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Martin Luther King Jr. Reading

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Martin Luther King Jr. Reading

Read the passage carefully. Then answer each question using details from the passage and your own thinking.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a minister and civil rights leader in the United States. In the 1950s and 1960s, many laws and customs treated Black Americans unfairly. In some places, Black people were kept separate from white people in schools, buses, and other public spaces. King believed that everyone deserved equal rights and respect. King spoke to large crowds and encouraged people to work for change without using violence. Many joined marches and peaceful protests. Their actions helped bring attention to unfair laws. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act became law and outlawed discrimination in many public places and workplaces. In 1963, King gave a famous speech at the March on Washington. He shared his dream of a future where people would be judged by their character, not by the color of their skin. King did not live to see all the changes he hoped for; he was killed in 1968. Each January, people in the United States honor his life and work on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. His message still invites people to notice unfairness and work together for a more just community.

Check the Details

1.Which statement best describes King's goal?

To make sure everyone had the same job
To help people gain equal rights and respect
To persuade people to stop attending school
To keep public places separate

2.Name two places where the passage says Black Americans were sometimes kept separate from white Americans.

3.How did King encourage people to work for change?

Through peaceful marches, protests, and speeches
By asking people to ignore unfair laws
By telling people to use violence
By keeping his ideas private

4.Put these events in chronological order by writing 1, 2, and 3: the Civil Rights Act became law; King gave his March on Washington speech; King was killed.

5.What did King hope people would consider when judging someone, instead of skin color?

Read Between the Lines

Use clues in the passage to explain what the author means.

6.The passage says peaceful protests helped bring attention to unfair laws. What does this suggest protests can help people do?

7.Why does the passage mention the Civil Rights Act after describing marches and protests?

8.In the final sentence, what does the word “just” most nearly mean?

Fair
Quiet
Recent
Simple

9.The author says King's message still invites people to act. Which action best fits that message?

Notice unfair treatment and work with others to improve things
Avoid listening to people with different experiences
Assume unfairness cannot be changed
Treat people differently based on appearance

10.Write a short summary of the passage in 2–3 sentences. Include King's goal and one way people worked toward it.

11.The passage explains that King was killed in 1968 and that people honor his work each January. Why might remembering his work matter today? Give one reason supported by the passage.