A letter from Birmingham Jail

1.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What is the argument in this letter?

He was defending the laws already in place.

He was fighting for woman's rights.

Defending both his right and his moral grounds for organizing nonviolent protest activities in support of the civil rights of African Americans.

He defends that view of breaking laws when those laws are unjust.

2.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

In his opening paragraph, King says that he rarely pauses to answer criticisms, but he is replying to the clergymen because

their actions were unwise and untimely.

their letter shows them to be extremists.

he believes them to be sincere and good.

he wants his letter to bring about change.

3.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What is the basis for King’s argument against the idea that he is an outsider who came to Birmingham?

He was born in Birmingham.

He has organizational ties in Birmingham.

He has many relatives in Birmingham.

He went to college in Birmingham.

4.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

King compares himself to early Christian prophets because they

died fighting for their cause.

did not submit to unjust laws.

believed in civil disobedience.

did not negotiate with enemies.

5.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What does King mean in lines 37–38 when he says, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”?

All citizens are equally threatened by justice.

Discrimination does not exist in rural areas.

All laws are unfair and should be ignored.

Everyone is affected when one person is hurt.

6.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

According to King, the purpose of direct nonviolent action is to

end the bombings of homes and churches.

create tension so that people have to confront an issue.

halt the activities of both merchants and consumers.

draw the sympathy of the religious community and moderate whites.

7.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

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

inhumane treatment.

violent protests.

Need for freedom and waiting for it.

asking for compromise.

8.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What is a MORATORIUM?

Release from restraint or inhibition

A temporary prohibition of an activity

A state of disorder due to lack of authority

Concerned with practical matters

9.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

What does COGNIZANT mean?

Present.

Aware.

Relieved.

Understood.

10.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

To RETALIATE means to

Take revenge.

Provide clues.

Move back.

Seek justice.

11.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Martin Luther King, Jr. uses the image of “the valley” to represent

justice

bad times

the future

peace

12.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

The main focus of Dr. King’s speech is

getting more money for America’s black population

convincing everyone to live in peace and tranquility

celebrating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation

ending segregation and racial injustice in America

13.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Martin Luther King, Jr. appeals mainly to his listeners’

common sense

desire for a better future

sense of guilt

concerns about America’s status among the world’s nations

14.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

In “I Have a Dream”, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., urges his followers to

work towards gradual change

demand equality and justice now

use any means necessary

distrust white people

15.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Which repeated phrase in Dr. King’s speech has additional power because it is from a familiar patriotic song?

“I have a dream”

“Now is the time to”

“One hundred years later”

“Let freedom ring”

16.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Dr. King’s speech does not incorporate

repeated phrases

quotations from songs

thanks to distinguished guests

references to the Bible

17.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Dr. King is convinced that

dreams rarely become reality

the struggle must continue

equality has been achieved

justice is a privilege

18.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

How did Dr. King appeal to his audience?

He compared them to children

He appealed to their sense of justice, fair play, and patriotism

He reminded them of the homeland from which they have come

He made them angry about their history by repeatedly referring to slavery

19.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

Why did Dr. King quote “My country, ‘tis of thee”?

To make a patriotic appeal to his audience

To introduce his quote from the Pledge of Allegiance

o get everyone in the mood to hear his thoughts on politics

To balance out the Bible verses he previously used with some non-religious references

20.

Multiple Choice

2 mins

1 pt

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?

To connect with his audience as a fellow parent and have them think of their own children

To show everyone how well he has raised his children

o get the white members of the audience to feel guilty for how they treated his children

To have a reason to bring his children to the speech

21.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

READ THE EXCERPT AND THEN SELECT THE CORRECT ANSWER.
"I HOPE YOU SEE THE DISTINCTION I AM TRYING TO POINT OUT."
CHOOSE THE WORD THAT WOULD BEST REPLACE THE WORD DISTINCTION AS IT IS USED IN THE ORIGINAL SENTENCE FROM THE TEXT.

DIFFERENCE

SAMENESS

LIKENESS

UNITY

22.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

HOW DID DR. KING USE THE 17TH PARAGRAPH TO HELP DEVELOP THE IDEA OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE?

HE JUST LISTED EXAMPLES OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

HE GIVES A HISTORY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE THROUGH THE USE OF ALLUSION.

HE EXPLAINS WHY HE BELIEVES THAT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IS WRONG.

HE DISCUSSES ONLY BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS TO EXPLAIN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

23.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

How does the author develop the central idea that the WHITE MODERATE IS MORE A STUMBLING BLOCK THAN THE KLAN throughout PARAGRAPH 19?

BY EXPLAINING HOW WHITE MODERATES ARE HOLDING THE MOVEMENT BACK

BY PRAISING THE KLAN FOR BEING OUT IN THE OPEN WITH THEIR RACISM.

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