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In Obama's speech, which word has a connotation of an obstacle that has been built to separate different groups from each other?
edifice
100
What type of writing is this? NOTE: Not kind of writing like a narrative or informational.
It is a transcript of a speech
100
What technique does the author use to compare segregation to an ancient wall that is starting to tumble and come down?
simile
100
In paragraph 10, Obama repeats the pronoun "we." Who is he referring to?
"We," the American people.
100
What was Rosa Parks' occupation (job)?
seamstress
200
What is the central idea of paragraph 10?
The central idea of this paragraph is that we, as modern citizens, are not standing up to injustice in the world.
200
What is the connection of the word “hobbled” to those people “making excuses”?
The word "hobbled" has a connotation of impairment. "Making excuses" results in an impairment of the movement. The author uses the word to demonstrate that we are impaired with respect to our social responsibilities.
200
In paragraph eight, the author uses the word “icon.” What other word could I replace icon with in the sentence to give it the same connotation?
symbol, figure, representation, idol
200
Who were involved in the boycott?
(Paragraph 6) teachers and laborers, clergy, and domestics
200
How does the author refer to Rosa Parks?
(Paragraph 3) That she was a normal person who "held no elected office. She possessed no fortune; lived her life far from the formal seats of power. And yet today, she takes her rightful place among those who’ve shaped this nation’s course."
300
In paragraph ten, the author includes noun phrases to draw a parallel between the social climate of today and that of the Civil Rights era. Cite 2 examples of a noun phrase that the author uses to describe society's problems.
1. children hungry in a land of plenty, 2. entire neighborhoods ravaged by violence, 3. families hobbled by job loss or illness
300
Reread paragraph 10. What is the connection between the bus driver and passengers on the bus to “ourselves today"?
The author is drawing a comparison between the apathy of the passengers in 1955 to American citizens in 2013. The author is making a connection that just like the people on the bus, the people of today are not putting forth enough effort to fight against injustice in the world.
300
What are the three examples of the conditions in America today that have persisted due to people’s lack of social responsibility?
hunger, violence, and struggling families
300
What clues from the text tell the reader that Rosa Parks’ “activism didn’t begin on that bus”?
1) (Paragraph 8)The author references her childhood and early years. Her friend’s statement, "Nobody every bossed Rosa around..." 2) (Paragraph 12) "fighting for voting rights, rallying against discrimination in the criminal justice system, serving in the local chapter of the NAACP
300
How long did it take before the end of segregation?
(Paragraph 7) Three hundred and eighty-five days after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, the boycott ended. Black men and women and children re-boarded the buses of Montgomery, newly desegregated, and sat in whatever seat happen to be open.
400
In paragraph 12, what is the connection between Rosa Parks’ “act of disobedience,” and the speaker, President Obama?
When President Obama states that it's, “because of these men and women that I stand here today,” he is recognizing the fact that Rosa Parks, who “launched a movement” with her “singular act of disobedience,” helped pave the way for Barack Obama to become President of the United States.
400
What is the author's purpose in writing this text?
The author explicitly states that the text was written to dedicate a statue, as identified in the title. Implicitly, the text was written to explain Rosa Parks’ legacy and as a call to action for citizens to honor Rosa Parks’ memory by paying it forward.
400
Reread paragraph 3. The author states, “she takes her rightful place among those who’ve shaped the nation’s course.”
The author is alluding to the myriad of people who have shaped this country, like George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr. or Barack Obama. Parks has a rightful place among these historical figures. She was an instrumental figure in the country's civil rights campaign, starting a movement in which a bus boycott would change the nation forever.
400
To what does “For now we see through a glass, darkly,” allude?
To make the point that modern society is not seeing the world clearly. Society’s poor choices reflect a dim image.
400
Why does the author compare segregation to ancient walls?
Segregation is like an invisible wall creating a barrier between people. The author compares segregation to an ancient wall that is starting to tumble and come down.
500
Active voice means the verb is the source of the action, which puts this sentence into present tense. In paragraph 10, what is the active voice?
"we see the way things are... and we make excuses for inaction, and we say to ourselves, that's not my responsibility, there’s nothing I can do."
500
Obama says to the audience,”...walking miles if they had to, arranging carpools where they could, not thinking about the blisters on their feet, the weariness after a full day of work- walking for respect, walking for freedom, driven by solemn determination to affirm their God-given dignity." What role does repetition play in the development of the tone of the speech?
Repetition emphasizes the importance that walking played in the bus boycott, the protest which launched the civil rights movement.
500
In paragraph 5, the author’s repetitive use of the phrases, “would not be pushed” and “you may do that,” compare and contrast to each other and build and release tension in the paragraph. What do you learn about Rosa Parks' character with her simple answer to the bus driver?
When the bus driver “threatened to have her arrested,” the text states, “she simply replied, 'You may do that’." This statement establishes her nonviolent nature, but also shows that she is willing to stand up for herself and take action. The tension is relieved with her response.
500
Why did the author choose to include the fact that a “little known pastor” named Martin Luther King Jr. was in Montgomery, Alabama a few days after “Rosa Parks challenged her arrest”?
The author does this to reveal the breadth and range of the bus event. The incident was integral to the beginning of the civil rights movement. To include the most iconic civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., creates a comparison to Rosa Parks. The analogy is that Dr. King was once a young pastor just beginning his fighting for justice and now that fight was taking off. Similarly, Rosa Parks was not just a woman who refused to get up off of a bus; rather, like King, she had stood up for equality long before the bus incident.
500
Reread paragraph 2. What words gives us clues about how the author feels about Rosa Parks? Cite specific examples from the text.
The author admires Rosa Parks for her ability to stand up to oppression, but also for her life of “dignity and grace.” Through the statement, “she defied the odds and she defied injustice,” the author acknowledges her courage and fortitude. He credits Mrs. Parks with helping to “change America and change the world”, creating the impression that she was not just a national figure, but an international symbol for justice.
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