WorksheetsA letter from Birmingham Jail
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 40mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
What is the argument in this letter?
a)
He was defending the laws already in place.
b)
He was fighting for woman's rights.
c)
Defending both his right and his moral grounds for organizing nonviolent protest activities in support of the civil rights of African Americans.
d)
He defends that view of breaking laws when those laws are unjust.
2.
In his opening paragraph, King says that he rarely pauses to answer criticisms, but he is replying to the clergymen because
a)
their actions were unwise and untimely.
b)
their letter shows them to be extremists.
c)
he believes them to be sincere and good.
d)
he wants his letter to bring about change.
3.
What is the basis for King’s argument against the idea that he is an outsider who came to Birmingham?
a)
He was born in Birmingham.
b)
He has organizational ties in Birmingham.
c)
He has many relatives in Birmingham.
d)
He went to college in Birmingham.
4.
King compares himself to early Christian prophets because they
a)
died fighting for their cause.
b)
did not submit to unjust laws.
c)
believed in civil disobedience.
d)
did not negotiate with enemies.
5.
What does King mean in lines 37–38 when he says, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”?
a)
All citizens are equally threatened by justice.
b)
Discrimination does not exist in rural areas.
c)
All laws are unfair and should be ignored.
d)
Everyone is affected when one person is hurt.
6.
According to King, the purpose of direct nonviolent action is to
a)
end the bombings of homes and churches.
b)
create tension so that people have to confront an issue.
c)
halt the activities of both merchants and consumers.
d)
draw the sympathy of the religious community and moderate whites.
7.
King uses the evidence that other nations are gaining political independence to argue against
a)
inhumane treatment.
b)
violent protests.
c)
Need for freedom and waiting for it.
d)
asking for compromise.
8.
What is a MORATORIUM?
a)
Release from restraint or inhibition
b)
A temporary prohibition of an activity
c)
A state of disorder due to lack of authority
d)
Concerned with practical matters
9.
What does COGNIZANT mean?
a)
Present.
b)
Aware.
c)
Relieved.
d)
Understood.
10.
To RETALIATE means to
a)
Take revenge.
b)
Provide clues.
c)
Move back.
d)
Seek justice.
11.
Martin Luther King, Jr. uses the image of “the valley” to represent
a)
justice
b)
bad times
c)
the future
d)
peace
12.
The main focus of Dr. King’s speech is
a)
getting more money for America’s black population
b)
convincing everyone to live in peace and tranquility
c)
celebrating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation
d)
ending segregation and racial injustice in America
13.
Martin Luther King, Jr. appeals mainly to his listeners’
a)
common sense
b)
desire for a better future
c)
sense of guilt
d)
concerns about America’s status among the world’s nations
14.
In “I Have a Dream”, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., urges his followers to
a)
work towards gradual change
b)
demand equality and justice now
c)
use any means necessary
d)
distrust white people
15.
Which repeated phrase in Dr. King’s speech has additional power because it is from a familiar patriotic song?
a)
“I have a dream”
b)
“Now is the time to”
c)
“One hundred years later”
d)
“Let freedom ring”
16.
Dr. King’s speech does not incorporate
a)
repeated phrases
b)
quotations from songs
c)
thanks to distinguished guests
d)
references to the Bible
17.
Dr. King is convinced that
a)
dreams rarely become reality
b)
the struggle must continue
c)
equality has been achieved
d)
justice is a privilege
18.
How did Dr. King appeal to his audience?
a)
He compared them to children
b)
He appealed to their sense of justice, fair play, and patriotism
c)
He reminded them of the homeland from which they have come
d)
He made them angry about their history by repeatedly referring to slavery
19.
Why did Dr. King quote “My country, ‘tis of thee”?
a)
To make a patriotic appeal to his audience
b)
To introduce his quote from the Pledge of Allegiance
c)
o get everyone in the mood to hear his thoughts on politics
d)
To balance out the Bible verses he previously used with some non-religious references
20.
Toward the end of the speech, in the paragraphs beginning with the now-famous phrase "I have a dream," Dr. King mentions certain members of his own family. Why does he do this?
a)
To connect with his audience as a fellow parent and have them think of their own children
b)
To show everyone how well he has raised his children
c)
o get the white members of the audience to feel guilty for how they treated his children
d)
To have a reason to bring his children to the speech
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