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

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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

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CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

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

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

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

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

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

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

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

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

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

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

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

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.8.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

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.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

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.

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3