What do you know about him?

Martin Luther King

A. Think about these questions before you read 1. Have you heard of Martin Luther King?

2. What do you know about him?

B. Now read quickly to answer the questions.

What is this section about?

Martin Luther King was born in Atlanta, Georgia on 15 January 1929.

From an early age, he was aware that black people were not treated as equal citizens in America. Most blacks lived in poverty in the richest nation on earth. They earned only half of the white people's wages and many could not In many places blacks were separated from whites; there were shops and restaurants that only white people could use. Even on the buses, black people had to stay in the back of the bus.

vote

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How did Martin Luther King plan to change the situation?

Martin Luther King believed that these things were not right. He believed that the only way to make society more equal was by peaceful protest. For example, he organised a ‘bus boycott' which meant that black people refused to use the buses until they were allowed to sit in any part of the bus. Many similar protests were organised by Martin Luther King.

He never used violence but always looked for a peaceful way of protesting. However, some people who did not like what he was doing, used violence against him; his home was

How and when was he killed?

bombed, he was stabbed and his family was threatened. He still believed, though, that violence and hatred could only be overcome by love and forgiveness. In 1964 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and in 1965 all black people were allowed to vote.

In 1968 a white man called James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther King dead. Today Americans remember his peaceful fight for freedom and justice by having a public holiday every year called 'Martin Luther King Day.'

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C. Read the passage again and answer these questions. 1. Why was life difficult for black people in America? 2. Why did Martin Luther g choose boycotts as a way of protesting?

3. Was Martin Luther King popular with everyone? Give a reason for your answer.

4. Why do you think he was given the Nobel Peace Prize?

5. Find words/phrases from the passage which are similar in meaning to the words/phrases below.

a. the same b. thought c. non-violent d. given

6. Below are some notes summarising the events of Martin Luther King's life. The notes are in the wrong order. Read them carefully and rearrange them correctly. a. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize c. Born in Atlanta.

e. Black people given vote.

D. Discuss these questions.

b. Organised ‘bus boycott'. d. Shot by James Earl Ray.

1. If you were asked to give a Peace Prize to someone famous or someone in your area, who would you give it to? Why?

2. Why do you think Americans still want to remember Martin Luther King?

How did Martin Luther King plan to change the situation?

which meant that black people rufsed to use then til they were "" in any part of the coumminty

SECTION 2: EXPLORING LANGUAGE

Working with words

A. Silent letters

I. Look at these words and listen to

B

S.R

your teacher

say them.

live, thumb, wrist, know, buy, listen

Which letters in each word are written but not spoken? We call these silent letters.

2. Which words contain a silent letter? Write down the letter(s) in each of these words.

1. colour

5. height 9. fan

2. neighbour 6.cheque

3. give

7. humour

4. big 8. British

10 judged

11. weather

12. comedy