Today we're going to test your extended listening skills using a speech made recently by Barrack Obama. Listen to the BBC New's clip and complete the gaps with what you hear.
Link opens a new tab: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11267062
I think that at a time when the country is _1_ generally and going through a tough time, then fears can surface, suspicions, divisions can surface in a society. And so I think that plays a role in it.
One of the things that I most admired about President Bush was after 9/11, him being crystal-clear about the fact that we were not _2_ war with Islam. We were at war with terrorists and murderers who had _3_ Islam, had stolen its banner to _4_ their outrageous acts. And I was so proud of the country rallying around that idea, that notion that we are not going to be divided _5_ religion; we’re not going to be divided _6_ ethnicity. We are all Americans. We _7_ together _8_ those who would try to do us harm.
And that’s what we’ve done over the last nine years. And we should take great _9_ _10_ that. And I think it is absolutely important now for the overwhelming majority of the American people to _11_ to that thing that is best in us, a belief in religious tolerance, clarity about who our enemies are -- our enemies are al Qaeda and their allies who are trying to kill us, but have killed more Muslims than just about anybody on Earth. We have to make sure that we don't start _12_ each other.
And I will do everything that I can as long as I am President of the United States to remind the American people that we are one nation under God, and we may call that God different names but we remain one nation. And as somebody who _13_ heavily _14_ my Christian faith in my job, I understand the passions that religious faith can raise. But I’m also respectful that people of different faiths can practice their religion, even if they don't subscribe to the exact same notions that I do, and that they are still good people, and they are my neighbors and they are my friends, and they are _15_ alongside us in our battles.
And I want to make sure that this country retains that sense of purpose. And I think tomorrow is a wonderful day for us to remind ourselves of that.
Lesson by Siba, EC London English School
How important is religious tolerance?
Can people from different ethnic/ religious groups live alongside one another? How so?
This speech is a piece of political rhetoric. Do you think it is effective? Why/ Why not?
