Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation

Emmett Till’s death felt personal to author John Lewis mainly because

• he knew Emmett Till and was present when Till was killed

• he became involved in politics because of Emmett Till

• they were both young Black men

• it was very shocking, public news

Which of the following inferences is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 3)?

Emmett Till was my George Floyd. He was my Rayshard Brooks, Sandra Bland and Breonna Taylor. He was 14 when he was killed, and I was only 15 years old at the time.

• Tragedies fueled by racism have been occurring in America for generations.

• Lewis thinks Americans should talk more about Emmett Till.

• Lewis knew the men and women whose names he cites personally.

• The deaths of George Floyd and Emmett Till were entirely unique.

The tone of Lewis’s essay is best described as _____, because _____.

• hopeful; most of the problems he mentions have been solved

• pessimistic; younger activists are not as invested as activists of his generation were

• hopeful; he is inspired by the passion of young activists

• pessimistic; society’s problems are clearly too difficult to overcome

The central idea or theme of Lewis’s essay is mainly

• the impossibility of real, lasting change

• passing the torch from one generation to the next

• the terror of contemplating one’s mortality

• a critique of the U.S. banking system

Which inference about John Lewis is best supported by the following passage (paragraph 5)?

Like so many young people today, I was searching for a way out, or some might say a way in, and then I heard the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on an old radio. He was talking about the philosophy and discipline of nonviolence. He said we are all complicit when we tolerate injustice. He said it is not enough to say it will get better by and by. He said each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out. When you see something that is not right, you must say something. You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself.

• Lewis wished that Martin Luther King Jr. would have spoken more about democracy.

• Martin Luther King Jr.’s message failed to resonate with Lewis until he was much older.

• Lewis was inspired to surpass Dr. King as a civil rights leader.

• Lewis found wisdom, guidance, and leadership at a pivotal time in his life.

Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to the previous question?

• “Like so many young people today, I was searching for a way out, or some might say a way in, and then I heard the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on an old radio.”

• “He said each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out.”

• “Democracy is not a state.”

• “It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself.”

Based on the passage below (paragraph 6), with which of the following statements about voting would Lewis most likely agree?

Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.

• Ordinary citizens must avoid getting in too much trouble over political matters.

• The minimum voting age should be lowered to include teenagers and children.

• Voting in annual elections should be required and punishable by law.

• There are some who do not wish for voting rights to extend to all citizens.

Which selection from the passage best supports the correct answer to the previous question about voting?

• “Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.”

• “The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society.”

• “Voting and participating in the democratic process are key.”

• “You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.”