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"Letter From Birmingham Jail" (up to para 30)

Total questions: 11

Worksheet time: 11mins

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.

King believes that resentment and frustration over racism should be channeled into...

a)

non-violent direct action.

b)

violent protest.

c)

religious belief.

d)

political discussions.

3.

Why is King disappointed in the white moderate?

a)

Because they hold the same values at the KKK

b)

Because they prefer peace void of tension and favor order overall

c)

Because they fail to understand the complexity of injustice and want the status quo to remain

d)

Because they simply disagree with his actions

4.

In paragraph 24, King notes that "...they [white moderates] fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress". Identify the rhetorical device present above.

a)

Simile

b)

Metaphor

c)

Juxtaposition

d)

Irony

5.

"Like the boil that can never be cured" in paragraph 24 is a simile. What does the "boil" relate to (compare)?

a)

Justice

b)

Injustice

c)

tension

d)

national opinion

6.

What is the "tragic misconception of time" King discusses in paragraph 26?

a)

that time is both constructive and destructive

b)

that time acts independently

c)

that time is neutral

d)

that time will solve injustice

7.

"We need to emulate neither the "do nothingism" of the complacent". "Do nothingism", in context, means

a)

to be lazy

b)

to do nothing

c)

an established disposition

d)

all of the above

8.

What two forces does King see himself in the middle of?

a)

a rock and a hard place

b)

complacency and hatred

c)

violence and nonviolence

d)

Christianity and atheism

9.

In paragraph 29, King notes that __________ has saved the South from "flowing with blood".

a)

complacency

b)

accepting injustice

c)

Bull Turner

d)

nonviolence

10.

"Consciously or unconsciously, he has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with his black brothers of Africa and his brown and yellow brothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean..." in paragraph 30 is a/an

a)

metaphor

b)

allusion

c)

anecodote

d)

appeal to logos

11.

What is the overall argument in King's 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.