Leveled Readings / John F. Kennedy: “Ich bin ein Berliner” Remarks in West Berlin (1963)
John F. Kennedy: “Ich bin ein Berliner” Remarks in West Berlin (1963)
John F. Kennedy, West Berlin (June 26, 1963)
These are adaptations, not the original. The original wording is always shown first. Each adapted version restates the same passage at about a grade 4, grade 7, or grade 10 reading level without adding or removing ideas. Quote the original in student writing.
Original wording
“Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in, to prevent them from leaving us.”
Adapted · about grade 4
Freedom is hard and democracy is not perfect, but we never built a wall to keep our people from leaving.
Adapted · about grade 7
Freedom has problems and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to build a wall to keep our people in.
Adapted · about grade 10
Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put up a wall to keep our people in and prevent them from leaving.
Used in: Why did communist states collapse?