C)
D)

Mandatory for success

Useless
Unnecessary for success
A step towards success

Explanation: Jobs viewed his college experience as being unnecessary, he believes that college
can be great for many, and unnecessary for some. He found his success after he dropped out of
college and pursued his passions.
Question 3: What is the function of the following sentence: much of what I stumbled into by
following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on.
A)
B)
C)
D)

Sharing what he learned from his college experience

A transition between his finding his passion and the beginning of Apple
To explain his ideas
To describe why college was somewhat important

Explanation: I believe this is a strong way for Jobs to transition from his youthful stage of the
speech, to the beginning of him following his passions, the priceless word choice suggests hes
talking about Apple.
Question 4: Which rhetorical device did Jobs use to portray his you can't connect the dots
looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards message?
A) Metaphor
B) Syllogism
C) Parallelism

D) Analogy
Explanation: Jobs uses this as both an analogy and a parallel structure.
Question 5: Which of the following best identifies the meaning of "Practical application"?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Useful in the real world

A job application
Not useful
An unrealistic skill

Explanation: Jobs does not believe that what they often teach in college are practical
applications, practical applications can be best described as skills, and knowledge you can use in
the realistic world.
Question 6: The speaker's attitude is best described as one of . . .
A)
B)
C)
D)

Angry
Reflective
Excited
Disturbed

Explanation: Jobs attitude appears to be very reflective and encouraging, as he reflects on the
decisions he makes he encourages these students to make decisions based on how they feel, what
excites them, and their passions.
Question 7: Which of the following would Jobs be least likely to encourage?
A)
B)
C)
D)

Not going to college

Pursue passion
Be an inventor
Follow money

Explanation: While you may get the impression Jobs is arguing that college is unimportant, he is
not, he is arguing to follow what you enjoy, and your passions.
Question 8: The authors use of description is necessary to
A)
B)
C)
D)

Create a visual of the struggles he endured

To emphasize the lifestyle he was living
To help the reader understand why he dropped out of college
To describe how exciting life was for himself

Explanation: Jobs really described his situation in detail to give the reader/listener a visual and a
complete understanding of how he lived and what he did during this period of his lifestyle.
Question 9: Jobs includes the specifics of what he did after apple for what reason?

A) To show he was successful after Apple as well

B) To show he enjoyed NeXT better than Apple
C) To explain how he was less successful without Apple
Explanation: This was an important period of Jobs life, and while it was not with Apple Jobs still
accomplished some less known, but important and unique achievements.
Question 10: Jobs tone throughout this Speech can best be described as
A)
B)
C)
D)

Constructive
Disappointed
Passionate
Serious

Explanation: While Passionate could also work as a tone, serious is likely the best to describe
Jobs tone, he does not show much fluctuation, but has a very important feeling tone throughout.