Martin Luther King Jr. and Civil Disobedience — Quiz
Question 19 • English Language Arts 11
Read the excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Of course, there is nothing new about this kind of civil disobedience. It was evidenced sublimely in the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to obey the laws of Nebuchadnezzar, on the ground that a higher moral law was at stake. King uses this allusion to
Answer
A
retell an important historical tale.
B
describe a governmental struggle in another place.
C
forge a connection with familiar figures of faith.
D
explain the reason for his peaceful approach.
Explanation
King refers to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, familiar figures from the Bible who disobeyed a king’s law because they believed a higher moral law mattered more. This allusion connects his argument for civil disobedience to figures of faith and suggests that resisting unjust laws has a respected moral precedent. The passage is not mainly explaining why his approach is peaceful.
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