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Midterm Review: Letter from Birmingham

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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.

2.

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.

3.

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.

4.

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.

5.

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.

6.

King uses the evidence that other nations are gaining political independence to argue against

a)

inhumane treatment.

b)

violent protests.

c)

waiting for freedom.

d)

asking for compromise.

7.

What does cognizant mean?

a)

present

b)

aware

c)

relieved

d)

understood

8.

Which persuasive appeal is King utilizing when he refers to his religious affiliations?

a)

Pathos (emotion)

b)

Ethos (authority)

c)

Logos (logic)

d)

Eggos (breakfast)

9.
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.
10.
 Why was Martin Luther King arrested and put in jail?
a)
He refused to pay income taxes. 
b)
The U.S. President felt threatened by his actions.  
c)
He participated in illegal fundraising.  
d)
He instructed people to disobey unjust laws.  
11.
What is an allusion?
a)
something you see out of focus
b)
something that is seen but not real
c)
a reference to something else
d)
an exaggeration of principal
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.
"Are you able to except blows without retaliating?" is an example of which rhetorical device?
a)
metaphor
b)
allusion
c)
rhetorical question
d)
ethos
14.
"But when you have seen vicious mob lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers on a whim..." is an example of...
a)
parallelism
b)
logos
c)
pathos
d)
ethos
15.

evoking emotion, especially pity or sadness, in the audience or reader

a)

pathos

b)

ethos

c)

allusion

d)

point of view

16.
To whom is the Letter from Birmingham Jail addressed?
a)
ministers who criticized King's efforts
b)
whites who arrested King for no reason
c)
his coworkers in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
d)
his wife and his lawyer
17.
"when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has been advertised on television"
a)
pathos
b)
ethos
c)
metaphor
d)
allusion
18.

"Let us all hope that . . . in the not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty."

a)

metaphor

b)

allusion

c)

direct action

d)

pathos