Martin
Luther
King
An American hero
A2 -
B1 simple
English
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Martin Luther King - hero of civil rights
Martin Luther King Jrjunior, meaning his father had the same name. is one of the heroes of modern America.
King was the most important person in the American Civil Rightsthe right of all people to be treated iun the same way movement. He believed deeply in justice and equalitybeing equal, and in non-violence.
He was born in Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, on January 15 1929. In those days, parts of the southern USA were segregatedpeople were kept apart on the basis of race; for example, there were schools for white children, and different schools for black children. This meant that black children and white children could not go to the same school together.
King was strongly influenced byhe followed the ideas of his Christian parents, and later by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi. He began to be seen as a leader in 1955. One day, a black lady was thrown off a bus in the city of Montgomery, because she sat in a seat for whites. In protest all the city's black people stopped using the buses. It was a major moment in the fight for civil rights in the USA. King became the leader of the "Bus Boycottto stop using a service, or buying a product." The bus boycott was successful, and the bus company stopped having segregated seats.
America's "Civil Rights" movement had started, and nobody could stop it. In 1958, King had his first meeting with a U.S. President, talking with President Eisenhower in the White House.
King was a very good public speaker, and soon became the clear leader of the whole Civil Rights movement. He was one of the leaders of the big March for Jobs and Freedom in Washington in 1963. It was here that he gave his famous 'I have a Dream" speech.
He was a hero for black Americans, and for many white Americans too; but some other white Americans hateddetest, not like him. He was sent to prison, and threatenedto menace, say nasty things; yet King always stayed calm and determinedresolved. Before long, he became so important that even President Kennedy wanted to listen to him. Finally, in 1964, the American Civil Rights Acta law was passed.
Four years later, Martin Luther King was killed by a gunman in Memphis Tennessee. But by then he had already helped to change the USA for ever. Today King is a national hero. Each year in the USA the third Monday in January is now called Martin Luther King day, and is a public holiday.
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Student Worksheet
Martin Luther King
Interactive exercise - use on screen or on paper: Verb formsThis text is in simple English, but it contains simple examples of passive forms and past tenses. Students should select the correct option from the choices in the drop-down boxes in these extracts from the text.
Black children and white children to the same school together.
King by his Christian parents, and later by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi.
He began as a leader in 1955.
One day, a black lady off a bus in the city of Montgomery, because she in a seat for whites.
In protest all the city's black people the buses.....
The bus boycott was successful, and the bus company segregated seats.
America's "Civil Rights" movement had started, and nobody it. In 1958, King had his first meeting with a U.S. President, talking with President Eisenhower in the White House.
He to prison, and threatened; yet King always stayed calm and determined. Before long, he became so important that President Kennedy listen to him.
Finally, in 1964, the American Civil Rights Act was passed.
Four years later, Martin Luther King by a gunman in Memphis Tennessee. But by then he to change the USA for ever.
For
teachers:
Going further:
Discover advanced level (B2 - C1) texts on:Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks (the lady who started the Montgomery bus protest), and Mahatma Gandhi
The text refers to the historic March on Washington, and to King's "I have a Dream" speech. Depending on the circumstances of your class, you may or may not have some students who can say a little about these. Otherwise, you may like to read some of the key passages, which are towards the end of the speech. ► Transcript here.
Gap fill exercise:
In most cases, the choices are grammatical, to make sure that students choose the correct form of the past tense. A couple of boxes check student's knowledge of vocabulary, notably the last box with its choice between already, always and almost .More.... What is A2 English? What does it entail?
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