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READ
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important leader of the American civil rights movement. He helped unite a nation with his powerful speeches and use of non-violent protests. His 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the greatest in human history. King’s efforts to end racial discrimination earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
King was born in 1929 in Atlanta. His father was a reverend and so King had a religious upbringing. He graduated from college with a degree and a Ph.D. in religious studies. King went to India to visit Gandhi’s family. He was inspired by Mohandas Gandhi's success with non-violent resistance and saw it as a “potent weapon” in America’s struggle for civil rights.
King was instrumental in achieving many successes in ending segregation laws. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ended racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery. He realized that non-violent protest would attract extensive media coverage of the struggle for racial equality. His campaigns soon elevated the Civil Rights Movement to be the most important issue in American politics.
King helped organize the famous March for Jobs and Freedom on Washington in 1963, where he spoke to the nation appealing for racial harmony. His non-violent protests met with success as Congress passed civil rights laws (1964) and voting rights laws (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also helped his cause. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Stevie Wonder pays tribute to King with his song "Happy Birthday".
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
unite
a.
racism
2
protests
b.
battle
3.
discrimination
c.
demonstrations
4.
inspired
d.
powerful
5.
potent
e.
join
6.
struggle
f.
motivated
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
instrumental
g.
mission
8.
realized
h.
wide
9.
extensive
i.
understood
10.
appealing
j.
important
11
cause
k
killed
12
assassinated
l
asking
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
leader of the American civil
a.
discrimination
2
He helped unite a nation with
b.
with non-violent resistance
3.
end racial
c.
with success
4.
King had a religious
d.
laws
5.
inspired by Mohandas Gandhi's success
e.
his powerful speeches
6.
ending segregation
f.
in American politics
7.
attract extensive media
g.
for racial harmony
8.
the most important issue
h.
upbringing
9.
he spoke to the nation appealing
i.
rights movement
10.
His non-violent protests met
j.
coverage
LISTENING GAP FILL
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important ________________ American civil rights movement. He helped ________________ his powerful speeches and use of non-violent protests. His 1963 “I Have a Dream” ________________ the greatest in human history. King’s efforts to end racial discrimination ________________ Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
King was born in 1929 in Atlanta. His father was a reverend and so King had a ________________. He graduated from college with a degree and a Ph.D. in religious studies. King went to India to visit Gandhi’s family. He ________________ Mohandas Gandhi's success with ________________ and saw it as a “potent weapon” in America’s ________________ rights.
King was instrumental __________________ successes in ending segregation laws. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ________________ segregation on public buses in Montgomery. He realized that non-violent protest would ________________ media coverage of the struggle for racial equality. His campaigns soon elevated the Civil Rights Movement to be the most ________________ American politics.
King ________________ famous March for Jobs and Freedom on Washington in 1963, where he spoke to the ________________ for racial harmony. His non-violent protests met with success as Congress passed civil rights laws (1964) and ________________ (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also ________________. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Stevie Wonder pays tribute to King with his song "Happy Birthday".
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important leadership / leader of the American civil rights movement. He helped unite / untie a nation with his powerful speeches and use of non-violent protests. His 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech is one of the great / greatest in human history. King’s efforts to / for end racial discrimination earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
King was born in 1929 in Atlanta. His father was a reverend and such / so King had a religious upbringing. He graduated from college with a degree and a Ph.D. in religious students / studies. King went to India to visit Gandhi’s family. He was inspired from / by Mohandas Gandhi's success with non-violent resist / resistance and saw it as a “potent weapon” in America’s struggle for civil rights.
King was instrumental / instrument in achieving many successes in ending segregation laws. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ended racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery. He reality / realized that non-violent protest would attractive / attract extensive media coverage of the struggle for / to racial equality. His campaigns soon elevated the Civil Rights Movement to be the most important issue in American politics.
King helped organize the famous / fame March for Jobs and Freedom on Washington in 1963, where he spoke to the nationality / nation appealing for racial harmony. His non-violent protests saw / met with success as Congress passed civil rights laws (1964) and voting rights laws (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also helped his because / cause. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Stevie Wonder pays tribute to King with his song "Happy Birthday".
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
powerful esecepsh
2.
use of non-violent rsptstoe
3.
the greatest in anumh history
4.
readne him the Nobel Peace Prize
Paragraph 2
5.
King had a useoirigl upbringing
6.
a deeerg and a Ph.D.
7.
He was espidnri by Mohandas Gandhi's success
8.
America’s esgltgru for civil rights
Paragraph 3
9.
ndgnie segregation laws
10.
attract extensive emdai coverage
11.
racial iqyleuta
12.
the most important uises
Paragraph 4
13.
King helped oirzngea the famous March for Jobs and Freedom
14.
appealing for racial yhaonrm
15.
King’s nprfhsdiie with President John F. Kennedy
16.
Stevie Wonder pays urettbi to King
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
of the greatest in human history. King’s efforts to end racial discrimination earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
( )
college with a degree and a Ph.D. in religious studies. King went to India to visit Gandhi’s family. He was inspired
( )
nation with his powerful speeches and use of non-violent protests. His 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech is one
( )
equality. His campaigns soon elevated the Civil Rights Movement to be the most important issue in American politics.
( )
laws. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott which ended racial segregation on public buses in Montgomery. He realized
( 1 )
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the most important leader of the American civil rights movement. He helped unite a
( )
King was instrumental in achieving many successes in ending segregation
( )
that non-violent protest would attract extensive media coverage of the struggle for racial
( )
King was born in 1929 in Atlanta. His father was a reverend and so King had a religious upbringing. He graduated from
( )
by Mohandas Gandhi's success with non-violent resistance and saw it as a “potent weapon” in America’s struggle for civil rights.
( )
rights laws (1964) and voting rights laws (1965). King’s friendship with President John F. Kennedy also helped
( )
his cause. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Stevie Wonder pays tribute to King with his song "Happy Birthday".
( )
King helped organize the famous March for Jobs and Freedom on Washington in 1963, where he spoke
( )
to the nation appealing for racial harmony. His non-violent protests met with success as Congress passed civil
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of American rights leader the civil movement
2.
with helped his unite powerful a speeches nation He
3.
Dream “ ” I speech Have His a 1963
4.
by Gandhi's He inspired Mohandas success was
5.
struggle rights for America’s civil
6.
for struggle the of coverage media equality racial
7.
important in politics most issue American the
8.
Jobs famous the for and organize helped March Freedom
9.
to racial the harmony nation he appealing spoke for
10.
with to pays Stevie his King tribute Wonder song
MARTIN LUTHER KING DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Martin Luther King?
2.
Would you like to have met Martin Luther King?
3.
What would you like to know about Martin Luther King and why?
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Martin Luther King. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MARTIN LUTHER KING POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Martin Luther King. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Martin Luther King. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he did every day and what he thought about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Martin Luther King. Ask him/her at least three questions about his life. Give the expert at least three reasons Martin Luther King is so important in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Martin Luther King expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
unite
a.
join
2
protests
b.
demonstrations
3.
discrimination
c.
racism
4.
inspired
d.
motivated
5.
potent
e.
powerful
6.
struggle
f.
battle
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
instrumental
g.
important
8.
realized
h.
understood
9.
extensive
i.
wide
10.
appealing
j.
asking
11
cause
k
mission
12
assassinated
l
killed
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
leader of the American civil
a.
rights movement
2
He helped unite a nation with
b.
his powerful speeches
3.
end racial
c.
discrimination
4.
King had a religious
d.
upbringing
5.
inspired by Mohandas Gandhi's success
e.
with non-violent resistance
6.
ending segregation
f.
laws
7.
attract extensive media
g.
coverage
8.
the most important issue
h.
in American politics
9.
he spoke to the nation appealing
i.
for racial harmony
10.
His non-violent protests met
j.
with success
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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