Savvas Realize Unit 3 Selection Test - Letter From Birmingham Jail

10. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A 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"? 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.

A

13. 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 in the midst of great provocation. D. If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me.

A

15. Which of the following excerpts from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" contains an example of a rhetorical question? A. 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? B. 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?" C. 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. D. ... 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?"

A

16. 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. 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

A

19. 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

A

20. 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

A

5. 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.

A

9. 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." A. African Americans B. All patriotic Americans C. The police force in Birmingham D. "Outside agitators" in Birmingham

A

Part B Which excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" best supports the answer to Part A? A. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men. B. At first I was rather disappointed that fellow clergymen would see my nonviolent efforts as those of an extremist. C. I have tried to stand between these two forces, saying that we need emulate neither the "do nothingism" of the complacent nor the hatred and despair of the black nationalist. D. If one recognizes this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place.

A

6. 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

B

8. 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.

B

Part B 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.

B

Part B Which excerpt from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" best supports the answer to Part A? A. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity. B. Their witness has been the spiritual salt that has preserved the true meaning of the gospel in these troubled times. They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment. C. For more than two centuries our forebears labored in this country without wages . and yet out of a bottomless vitality they continued to thrive and develop. If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. D. Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.

B

1. Why does King write "Letter from Birmingham Jail"? Choose three options. A. To present his case to a lawyer who may get him out of jail B. To occupy his time while he is waiting to be released from jail C. To respond to well-intentioned criticism of the civil rights movement D. To propose a peaceful settlement with the white police force of the city E. To ask for volunteers who are supporters of the civil rights movement F. To make his argument to everyone who will read the letter after its publication G. To accuse the white clergy of Birmingham of secretly supporting black nationalists

B - C - F

11. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A 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.

C

12. The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Part A 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? A. He senses that allies in other nations will soon rally to the cause of civil rights. B. He believes that he and his followers are stronger than those who oppose them. C. He knows that the civil rights movement is better funded than those who oppose them. D. He knows that the size of the movement ensures that it can elect candidates who will abolish segregation.

C

17. 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-. 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.

C

18. 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

C

4. 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.

C

14. Which of the following sentences from "Letter from Birmingham Jail" is an example of antithesis? A. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking. B. One of the basic points in your statement is that the action that I and my associates have taken in Birmingham is untimely. C. My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure. D. We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

D

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 King does not trust the white clergy to host fair negotiations C. Because a significant political election has just taken place in Birmingham D. Because Birmingham failed to keep promises made in earlier negotiations

D

21. 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

D

22. 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

D

3. 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? A. It applies to the "Negro sit inners and demonstrators" who show amazing discipline in their nonviolent protests, even when they face great provocation. B. 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. C. 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. D. 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.

D

7. 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

D