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G9 Q3 T1 Review

Total questions: 37

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why does King write “Letter from Birmingham Jail”? Choose THREE options.

a)

to occupy his time while he is waiting to be released from jail

b)

to present his case to a lawyer who may get him out of jail

c)

to accuse the white clergy of Birmingham of secretly supporting black nationalists

d)

to make his argument to everyone who will read the letter after its publication

e)

to respond to well-intentioned criticism of the civil rights movement

2.

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?

a)

Because King is affiliated with certain organizations in Birmingham

b)

Because he does not trust the white clergy to host fair negotiations

c)

Because a significant political election had just taken place

d)

Because Birmingham failed to keep promises in earlier negotiations

3.

According to “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” why is King “so greatly disappointed with the white church and its leadership”?

a)

King believes that the leaders have become entirely absorbed in secular rather than religious concerns.

b)

King believes that the church has stolen and misused donations given by its poorest parishioners.

c)

King believes that the leaders have not stood up boldly in support of civil rights.

d)

King believes that the church has nothing relevant to offer to the youth of the 1960s.

4.

According to “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” why does King feel some pride and satisfaction when he is criticized as an extremist?

a)

He knows that many great leaders in history were extremists.

b)

He knows that extremists are always violent and destructive.

c)

He believes in extremism as an alternative to violence.

d)

He believes in extremism as a guarantee of safety.

5.

Which of the following situations best illustrates the meaning of yearning?

a)

celebrating an achievement that represents long and patient effort

b)

wishing for signs of springtime during the depths of an icy winter

c)

picking up speed in a race when the finish line comes into view

d)

taking a break from work to get a breath of fresh air outdoors

6.

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.

a)

in a concentrated, fierce way

b)

in a puzzled, confused way

c)

in a cheerful, happy way

d)

in a lazy, passive way

7.

If Tasha decides to postpone an appointment with Katie, which of the following must be true? Base your answer on the meaning of postpone.

a)

Tasha and Katie will meet at an earlier time than they had planned to do.

b)

Tasha and Katie will meet at a later time than they had originally agreed.

c)

Tasha and Katie decide to cancel the project they had considered.

d)

Tasha and Katie change the agreed place of their appointment.

8.

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.

a)

African Americans

b)

all patriotic Americans

c)

the police force in Birmingham

d)

“outside agitators” in Birmingham

9.

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” King expresses discontent with the “moderates” who sympathize with but take no part in the civil rights struggle.

Which statement best explains why King would rather face outright opposition than “lukewarm acceptance”?

a)

He believes that as long as the moderates stand passively aside, conditions cannot improve.

b)

He believes that those who oppose the movement may persuade the moderates to join them.

c)

He believes that because opposition is violent, it does much more harm than passive acceptance.

d)

He believes that moderates who play no active role in the movement are secretly working against it.

10.

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?

a)

Just laws apply to deep-seated human prejudices, while unjust laws do not.

b)

Just laws can realistically be enforced in actual life, while unjust laws cannot.

c)

Just laws are rooted in universal principles of fairness, while unjust laws are not.

d)

Just laws vary in harshness according to circumstances, while unjust laws do not.

11.

Which excerpt from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” best supports the answer to Part A?

a)

Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court’s decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, at first glance it may seem rather paradoxical for us consciously to break laws.

b)

Segregation . . . substitutes an “I it” relationship for an “I thou” relationship and ends up relegating persons to the status of things. Hence segregation is not only politically, economically and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful.

c)

For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade.

d)

I hope you are able to see the distinction I am trying to point out. In no sense do I advocate evading or defying the law, as would the rabid segregationist. That would lead to anarchy.

12.

Which of the following excerpts from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is an example of an allusion?

a)

We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal.”

b)

But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends.

c)

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

13.

Identify the relative pronoun in the following sentence. This photograph shows all the students who attended the protest march last spring.

a)

this

b)

all

c)

who

d)

last

14.

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.

a)

people

b)

injustice

c)

numbers

d)

decade

15.

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.

a)

who is a great American hero

b)

long after his death

c)

with a national holiday

d)

in January

16.

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?

a)

the duty of voting in democratic elections

b)

the responsibility of repaying one’s just debts

c)

the chance to earn enormous amounts of money

d)

the opportunity to choose the course of one’s life

17.

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?

a)

because he knows that recent Nazi war crimes against Jews have won sympathy for the movement

b)

because he fears that the black nationalists will soon thrust nonviolent protest aside

c)

because other peoples in the world are fighting for freedom and independence

d)

because people have already been waiting for their rights for many decades

18.

Which of the following is an example of a rhetorical question?

a)

Isn't this like condemning a robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery?

b)

Why didn't you give the new city administration time to act?

c)

... for a five year old who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"

d)

How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?

19.

What is the best definition of IMPLACABLE?

a)

unable to be calmed or pleased

b)

unable to be content or happy

c)

unable to be honest or straightforward

d)

unable to be clever or strategic

20.

What is the best character description of PLACID?

a)

Rosa is always active and busy

b)

Jacob is always curt and abrupt

c)

Midori is always calm and smiling

d)

Keith is always witty and sarcastic

21.

Does King feel certain about the "ultimate victory" for African Americans? Why?

a)

Yes; He believes him and his followers are stronger than those who oppose them

b)

Yes; He knows that the civil rights movement is better funded than those who oppose them

c)

No; He senses that allies in other nations will soon stop the fight

d)

No; He is worried about newly elected candidates

22.

What is an antithesis?

a)

A rhetorical device that speaks about contrasting ideas.

b)
A type of insect found in nature.
c)
A literary device that emphasizes a single idea.
d)
A method of organizing a speech or essay.
23.

Which of the following is an example of an antithesis?

a)

We know that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed

b)

My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking

c)

One of the basic points is the action that I and my associates have taken in Birmingham is untimely

d)

We have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure

24.

King cites T.S. Elliot's observation in doing "the right deed for the wrong reason".

How does this observation apply to the actions King described in his letter?

a)

Applies to the "Negro sit inners and demonstrators" who show amazing discipline in their nonviolent protests.

b)

Applies to those Birmingham police officers who treat demonstrators harshly in jail.

c)

Applies to the 72 year old African American woman who supports the segregated bus system even though she is oppressed

d)

Applies to the police officers who use legal, nonviolent means but do so to maintain the injustice of discrimination

25.
King references the Emancipation Proclamation and Constitution
a)
allusion
b)
metaphor
c)
audience
d)
purpose
26.
What main problem does MLK address in the "I Have a Dream" speech?
a)
African Americans still do not have the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and Declaration of Independence
b)
African Americans do not have the same religious freedom as other groups
c)
African Americans have more rights than whites and are discriminating against them
d)
No one reads the speeches of Abraham Lincoln anymore
27.
"Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice."
a)
historical allusion
b)
metaphor
c)
effect
d)
simile
28.
What IS King's dream?
a)
equality
b)
wealth
c)
injustice
d)
faith
29.
Which of the following is NOT a phrase King repeats?
a)
"Let freedom ring"
b)
"I have a dream"
c)
"Go back to . . ."
d)
"Always march ahead"
30.

Words in context: Meaning cruel or unjust treatment

a)

Oppression

b)

Hallowed

c)

Redemptive

d)

Exalted

31.

Words in context: Meaning to lift up; elevate

a)

Oppression

b)

Hallowed

c)

Redemptive

d)

Exalted

32.

Words in context: Meaning serving to deliver from sorrow; make amends; pay back

a)

Oppression

b)

Hallowed

c)

Redemptive

d)

Exalted

33.

Words in context: Meaning great trouble; misery

a)

Tribulation

b)

Prosperity

c)

Hallowed

d)

Exalted

34.

Words in context: Meaning good fortune; success

a)

Hallowed

b)

Oppression

c)

Redemptive

d)

Prosperity

35.

Words in context: Meaning holy; sacred

a)

Hallowed

b)

Oppression

c)

Redemptive

d)

Prosperity

36.

What dream does Dr. King have for his four children?

a)

To become the next President of the United States

b)

To become Civil Rights Leaders

c)

To Sing "Let Freedom Ring"

d)

To be judged, not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character

37.

About how much time passed between the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and Dr. King's speech?

a)

5

b)

20

c)

100

d)

150