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WorksheetsLetter from Birmingham Jail
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 12mins
Why does King write “Letter from Birmingham Jail”? Choose three options.
to occupy his time while he is waiting to be released from jail
to respond to well-intentioned criticism of the civil rights movement
to ask for volunteers who are supporters of the civil rights movement
to make his argument to everyone who will read the letter after its publication
to accuse the white clergy of Birmingham of secretly supporting black nationalists
According to “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” what is the main reason King and his followers are demonstrating and protesting in Birmingham, instead of negotiating with city leaders?
because King is affiliated with certain organizations in Birmingham
because King does not trust the white clergy to host fair negotiations
because a significant political election has just taken place in Birmingham
because Birmingham failed to keep promises made in earlier negotiations
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King cites T. S. Eliot’s observation about doing “the right deed for the wrong reason.” How does Eliot’s observation apply to actions that King describes in his letter?
It applies to the “Negro sit inners and demonstrators” who show amazing discipline in their nonviolent protests, even when they face great provocation.
It applies to those Birmingham police officers who show restraint in handling the demonstrators in public but treat them very harshly in the privacy of the city jail.
It applies to the seventy-two-year-old African American woman who supports the boycott of Montgomery’s segregated bus system even though she is tired and oppressed.
It applies to those Birmingham police officers who use legal, nonviolent means to handle demonstrators in public but do so to maintain the injustice of racial discrimination.
According to “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” why is King “so greatly disappointed with the white church and its leadership”?
King believes that the leaders have become entirely absorbed in secular rather than religious concerns.
King believes that the church has stolen and misused donations given by its poorest parishioners.
King believes that the leaders have not stood up boldly in support of civil rights.
King believes that the church has nothing relevant to offer to the youth of the 1960s.
According to “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” why does King feel some pride and satisfaction when he is criticized as an extremist?
He knows that many great leaders in history were extremists.
He knows that extremists are always violent and destructive.
He believes in extremism as an alternative to violence.
He believes in extremism as a guarantee of safety.
Which of the following situations best illustrates the meaning of yearning?
celebrating an achievement that represents long and patient effort
wishing for signs of springtime during the depths of an icy winter
picking up speed in a race when the finish line comes into view
taking a break from work to get a breath of fresh air outdoors
What is the meaning of idly in the following sentence?
Savannah gazed idly out the window, neglecting the book that lay open on her knee.
in a concentrated, fierce way
in a puzzled, confused way
in a cheerful, happy way
in a lazy, passive way
If Tasha decides to postpone an appointment with Katie, which of the following must be true? Base your answer on the meaning of postpone.
Tasha and Katie will meet at an earlier time than they had planned to do.
Tasha and Katie will meet at a later time than they had originally agreed.
Tasha and Katie decide to cancel the project they had considered.
Tasha and Katie change the agreed place of their appointment.
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” who is the “we” to whom King refers most clearly in this sentence?
We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America’s destiny.
African American
all patriotic Americans
the police force in Birmingham
"outside agitators" in Birmingham
In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King expresses discontent with the “moderates” who sympathize with but take no part in the civil rights struggle, saying:
Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
Which statement best explains why King would rather face outright opposition than “lukewarm acceptance”?
He believes that as long as the moderates stand passively aside, conditions cannot improve.
He believes that those who oppose the movement may persuade the moderates to join them.
He believes that because opposition is violent, it does much more harm than passive acceptance.
He believes that moderates who play no active role in the movement are secretly working against it.
Read this sentence from “Letter from Birmingham Jail”:
[T]here are two types of laws: just and unjust.
Which statement best describes the distinction King draws, in the letter, between two types of laws?
Just laws apply to deep-seated human prejudices, while unjust laws do not.
Just laws can realistically be enforced in actual life, while unjust laws cannot.
Just laws are rooted in universal principles of fairness, while unjust laws are not.
Just laws vary in harshness according to circumstances, while unjust laws do not.
Near the end of “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King says, “I have no despair about the future. I have no fear about the outcome of our struggle. . . .” Which statement best explains why King feels so certain of ultimate victory?
He senses that allies in other nations will soon rally to the cause of civil rights.
He believes that he and his followers are stronger than those who oppose them.
He knows that the civil rights movement is better funded than those who oppose them.
He knows that the size of the movement ensures that it can elect candidates who will abolish segregation.
Which of the following excerpts from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is an example of an allusion?
We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal.”
But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.
I wish you had commended the Negro sit inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation.
If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me.
Which of the following sentences from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is an example of antithesis?
My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking.
One of the basic points in your statement is that the action that I and my associates have taken in Birmingham is untimely.
My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure.
We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
Which of the following excerpts from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” contains an example of a rhetorical question?
In your statement you assert that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. . . . Isn’t this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery?
One of the basic points in your statement is that the action that I and my associates have taken in Birmingham is untimely. Some have asked: “Why didn’t you give the new city administration time to act?”
Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, “Wait.” But . . . when you have to concoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: “Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?’’ . . . then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.
. . . at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws. One may well ask: “How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?”
The word implacable contains the Latin prefix im-, which indicates “not” or “opposite.” Use this information and your knowledge of the Latin root -plac- to choose the correct definition of implacable.
unable to be calmed or pleased
unable to be content or happy
unable to be honest or straightforward
unable to be clever or strategic
The word placid contains the Latin root -plac-. Choose the character description that best illustrates the meaning of placid. Base your answer on your knowledge of the Latin root -plac-.
Rosa is always active and busy.
Jacob is always curt and abrupt.
Midori is always calm and smiling.
Keith is always witty and sarcastic.
Identify the relative pronoun in the following sentence.
This photograph shows all the students who attended the protest march last spring.
this
all
who
last
The following sentence contains an underlined relative clause. Which word from the sentence does the relative clause modify?
Ordinary people who were tired of being oppressed rose up against injustice in great numbers during the 1960s.
people
injustice
numbers
decade
Identify the relative clause in the following sentence.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who is a great American hero, is honored, long after his death, with a national holiday celebrated in January.
who is a great American hero
long after his death
with a national holiday
in January
In both “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and “I Have a Dream,” King makes specific references to “the American dream.” Given details in both selections, which of the following best sums up the American dream as King envisions it?
the duty of voting in democratic elections
the responsibility of repaying one’s just debts
the chance to earn enormous amounts of money
the opportunity to choose the course of one’s life
In “I Have a Dream,” King says that part of his purpose is “to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now.” “Letter from Birmingham Jail” also expresses the need to act swiftly on the issue of civil rights. According to details in both selections, which answer best explains why King feels that sweeping civil rights reform is an immediate need?
because he knows that recent Nazi war crimes against Jews have won sympathy for the movement
because he fears that the black nationalists will soon thrust nonviolent protest aside
because other peoples in the world are fighting for freedom and independence
because people have already been waiting for their rights for many decades
