TOEFL  - Speaking Question 4

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Directions: In this question, you will read a short passage and then listen to a talk on the same academic topic. You will then answer a question about them. After you hear the question, you will have 30 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak. You have 45 seconds to read the passage.

  

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U.S. Joining WWI There were several factors involved with Congress’ decision to enter World War I that all pointed toward the joining of the Allied forces. Although the United States’ original position when the war started was to remain neutral and isolated, the Imperial German Government forced the US into joining the war with hostile and aggressive actions that warranted a response. The sinking of the Lusitania as well as three other ships and the intercepted Zimmermann note that revealed Germany’s hostile intentions toward the U.S. were both important issues in the final decision to declare war on Germany.

 

Narrator: Now listen to part of a lecture in a U.S. history class.

 

Professor: On May 7, 1915, the British steam liner, Lusitania, was sunk by a German U-boat patrolling off the coast of Ireland. The Lusitania went down with more than 1,100 passengers and crew, 124 of which were Americans. Just weeks before, German submarines had sunk the British passenger steamer Falaba, the American Gulfight, and attacked the American vessel Cushing by plane. It was several years later that the U.S. actually declared formal war on Germany, but the President’s patience was wearing thin and this sinking of the passenger liner without warning helped push him to his eventual breaking point.

Another important factor the led the U.S. into entering the war was the Zimmerman note. In early months of 1917, British intelligence intercepted an encoded message from German Secretary of State, Zimmermann, to the German minister to Mexico. Zimmermann proposed in his message that after Germany began its unrestricted submarine warfare on February 1, that if the United States decided to enter the war, Mexico should be propositioned to enter the German alliance with the promise of financial support and the chance to reconquer its lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The President received this note from British intelligence on February 24 and released it to the press on March 1, 1917. This forced the U.S. into the war. When released to the press, this helped strengthen the position of advocates into the U.S. entry to war and swayed public opinion against Germany.

 

Narrator: Now get ready to answer the question.

 

Narrator: The professor describes the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman note. Describe how these two issues were important factors for the U.S. to give up its neutrality and enter the war on the side of the Allies.