Early that morning, a young, blue-eyed detective in a beige coat stood in the open doorway of the motel room, closing an umbrella. A policeman friend had secretly allowed the detective to enter the room with the understanding that nothing would be touched. Though this restriction made the job more difficult, the confident detective knew that well-trained eyes could find a lot of clues on their own. Suddenly, the detective was nearly knocked off balance by a muddy dog chasing a black cat into the room. By the time the cat and dog ran outside, the detective knew that there was an embarrassing phone call to make. The day was off to a bad start.

Select the correct answer.
Which of the following events does not happen in the passage?
A.
A black cat is chased by a muddy dog
B.
A detective looks for clues in a motel room
C.
A detective is nearly knocked off balance

each year on this day, i make it a point to listen to dr. martin luther king jr.’s great “i have a dream” speech. it’s electrifying every single time.

the content of dr. king’s speech, his inspiring presence, and the moment in history all came together to make the iconic “i have a dream” speech the defining moment of the american civil rights movement. but there are several other reasons why this speech, delivered over 50 years ago, remains an example of one of the best speeches in american history.

since part of my job is to people become better presenters, i’ve noticed several techniques that we can all learn from and be inspired by in this magnificent speech.

it’s anchored in a powerful related location

in most cases, you can’t handpick the spot to give a presentation, as mlk did for supreme symbolic effect when he stood on the steps of the lincoln memorial and echoed the opening words of the gettysburg address (“five score years ago . . ). but you absolutely can amplify your message by adapting it to your setting and location.