Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was
a very gifted student. His intelligence helped him to skip two grades in high school!
When he was fifteen, he started college. He earned many degrees, including a doctorate
degree. Martin Luther King, Jr. married a woman named Coretta Scott. They had four
children, Yolanda, Martin, Dexter, and Bernice.

Dr. King was a famous civil rights leader and activist. He led the Montgomery Bus
Boycott after Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus to a white
man. A boycott is when people stop supporting a place, product, or organization to
inspire change. In this case, people stopped riding the buses hoping the bus company
would outlaw segregation of white and black people.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great speaker. He gave many powerful speeches. His most
famous was his “I Have a Dream” speech. He gave this speech during the March on
Washington. Over 250,000 people attended the march to show the government how
important it was to make laws that protected the civil rights of all people, regardless of
skin color. Dr. King spoke of equal treatment for all Americans.

Dr. King died on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was

standing on the balcony of his hotel room when he was shot and
killed. Many people did not like the things he said and believed.
They did not want to see Dr. King's ideas come true. It was a
somber day when Dr. King died.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was the youngest person to earn the Nobel
Peace Prize. The United States of America celebrates a national
holiday called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to
honor the work he did for our country. His
bravery and leadership changed America for
the better.

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 Martin Luther King, Jr.

Questions
1. When was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. born?
1939
1968
1929
1938

2. How many people attended the March on Washington?

2,500,000
350,000
250,000
3,500,000

3. What evidence is given that shows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an important leader?
He was elected president.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
He became a doctor.
He was very popular.

4. What is the name of Dr. King’s most famous speech?

Montgomery Bus
Walk on Washington
I Have a Dream
Nobel Peace

5. What is a boycott? 




6. Why do you think the author wrote this text? 





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 Martin Luther King, Jr.

Answers
1. When was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. born?
1939
1968
1929
1938

2. How many people attended the March on Washington?

2,500,000
350,000
250,000
3,500,000

3. What evidence is given that shows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an important leader?
He was elected president.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
He became a doctor.
He was very popular.

4. What is the name of Dr. King’s most famous speech?

Montgomery Bus
Walk on Washington
I Have a Dream
Nobel Peace

5. What is a boycott? 
A boycott is when people stop supporting a place, product, or organization to inspire change.

6. Why do you think the author wrote this text? 

Answers may vary. A possible answer is: I think the author wrote this text to inform the
reader about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his contribution to the Civil Rights Movement.

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