Listening Comprehension India 1 Worksheet on Listening Comprehension Text: “Obama’s Visit to India”, Voice of America (Washington, D.C.: voanews.com, 16 Nov. 2010), hosted by EnglishAddicts <http://www.englishaddicts.com/A348400‐‐Obama‐s‐Visit‐
to‐India.html>. A BACKGROUND INFORMATION TRANSCRIPT Near the end of his three‐day visit to India, President Obama began his day by laying a wreath at the site where revered Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after his assassination. In remarks later to the Indian parliament, Mr. Obama spoke about a vision he says the two nations can achieve together, based on common interests. “For in Asia and around the world, India is not simply emerging; India has emerged. And it is my firm belief that the relationship between the United States and India, bound by our shared interests and our shared values, will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century. This is the partnership that I've come here to build. This is the vision that our nations can realize together.” Mr. Obama said the United States and India have a historic opportunity to define the century ahead and to promote common prosperity. He announced firm US support for India's permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council, though US officials told reporters in New Delhi the process of Security Council reform will be long and complicated. On an issue of great concern to India, Mr. Obama said neighboring Pakistan has increasingly recognized the threat that terrorist networks pose to it and to those outside of Pakistan. He said the United States will continue to press Pakistan to do more, especially regarding the Mumbai attacks of 2008. © 2011 Langenscheidt KG, Berlin und München
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Listening Comprehension India “We will continue to insist to Pakistan's leaders that terrorist safe havens within their borders are unacceptable, and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks be brought to justice. (Applause). We must also recognize that all of us have an interest in both an Afghanistan and a Pakistan that is stable, and prosperous and democratic, and India has an interest in that as well.” A joint news conference earlier Monday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh covered the U.S.‐India economic relationship, Kashmir and efforts to reduce India‐Pakistan tensions, as well as nuclear non‐proliferation and counter‐terrorism. President Obama avoided a direct response on Kashmir, but underscored the American view that India and Pakistan must find a way to reduce tensions. “I think Prime Minister Singh is sincere and relentless in his desire for peace. And so, my hope is that both sides can, over the next several months, several years, find mechanisms that are appropriate for them to work out what are these very difficult issues.” Prime Minister Singh said India is prepared to engage with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues, but he had this pointed criticism for the government in Islamabad. “You cannot simultaneously be talking, and at the same time the terror machine is as active as ever before. Once Pakistan moves away from this terror‐induced coercion, we will be very happy to engage productively with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues”. B WORKSHEET 1. What did Barack Obama begin that day with?  slaying a breeze at the site where a leader was debated  playing a reed pipe in memory of Mahatma Gandhi  laying a wreath at the site where Gandhi’s body was burned  praying a creed in honour of a revered leader © 2011 Langenscheidt KG, Berlin und München
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Listening Comprehension India 2. What does Barack Obama mean by contrasting “emerging” and “emerged”? Answer in one or two sentences. Obama is saying that India is no longer a country that is behind other nations as regards global importance, but that is has already reached the status of a globally important nation. 3. Which of the following statements is true (1 option only)?  Obama announced support for US firms.  Obama said the US would speak strongly in favour of a seat for India in the UN security council.  Obama promised that India would certainly get permanent membership in the UN security council.  Obama announced firm US support for India’s reformed membership 4. What did the US President say about Afghanistan and Pakistan (1 option only)?  We must recognize that everybody is interested in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  India must be interested in harmony with its neighbours.  It is interesting that both Afghanistan and Pakistan is a stable.  Everybody, including India, is interested in Afghanistan and Pakistan becoming stable and successful democracies. 5. In his comment about Prime Minister Singh, Obama said (fill in the blanks): “I think Prime Minister Singh is sincere and relentless in his desire for peace.”
6. What did Prime Minister Singh say (1 option only)?  You cannot talk about peace and at the same time allow terror attacks to go on.  You cannot simultaneously be talking, because of the noise of the machine.  Talks are difficult if you do not have enough machines.  As actively as ever before, we will be talking about everything. (Peter Ringeisen) © 2011 Langenscheidt KG, Berlin und München
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