I've Been to the Mountaintop Study Skills

vacillating

Definition: alternating between two choices or decisions Sample Sentence: The vacillating dog could not decide between being pet or playing fetch.

Question 9 Match the vocabulary word to its corresponding definition.

A long journey, typically on foot > trek Events marking new stages in a changing situation > developments Wavering between different opinions; being indecisive > vacillating A series of steps done in a particular order to achieve a specific desired result > process Something people draw on or depend upon for support > base

(Skill Lesson - Central or Main Idea) Question 2 What is the central idea of King's closing paragraph? A. That regardless of what happens next, Dr. King has seen what could be and has faith in God that one day African Americans will achieve equality. B. That the Promised Land is a place all African Americans will get to no matter what as King has already been there. C. That African Americans should come together to make the world a better place. D. That nothing matters to Dr. King now as he has been to the mountaintop and feels that he is now free.

A. That regardless of what happens next, Dr. King has seen what could be and has faith in God that one day African Americans will achieve equality. Correct. The central idea of this passage is King's uplifting vision of freedom and equality for all as well as a belief that all of us will get to the Promised Land, with or without him.

Question 7 What is most closely the central idea of the passage below (paragraph 36)? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. A. The speaker suggests that he may not to live to see the day that African Americans experience true equality but he feels confident that justice will prevail. B. The speaker visited Mt. Nebo during his travels to the Middle East and from the summit he viewed the Promised Land. C. The speaker doesn't know how the sanitation workers' strike will come out. D. The speaker want to live a long life, so he is retiring from the Civil Rights movement.

A. The speaker suggests that he may not to live to see the day that African Americans experience true equality but he feels confident that justice will prevail. Correct. The speaker references the biblical story of Moses on Mt. Nebo to say that even though he may not be there to see it, the movement will reach its goal.

Question 2 What is most likely the reason the speaker included the following passage (paragraph 12) in his speech? The issue is the refusal of Memphis to be fair and honest in its dealings with its public servants, who happen to be sanitation workers. Now we've got to keep attention on that. That's always the problem with a little violence. You know what happened the other day, and the press dealt only with the window breaking? A. To show that violence causes a detrimental distraction from the issue at hand. B. To commend the local press for covering the strike as thoroughly as possible under the circumstances. C. To suggest that the window breaking is not that big of a deal. D. To inform the audience that the press is untrustworthy.

A. To show that violence causes a detrimental distraction from the issue at hand. Correct. He is explaining that whenever violence is involved, the violence itself becomes the story and attention to the larger issue get obscured.

Question 1 Which of the following sentences best summarizes the speaker's reason for choosing "a few years in the second half of the Twentieth Century" as the time he would want to live if given the choice? A. In the second half of the Twentieth Century the world was a terribly messed up place full of trouble and confusion. B. During this period, King says he could see God at work in people's lives in the way they were rising up and proclaiming a desire for freedom and justice. C. Airplane travel was becoming more common and the speaker wanted to visit Johannesburg, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; and New York City, among other destinations. D. The speaker had an interest in astronomy and the evenings were so dark during this time that the stars appeared brighter.

B. During this period, King says he could see God at work in people's lives in the way they were rising up and proclaiming a desire for freedom and justice. Correct. The speaker says, "I see God working in this period [. . . ] in a way that men [. . .] are responding." He comments on how oppressed peoples across the world are rising up and saying, "We want to be free."

(Skill Lesson - Central or Main Idea) Question 1 How does sharing the threats he has received in this passage help King add to one of the central ideas of the text? A. It helps the reader understand that Dr. King is grave danger and could be harmed. B. It strengthens his argument that the path to equality won't be easy, but that it is worth it. C. It builds on the themes of unity and opportunity even in times of instability. D. It helps strengthen his argument that equal rights should be granted to all Americans.

B. It strengthens his argument that the path to equality won't be easy, but that it is worth it. Correct. This does support a central idea of the text as King makes it clear that the fight is not over and will take unity, determination, and sacrifice.

(Skill Lesson - Rhetoric) Question 1 The speaker repeats the phrase "I wouldn't stop there" seven times in paragraphs 3-6. This rhetorical device is called — A. the rhetorical appeal known as pathos. B. anaphora. C. rhetorical shift. D. antithesis.

B. anaphora. Correct. The rhetorical device is anaphora, which repeats a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

Question 4 What is most closely the definition of process as it is used in the passage below (paragraph 22)? We are choosing these companies because they haven't been fair in their hiring policies; and we are choosing them because they can begin the process of saying they are going to support the needs and the rights of these men who are on strike. And then they can move downtown and tell Mayor Loeb to do what is right. A. noun | a summons, writ, or mandate requiring a person to appear in court B. noun | a series of steps followed in order to achieve a specific goal C. noun | a series of interdependent operations executed by a computer D. noun | a natural, involuntary phenomenon in which gradual ongoing changes lead to a particular result

B. noun | a series of steps followed in order to achieve a specific goal Correct. The word in this context means a series of actions taken to ensure a goal, in this case ending to discriminatory employment practices

Question 8 Which passage from the text best supports the correct answer to Question 7? A. "Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead." B. "He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land." C. "I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land." D. "I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now."

C. "I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land." Correct. In this passage, the speaker proclaims that "we, as a people, will get to the promised land," but that "I may not get there with you."

(Skill Lesson - Rhetoric) Question 3 The speaker says, "But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars." Why does the speaker use the rhetorical device evident in this sentence? A. He uses it to change the audience's focus from the historic times he mentioned to the importance of the march that is to take place the next day. B. He uses it as a way to logically defend the troubled times in the United States and around the world. C. He uses it to help convince the audience to fight for civil rights by describing a figurative contrast between keeping hope in the troubled times they live in. D. He uses it to provide proof that nonviolent protests are not always effective and therefore not necessary.

C. He uses it to help convince the audience to fight for civil rights by describing a figurative contrast between keeping hope in the troubled times they live in. Correct. King contrasts "only when it is dark enough" and "can you see the stars," a device called antithesis, to tell the audience in a powerful and memorable way what he knows can emerge from a dark time in human history.

Question 5 Which of the following inferences is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 34)? And they were telling me, now, it doesn't matter, now. It really doesn't matter what happens now. I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us, the pilot said over the public address system, "We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane. And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong on the plane, we had to check out everything carefully. And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night." A. The weather in Atlanta had been very stormy, so the speaker's flight was delayed. B. The plane was having mechanical problems that delayed the flight. C. Threats had been made against the speaker necessitating extra precautions before the flight. D. The speaker and his five travelling companions were late so they held the flight for them causing a delay.

C. Threats had been made against the speaker necessitating extra precautions before the flight. Correct. The pilot says that in addition to checking the plane carefully, it was also "protected" and "guarded all night" implying that there had been a threat.

Question 6 Which sentence from the text best supports the correct answer to Question 5? A. "It really doesn't matter what happens now." B. "I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us, the pilot said over the public address system, 'We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane.'" C. "'And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong on the plane, we had to check out everything carefully.'" D. "'And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night.'"

D. "'And we've had the plane protected and guarded all night.'" Correct. The fact that the plane was protected and guarded all night is the key indicator that the speaker had been threatened.

trek

Definition: a long and difficult walk or journey Sample Sentence: The trek up the mountain will last four hours so be sure to bring lots of water.

Question 10 Order these events chronologically as they take place in the speech.

First > King says that if he was given the choice to live in any time in history he would choose to live in the second half of the Twentieth Century. Second > King discusses the success of nonviolent protests in Alabama even in the face of Bull Connor's violent tactics. Third > King says that there is an injunction against the upcoming marchers in Memphis but that the First Amendment protects the freedom of assembly so the injunction is unconstitutional. Fourth > King relates the parable of the Good Samaritan in order to encourage the audience to put aside their personal fears and help those who are suffering.

detail

Meaning: a fact, a description, an example, or a reason that further explains a key idea

supporting idea

Meaning: a focused explanation or argument that helps develop the central idea

rhetorical device

Meaning: a writing or speaking technique that helps to make arguments more persuasive

rhetoric

Meaning: the art of speaking and writing persuasively

central idea

Meaning: the most important point that an author makes about a topic in a text

topic

Meaning: the subject of a text, usually expressed as a single word or phrase in the form of a noun

analyze

Meaning: to examine the parts of something in detail

(Skill Lesson - Rhetoric) Question 2 Which statement best describes the effect of the rhetorical device in Question 1 on how the passage is read and understood? A. It powerfully calls attention to the progress of human history while creating a personal connection between the speaker and his audience that is intended to convince listeners that remarkable progress is yet to come right there in Memphis. B. It reveals that the speaker will soon move on and that the people must commit to carrying on his nonviolent approach to reaching equality for all. C. It alerts listeners to the fact that the speaker knows a lot about history and they should be honored that he has come back to Memphis to help fight for workers' rights and civil rights nationwide. D. It tells listeners that they should be wary of participating in marches or protests as they are likely to be part of only one small moment in history.

A. It powerfully calls attention to the progress of human history while creating a personal connection between the speaker and his audience that is intended to convince listeners that remarkable progress is yet to come right there in Memphis. Correct. Each of the seven repetitions of the phrase emphasizes achievements in human history, thus persuading listeners of progress that can be made. The repetition also creates a personal connection between King, and his audience, which further convinces the audience of the importance of the upcoming events in Memphis.

Question 3 The following passage (paragraph 20) mainly shows that _________. Now the other thing we'll have to do is this. Always anchor our external direct action with the power of economic withdrawal. Now, we are poor people. Individually, we are poor when you compare us with white society in America. We are poor. Never stop and forget, that collectively, that means all of us together, collectively, we are richer than all the nations in the world, with the exception of nine. Did you ever think about that? After you leave the United States, Soviet Russia, Great Britain, West Germany, France, and I could name the others, the American Negro collectively is richer than most nations of the world. We have an annual income of more than thirty billion dollars a year, which is more than all of the exports of the United States, and more than the national budget of Canada. Did you know that? That's power right there, if we know how to pool it. A. the speaker thinks that African Americans are too poor to effect change B. individually, African Americans would make more money if they lived in Canada C. the speaker makes thirty billion dollars a year D. as a group, African Americans have significant monetary power which can be exercised by using economic boycotts as a means of protest

D. as a group, African Americans have significant monetary power which can be exercised by using economic boycotts as a means of protest Correct. The speaker points out that, collectively, African Americans control thirty billion dollars of the American economy and that a strategic, unified withdrawal of spending on certain goods should be used to inflict losses on businesses that engage in discriminatory practices.

process

Definition: a series of actions that lead to a desired result Sample Sentence: Making a campfire is a more difficult process than people think.

development

Definition: a significant event or consequence, often relevant to the present situation Sample Sentence: A new development in the investigation gave us hope that we would soon find the culprit.

base

Definition: a support or foundation Sample Sentence: The base of our new home was built on cement, but it would have been nice if it had a basement.