Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday that celebrates the birth date of one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders. Dr. King’s date of birth is January 15th, but the actual holiday is on the third Monday in January. The holiday recognizes the great achievements Martin Luther King made to American society. His leadership in the campaign to achieve equal rights for black Americans changed America forever. His focus on non-violent protests led to new laws that ended racial discrimination in America. The USA became a more equal society. The holiday is only one of four national holidays in America to commemorate a person. This shows just how important Martin Luther King was – one of the greatest Americans ever.
Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Just 15 years later, in 1983, then President Ronald Reagan signed this holiday into U.S. law. People first observed the holiday three years later, in 1986. At first, the holiday was not popular with all American states. Some didn’t like the name and so they called it “Civil Rights Day”. However, in the year 2000, all 50 states observed the holiday using its correct name. The musician Stevie Wonder helped the campaign for the holiday. He released a hit single called “Happy Birthday” in 1980. The song made millions of Americans aware of the campaign. Six million people signed a petition for the American Congress to create the holiday. It is still the largest petition in U.S. history in favour of an issue.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.
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PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of America’s greatest civil
a.
violent protests
2
The holiday recognizes the
b.
rights leaders
3.
the campaign to achieve
c.
commemorate a person
4.
His focus on non-
d.
great achievements
5.
new laws that ended racial
e.
equal rights
6.
four national holidays in America to
f.
discrimination
Paragraph 2
1.
Dr. King was assassinated
a.
three years later
2
People first observed the holiday
b.
its correct name
3.
At first, the holiday
c.
aware of the campaign
4.
all 50 states observed the holiday using
d.
in 1968
5.
The song made millions of Americans
e.
in U.S. history
6.
the largest petition
f.
was not popular
LISTENING GAP FILL
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday _________________ birth date of one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders. Dr. King’s date of birth is January 15th, but the actual holiday _________________ Monday in January. The holiday _________________ achievements Martin Luther King made to American society. His leadership in the campaign _________________ rights for black Americans changed America forever. His focus on non-violent protests led to new laws that ended racial discrimination in America. The USA _________________ society. The holiday is only one of four national holidays in America to commemorate a person. This _________________ important Martin Luther King was – one of the greatest Americans ever.
Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. _________________, in 1983, then President Ronald Reagan signed this _________________. People first observed the holiday three years later, in 1986. At first, the holiday was not _________________ American states. Some didn’t like the name and so they called it “Civil Rights Day”. However, in the year 2000, all 50 states observed the holiday _________________ name. The musician Stevie Wonder helped the campaign for the holiday. He released a hit single called “Happy Birthday” in 1980. The song made millions of Americans aware of the campaign. Six million people _________________ for the American Congress to create the holiday. It is still the largest petition in U.S. history _________________ issue.
WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL
Put the words into the gaps in the text.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday that __________ the birth date of one of America’s greatest civil rights __________. Dr. King’s date of birth is January 15th, but the actual holiday is on the __________ Monday in January. The holiday recognizes the great achievements Martin Luther King made to American __________. His leadership in the campaign to achieve equal rights for black Americans changed America __________. His focus on non-violent protests led to new laws that ended __________ discrimination in America. The USA became a more equal society. The holiday is only one of four national holidays in America to commemorate a __________. This shows just how important Martin Luther King was – one of the greatest Americans __________.
racial third forever ever celebrates society person leaders
Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Just 15 years __________, in 1983, then President Ronald Reagan signed this holiday into U.S. law. People first __________ the holiday three years later, in 1986. At first, the holiday was not __________ with all American states. Some didn’t like the __________ and so they called it “Civil Rights Day”. However, in the year 2000, all 50 states observed the holiday __________ its correct name. The musician Stevie Wonder helped the campaign for the holiday. He released a hit __________ called “Happy Birthday” in 1980. The song made millions of Americans aware of the campaign. Six million people signed a __________ for the American Congress to create the holiday. It is still the largest petition in U.S. history in favour of an __________.
popular using later petition name issue observed single
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday that celebrating / celebrates the birth date / dates of one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders. Dr. King’s date of birth is January 15th, but the actually / actual holiday is on the third Monday in January. The holiday recognizes the great / grate achievements Martin Luther King made to American society. His leadership in the campaign to achieve equals / equal rights for black Americans changed America forever. His focus on non-violent protests led to new laws that ended racially / racial discrimination in America. The USA became a more equal society. The holiday is only one / once of four national holidays in America to commemorate a person. This shows just how importance / important Martin Luther King was – one of the greatest Americans ever.
Dr. King was assassinated / assassination in 1968. Just 15 years later, in 1983, then President Ronald Reagan signal / signed this holiday into U.S. law. People first observed the holiday three years later, in 1986. At / On first, the holiday was not popular / popularity with all American states. Some didn’t like the name and so they called it “Civil Rights Day”. However, in the year 2000, all 50 states observe / observed the holiday using its correct name. The musician Stevie Wonder helped the campaign / campaigned for the holiday. He released a hit single called “Happy Birthday” in 1980. The song made millions of Americans aware of the campaign. Six million people signed a competition / petition for the American Congress to create the holiday. It is still the largest petition in U.S. history in against / favour of an issue.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday that (1) ____ the birth date of one of America’s greatest (2) ____ rights leaders. Dr. King’s date of birth is January 15th, but the actual holiday is on the third Monday in January. The holiday (3) ____ the great achievements Martin Luther King made to American society. His leadership in the campaign to achieve (4) ____ rights for black Americans changed America forever. His focus (5) ____ non-violent protests led to new laws that ended racial discrimination in America. The USA became a more equal society. The holiday is only (6) ____ of four national holidays in America to commemorate a person. This shows just how important Martin Luther King was – one of the greatest Americans ever.
Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Just 15 years (7) ____, in 1983, then President Ronald Reagan signed this holiday into U.S. law. People first observed the holiday three years later, in 1986. At first, the holiday was not (8) ____ with all American states. Some didn’t like the name and so they called it “Civil Rights Day”. However, in the year 2000, all 50 states observed the holiday (9) ____ its correct name. The musician Stevie Wonder helped the campaign (10) ____ the holiday. He released a hit single called “Happy Birthday” in 1980. The song made millions of Americans aware of the campaign. Six million people (11) ____ a petition for the American Congress to create the holiday. It is still the largest petition in U.S. history in favour of an (12) ____.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.
(a)
celebration
(b)
celebrates
(c)
celebrated
(d)
celebratory
2.
(a)
civil
(b)
civilian
(c)
civility
(d)
civil war
3.
(a)
recognize
(b)
recognition
(c)
recognizes
(d)
recognized
4.
(a)
equality
(b)
equals
(c)
equaled
(d)
equal
5.
(a)
at
(b)
in
(c)
by
(d)
on
6.
(a)
once
(b)
ones
(c)
one
(d)
oneness
7.
(a)
earlier
(b)
later
(c)
time
(d)
then
8.
(a)
popularity
(b)
population
(c)
popularize
(d)
popular
9.
(a)
used
(b)
used to
(c)
using
(d)
uses
10.
(a)
for
(b)
by
(c)
at
(d)
at
11.
(a)
signed
(b)
signature
(c)
sign
(d)
signs
12.
(a)
issued
(b)
issue
(c)
issues
(d)
issuing
SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the brtih date
2.
the claatu holiday is on the third Monday
3.
American oeisyct
4.
changed America rrovfee
5.
a more quela society
6.
commemorate a psnroe
Paragraph 2
7.
Dr. King was sdessaanista in 1968
8.
Ronald Reagan indegs this holiday into U.S. law
9.
not oaruppl with all American states
10.
50 states svdboeer the holiday
11.
He rlaesdee a hit single
12.
Six million people signed a npeiitto
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
millions of Americans aware of the campaign. Six million people signed a petition for the American Congress to
( )
civil rights leaders. Dr. King’s date of birth is January 15th, but the actual holiday is on the third Monday in
( )
the campaign to achieve equal rights for black Americans changed America forever. His focus on non-violent
( )
Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Just 15 years later, in 1983, then President Ronald Reagan signed this
( )
popular with all American states. Some didn’t like the name and so they called it “Civil Rights Day”. However, in
( )
how important Martin Luther King was – one of the greatest Americans ever.
( )
society. The holiday is only one of four national holidays in America to commemorate a person. This shows just
( )
create the holiday. It is still the largest petition in U.S. history in favour of an issue.
( )
protests led to new laws that ended racial discrimination in America. The USA became a more equal
( 1 )
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a U.S. holiday that celebrates the birth date of one of America’s greatest
( )
holiday into U.S. law. People first observed the holiday three years later, in 1986. At first, the holiday was not
( )
the year 2000, all 50 states observed the holiday using its correct name. The musician Stevie Wonder helped
( )
January. The holiday recognizes the great achievements Martin Luther King made to American society. His leadership in
( )
the campaign for the holiday. He released a hit single called “Happy Birthday” in 1980. The song made
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
rights one America’s civil leaders of greatest
2.
actual on Monday the is third January holiday the in
3.
campaign the rights equal achieve to
4.
on - protests focus non violent His
5.
equal The became more society USA a
6.
Dr King assassinated 1968 . was in
7.
three holiday the observed first People later years
8.
American not states popular the with holiday all was
9.
observed holiday its name the using correct
10.
million Six petition a signed people
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
Write five questions about Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
_____________
STUDENT 2
_____________
STUDENT 3
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WRITING
Write about Martin Luther King Jr. Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
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 Jr. Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
