When Marie visited Washington, D.C. with her family, everyone had a different place they wanted to see. Her father was interested in the history of aviation, and wanted to visit the Smithsonian Institute to see the exhibitions there. Her mother had always wanted to see the White House. Her brother was a fan of George Washington and wanted to go to the top of the Washington Monument. Marie wanted to see the Lincoln Memorial. Marie loved the sound of words, and for her, the Lincoln Memorial symbolized two of America s most inspiring orators: Abraham Lincoln, whose Gettysburg Address she knew by heart, and Martin Luther King, Jr., who delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King s speech continues to inspire people all over the world in their search for freedom and equality. Martin Luther King, Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35, making him the youngest Nobel laureate ever. Marie knew his inspiring speech had played a big role in this. Imagine writing words so stirring that they could give hope to the hopeless, and make the powerful change their minds! This was Marie s dream: to be able to someday move people with her words. Before coming to Washington, D.C., Marie had read about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington. She knew he had stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, a symbolic location because President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation banning slavery, and the March on Washington was to demand civil rights. Marie knew that King had spoken to a huge crowd of marchers. She had read and memorized the rousing words he had spoken. But it was not until Marie actually visited the Lincoln Memorial and stood at the foot of the huge sculpture of President Lincoln, and then stood on the steps of the Memorial and looked out over the wide, open space that she realized what an amazing day that must have been. The crowd that had come to listen to Martin Luther King, Jr. s words had been incredibly vast. Not until Marie stood on the steps could she begin to imagine what it might have felt like to stand in that throng of people and listen to the speech, or what it must have felt like to stand on the steps and addressed that crowd. To be such an inspiring speaker demands more than speaking talent, Marie thought. You actually have to believe deeply in something, care about something so strongly that you can electrify others with your words. Lincoln s dream had been holding his country together and ending slavery. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream about freedom and equality for all. What do I care about that strongly? Marie wondered. She wasn t sure yet, but she resolved to think about it, and to discover what it was that mattered most to her, so that she could inspire others, too.
Choose the best answer for each question. 1. Why did Marie s father want to visit the Smithsonian Institute? a. His family name was Smith. b. He was a fan of George Washington. c. He wanted to see airplanes exhibited there. d. It had a good view of the White House. 2. Where was Abraham Lincoln s most famous speech addressed? a. in Washington, D.C. b. in Gettysburg c. at the Washington Monument d. in Illinois 3. How old was Martin Luther King, Jr. when he won the Nobel Prize? a. 25 b. 35 c. 45 d. 55 4. Who does Marie consider America s most inspiring orators? a. Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt b. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X c. Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln d. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln 5. Martin Luther King, Jr. won the Nobel Prize for a. peace b. economics c. medicine d. physics 6. What does Marie want to do? a. become president b. inspire others c. become famous d. stop global warming
Answer these questions in complete sentences. 1. According to Marie, what is necessary if you want to inspire others? 2. According to Marie, what was President Lincoln s dream? 3. According to Marie, what was Martin Luther King, Jr. s dream? 4. What was Marie s reaction to standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial? 5. Marie wants to inspire others, but what is her dream?
Answer this question using information from the text and your own experience/research/understanding/etc. In your opinion, is it necessary to believe in something strongly in order to inspire others? Why or why not? What do you believe in strongly? Write a short speech or statement about it.
ANSWERS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. c 2. b 3. b 4. d 5. a 6. b SHORT ANSWER (answers will vary; accept reasonable responses that include the following ideas) 1. You must have talent and you must care about something strongly. 2. to end slavery and preserve the United States 3. to win freedom and equality for all people 4. She realized how moving and inspiring Dr. King s speech must have been. 5. She doesn t know yet. ESSAY Answers will vary.