run as fast as he can to the lab c. call his professor and explain the problem borrow the woman’s car and drive to the lab
LISTENING 45
United States would regard a missile attack from Cuba the same as an attack from the Soviet Union, and that it would respond
accordingly. The days after the speech were tense. Kennedy didn’t know how the Soviet Union would respond. Finally, after
thirteen days, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles if the United States promised not to invade Cuba.
One interesting fact is that, unknown to the U.S. government at the time, 40,000 Soviet soldiers were stationed in Cuba and
armed with nuclear weapons. This information has only come to light recently when U.S. and Soviet files about the incident have
become declassified.
An ironic result of the crisis was that even though Khrushchev’s actions helped protect the world from nuclear war, they made him
look weak to younger Soviet leaders. He was removed from power.
12. What is the speaker’s main point? a. Thirteen days is not a long time.