SAT Practice Test – Section 7
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Question 1 of 24
1. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
1. Years of ____ lifting of heavy furniture had left him too _____ to be able to stand erect for long periods of time.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 24
2. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
2. Canadian Lynn Johnston was named Cartoonist of the Year in 1985, the first woman to be so _____.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 24
3. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
3. Because the photographer believed that wild animals should be _____ only in their various natural surroundings, she ____ often in her career.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 4 of 24
4. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
4. Folk painter Grandma Moses has become such an enduring icon that many consider her ____ of America.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 5 of 24
5. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
5. Whether substances are medicines or poisons often depends on dosage, for substances that are _____ in small doses can be _____ in large.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 6 of 24
6. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
6. Critics dismissed the engineer’s seemingly creative design as being ____, that is, underdeveloped and lacking in sophistication.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 7 of 24
7. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
7. The professor commented to other faculty members that Sheila seemed temperamentally suited to the study of logic, given her ____ for ____ intricate arguments.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 8 of 24
8. Question
Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E.
Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
Example:
Hoping to _____ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be _____ to both labor and management.
(A) enforce . . useful
(B) end . . divisive
(C) overcome . . unattractive
(D) extend . . satisfactory
(E) resolve . . acceptable
Answer : E
8. While traveling near the Sun, the comet Hale-Bopp produced a _____ amount of dust, much more than the comets Halley or Hyakutake.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 9 of 24
9. Question
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
Newspaper editor and political commentator Henry
Louis Mencken was a force of nature, brushing aside
all objects animal and mineral in his headlong rush
to the publicity that surely awaited him. He seized
each day, shook it to within an inch of its life, and 5
then gaily went on to the next. No matter where his
writing appeared, it was quoted widely, his pungently
outspoken opinions debated hotly. Nobody else could
make so many people so angry, or make so many others
laugh so hard. 10
9. In lines 4-5, the words “seized” and “shook” help establish which aspect of Mencken’s personality?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 10 of 24
10. Question
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
Newspaper editor and political commentator Henry
Louis Mencken was a force of nature, brushing aside
all objects animal and mineral in his headlong rush
to the publicity that surely awaited him. He seized
each day, shook it to within an inch of its life, and 5
then gaily went on to the next. No matter where his
writing appeared, it was quoted widely, his pungently
outspoken opinions debated hotly. Nobody else could
make so many people so angry, or make so many others
laugh so hard. 10
10. The public response described in lines 6-8 most strongly suggests that Mencken’s writings were
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 11 of 24
11. Question
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
The ability to see the situation as your opponents see it,
as difficult as it may be, is one of the most important skills
that you can possess as a negotiator. You must know more
than simply that they see things differently. It is not
enough to study them like beetles under a microscope; 5
you need to know what it feels like to be a beetle. To
accomplish this you should be prepared to withhold
judgment as you “try on” their views. Your opponents
may well believe that their views are right as strongly
as you believe yours are. 10
11. The reference to beetles in lines 5-6 serves to suggest that
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 12 of 24
12. Question
Read the passage and answer the question that follows.
The ability to see the situation as your opponents see it,
as difficult as it may be, is one of the most important skills
that you can possess as a negotiator. You must know more
than simply that they see things differently. It is not
enough to study them like beetles under a microscope; 5
you need to know what it feels like to be a beetle. To
accomplish this you should be prepared to withhold
judgment as you “try on” their views. Your opponents
may well believe that their views are right as strongly
as you believe yours are. 10
12. The primary purpose of the passage is to
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 13 of 24
13. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
13. The authors of both passages agree that King’s “I Have a Dream” speech
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 14 of 24
14. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
14. It can be inferred that, for Julian Bond, a portrait of “the complete Martin Luther King” (lines 10-11) would
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 15 of 24
15. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
15. The author of Passage 2 would most likely view Julian Bond’s statement in lines 7-11 of Passage 1 with
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 16 of 24
16. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
16. In line 17, “suffered” most nearly means
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 17 of 24
17. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
17. Lines 31-34 (“Segregation in . . . schools”) serve primarily to
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 18 of 24
18. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
18. The author of Passage 1 mentions the “sermon” (line 35) primarily in order to
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 19 of 24
19. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
19. The author of Passage 2 would most likely characterize the view of King expressed in lines 38-42 of Passage 1 (“The annual . . . America”) as
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 20 of 24
20. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
20. Lines 57-58 (“This is . . . Day”) mark a transition within Passage 2 from a
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 21 of 24
21. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
21. Lines 76-79 in Passage 2 (“The edifying . . . durability”) are best described as
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 22 of 24
22. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
22. Unlike the author of Passage 2, the author of Passage 1 develops his or her argument by
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 23 of 24
23. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
23. The author of Passage 2 would most likely argue that commemorations focus on “Martin Luther King the dreamer” (line 7 of Passage 1) because people find this aspect of King to be
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 24 of 24
24. Question
Passage 1 is from a 2003 book that examines the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. Passage 2 is from a 2000 biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. written by an African American scholar.
Passage 1
The ability of the “I Have a Dream” speech to high-
light King’s early career at the expense of his later career
accounts for the tone of impatience and betrayal that often
appears when modern-day supporters of King’s agenda talk
about the speech. Former Georgia state legislator Julian 5
Bond said in 1986 that commemorations of King seemed to
“focus almost entirely on Martin Luther King the dreamer,
not on Martin King the antiwar activist, not on Martin King
the challenger of the economic order, not on Martin King
the opponent of apartheid, not on the complete Martin 10
Luther King.” One King scholar has proposed a ten-year
moratorium on reading or listening to the “I Have a Dream”
speech, in the hopes that America will then discover the
rest of King’s legacy.
This proposal effectively concedes that King’s mag- 15
nificent address cannot be recovered from the misuse
and overquotation it has suffered since his death. But
it is not clear that this is so. Even now, upon hearing the
speech, one is struck by the many forms of King’s genius.
Many people can still remember the first time they heard 20
“I Have a Dream,” and they tend to speak of that memory
with the reverence reserved for a religious experience. At
the very least, reflecting on the “I Have a Dream” speech
should be an opportunity to be grateful for the astonishing
transformation of America that the freedom movement 25
wrought. In just under a decade, the civil rights move-
ment brought down a system of segregation that stood
essentially unaltered since Reconstruction. King’s dreams
of an America free from racial discrimination are still some
distance away, but it is astounding how far the nation has 30
come since that hot August day in 1963. Segregation in
the South has been dismantled; there are no longer
“Whites Only” signs; segregationist governors do not
try to prevent Black children from entering public schools.
Toward the end of his life, King preached a sermon entitled 35
“Ingratitude,” in which he called ingratitude “one of the
greatest of all sins,” because the sinner “fail[s] to realize
his dependence on others.” The annual Martin Luther King
holiday is properly a day of national thanksgiving, a time
for the nation to recognize the immense debt it owes to 40
King and the thousands of heroes of the civil rights
movement for saving the soul of America.
Passage 2
Martin Luther King was at his best when he was
willing to reshape the wisdom of many of his intellec-
tual predecessors. He ingeniously harnessed their ideas 45
to his views to advocate sweeping social change. He
believed that his early views on race failed to challenge
America fundamentally. He later confessed that he had
underestimated how deeply entrenched racism was in
America. If Black Americans could not depend on good- 50
will to create social change, they had to provoke social
change through bigger efforts at nonviolent direct action.
This meant that Blacks and their allies had to obtain
political power. They also had to try to restructure
American society, solving the riddles of poverty 55
and economic inequality.
This is not the image of King that is celebrated on
Martin Luther King Day. Many of King’s admirers are
uncomfortable with a focus on his mature beliefs. They
seek to deflect unfair attacks on King’s legacy by shroud- 60
ing him in the cloth of superhuman heroism. In truth, this
shroud is little more than romantic tissue. King’s image
has often suffered a sad fate. His strengths have been
needlessly exaggerated, his weaknesses wildly over-
played. King’s true legacy has been lost to cultural 65
amnesia. As a nation, we have emphasized King’s
aspiration to save America through inspiring words
and sacrificial deeds. Time and again we replay the
powerful image of King standing on a national stage
in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial mouthing per- 70
haps the most famous four words ever uttered by a Black
American: “I have a dream.” For most Americans, those
words capture King’s unique genius. They express his
immortal longing for freedom, a longing that is familiar
to every person who dares imagine a future beyond unjust 75
laws and unfair customs. The edifying universality of those
four words—who hasn’t dreamed, and who cannot identify
with people whose dreams of a better world are punished
with violence?—helps to explain their durability. But those
words survive, too, because they comfort folk who would 80
rather entertain the dreams of unfree people than confront
their rage and despair.
24. Which best characterizes the overall relationship between the two passages?
CorrectIncorrect