GRADE LEVEL 6
Read the next two selections. Then choose the best answer to each question.
5
Rosa Parks
6
“Could the bus driver actually force people to sit in certain seats?” I questioned.
“Although the city of Montgomery had an ordinance that allowed bus drivers to assign seats,
there was no law forcing passengers to vacate their seats for others,” said Mom. “However, when
blacks refused to follow the drivers’ demands, they were often arrested for disobedience.”
Rosa Parks’ Peaceful Act of7 Defiance
“Did the bus driver call the police?” I asked Mom.
1
8 ended
“That
is 381
exactly
what
“Mom, my teacher announced the Montgomery Bus Boycott has
after
days.
Shehappened. Two police
officers
boarded
the bus and handcuffed
explained the boycott began because of the actions of Mrs. Rosa Parks.
Ms. Cox
was surprised
Parks.
did not
when I told her that you were riding the bus the day Mrs. Parks was Mrs.
arrested
forShe
refusing
to argue with the
officers.
Instead,
she remained
calm as she
move from her seat. Ms. Cox suggested I record notes of your firsthand
account
and share
the
was led to the police car,” stated Mom.
experience with the class.”
2
9 The“IMontgomery
remember hearing
about Rosa Parks on
“Jackie, I’d be happy to tell you again about that day on the bus.
City Code
the to
news,”
I said.a “A
man
spoke about her
segregated our city buses. African-American passengers were required
sit behind
line
on the
rights.”
bus to separate them from white passengers,” explained Mom. “Mrs.civil
Parks
boarded the bus and
sat behind the line.”
3
10
anyone could arrest a woman for just sitting in a seat on a bus.
4
“Yes, that was Mr. Nixon from the National
for the Advancement
of Colored
“If Mrs. Parks was sitting behind the line, why was she arrested?” IAssociation
asked. I wondered
how
People. He helped organize the boycott of
Montgomery’s city buses. Black citizens were
Mom continued, “As we traveled our route, more white riders boarded the bus. Several
encouraged to find alternate transportation
white passengers stood in the aisle. The driver stopped the bus and told the African-American
until the city buses became integrated,”
passengers to move to the rear seats. Several men moved, but Mrs. Parks refused to give her
explained Mom. “That’s why we’ve seen very
seat to a white man.”
few black people riding the buses this past year.”
Page 38
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Rosa Parks’ Police Report
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I thought about Mom’s reply for a moment and asked, “Now that the boycott has ended, can
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black people choose
where to sit on buses?”
12
“Yes. Because of the United States Supreme Court ruling, racial discrimination is no longer
allowed on public transit systems. However, it has not been as simple as it sounds. Mr. Nixon’s
home was bombed, several black churches were burned, and many who protested were arrested.
Mrs. Parks was fired from her job.”
13
Mom continued, “I have a feeling I witnessed an event that will continue to open doors for the
fair treatment of all people, Jackie.”
14
That evening as I compiled my report for school, I reflected on Rosa Parks. I wondered how
the future might change because of her peaceful act of defiance.
Page 39
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GRADE LEVEL 6
Use “Rosa Parks’ Peaceful Act of Defiance” (pp. 38–39) to answer
questions 47–52. Then fill in the circle for each answer.
47 A message conveyed in the story focuses on —
� Rosa Parks’ actions that demonstrate her beliefs
� the bus driver’s support of Rosa Parks’ beliefs
� Mom’s desire to spread the news of the Civil Rights Movement
� the teacher’s encouragement for students to act on their beliefs
50 Based on the voice used in the conversation between Jackie and her mother, the reader can
understand —
48 Based on the story, the reader can tell that —
� Jackie fears for her mother’s safety when riding the city bus
� the facts of the Civil Rights Movement
� Mom disagrees with the actions of Rosa Parks
� that Jackie’s mother is educated and informed
� Mom trusts Jackie to form personal opinions based on facts
� that Jackie’s mother lives in the northern United States
� Jackie’s family believes the boycott was not an appropriate response
to Rosa
Parks’
arrest
� the
historical
terms
that identify the time period
49 In paragraph 2, the word segregated means —
51 Why does the author include the graphic beside paragraphs 8, 9, and 10?
� enacted into law
� organized by category
� To explain the reason the boycott continued for 381 days
� joined as one
� To highlight the purpose of the rsthand account
� set or kept apart
� To show that the story is based on actual events
� To include a ctional element in the story
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52 The author’s choice of rst-person narrator helps the reader —
� realize that Mom and Jackie often discuss important topics
� learn about the beginning of the American Civil Rights Movement
� relate to the thoughts and feelings of Mom
� understand the impact the conversation has on Jackie
Page 43
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