President Kennedy Speech - Excerpt 1 (0:38 - 1:10, 1:37 - 3:00)
This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet Military buildup on
the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence
has established the fact that a series
of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The
purpose of these bases
can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against
the Western Hemisphere.
...The caracteristics of these new missile sites indicate two distinct types of installations. Several of
them include medium range ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear
warhead for a distance of
more than 1,000 nautical miles. Each of these missiles, in short, is
capable of striking Washington,
D.C.,
the Panama Canal, Cape Canaveral, Mexico City, or any other city in the southeastern
part of the United
States, in Central America, or in the Caribbean area....In addition, jet
bombers, capable of carrying
nuclear weapons, are now being uncrated and assembled in Cuba, while the necessary air
bases
are
being prepared.
...The size of this undertaking makes clear that it has been planned for some months...
Analysis Questions - Excerpt 1
1) Close Reading: According to President Kennedy, are these missiles capable of reaching the
United States if launched? Cite evidence from the text to support your claims.

Respuesta :

Answer:

Yes, according to President Kennedy, the missiles described in the excerpt are indeed capable of reaching the United States if launched. He explicitly states that the medium-range ballistic missiles mentioned in the excerpt are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead for a distance of more than 1,000 nautical miles. Furthermore, he specifically lists several locations within the Western Hemisphere, including Washington, D.C., the Panama Canal, Cape Canaveral, Mexico City, and cities in the southeastern part of the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean area, as potential targets. This indicates that these missiles have the range and capability to reach targets within the United States if launched.