Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have A Dream" Speech

Name

Part A In the phrase "America has given the Negro people a bad check," what is the primary purpose of King's extended financial metaphor? (8D)

• To criticize the banking system in the United States
• To demand monetary reparations for African Americans
• To illustrate the unfulfilled promises of equality in America
• To confuse the audience with complex economic terminology

Part B How does King's use of the phrase "insufficient funds" contribute to the effectiveness of his argument? (7Ei)

• It oversimplifies the complex issue of civil rights
• It creates a vivid metaphor for unfulfilled promises
• It alienates audience members who are not familiar with banking
• It suggests that the solution to racial inequality is purely economic

Part A In the phrase "a state sweltering with the heat of injustice," what is the effect of the word "sweltering"? (8D)

• It creates a vivid image of the oppressive conditions
• It downplays the severity of racial inequality
• It suggests that the weather is very hot in Mississippi
• It implies that injustice will soon evaporate

Part B How does King's use of vivid imagery in the phrase "sweltering with the heat of oppression" contribute to the mood of the speech? (8D)

• It creates a sense of urgency and highlights the severity of racial injustice
• It suggests that racial problems will eventually evaporate like heat
• It implies that the weather is the main cause of social unrest
• It lightens the mood by using a playful metaphor

What is the primary purpose of Dr. King's repetition of the phrase "I have a dream" in this passage? (8D)

• To create a poetic rhythm in his speech
• To emphasize his personal aspirations
• To reinforce his vision for racial equality
• To challenge the audience's beliefs

Which of the following best describes Dr. King's main argument in this excerpt? (Choose TWO) (7Ei)

• America should live up to its founding principles
• Racial harmony is possible and desirable
• Children will always be judged by their appearance
• The government should enforce racial segregation
• Character is less important than skin color

If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech “I Have A Dream” was meant to empower and persuade, who was his intended audience? (8A)

• Both U.S. government officials and international leaders and diplomats
• Both those in attendance and those at home who may disagree
• Both Dr. King’s family and a racially diverse crowd of 250,000 people
• None of the above

How does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s use of parallelism in the repetition of the phrase "I have a dream" enhance the overall impact of his speech? (8D)

• It creates a musical quality that distracts from the seriousness of the message.
• It emphasizes the speaker's personal desires without connecting to the audience.
• It reinforces the collective vision of racial equality and unity, making the message more memorable and powerful.
• It introduces a variety of unrelated ideas, making the speech less cohesive.

Consider the repeated structure in the phrase "Let freedom ring." How does this use of parallelism contribute to Dr. King's argument for racial equality? (8D)

• It trivializes the call for freedom by making it sound like a simple slogan
• It creates a rhythmic and unifying call to action that resonates with diverse audiences across the nation.
• It focuses solely on the geographical aspects of the United States, ignoring the social issues.
• It complicates the speech by introducing too many locations, confusing the audience about the main message.