Unit-4: Events and Festivals
Lesson-2: May Day
Part A: Reading Test
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1, 2 and 3.
May Day or International Workers Day is observed on May 1 all over the world today to commemorate the historical struggle and sacrifices of the working people to establish an eight-hour workday. It is a public holiday in almost all the countries of the world.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and the US, the workers in mills and factories had been working a long shift, fourteen or even more hours a day.
On May 1st in 1886, inspired by the trade unions, half of the workers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight-hour workday. Two days later, a workers rally was held near the McCormick Harvester Machine Company and about 6000 workers joined it. The rally was addressed by the labour leaders. They urged the workers to stand together, to go on with their struggle and not to give in to their bosses. At one point of the rally, some strike breakers started leaving the meeting place. The strikers went down the street to bring them back. Suddenly about 200 policemen attacked them with clubs and revolvers. One striker was killed instantly, five or six others were seriously wounded and many others were injured.
The events of May 1, 1886 are a reminder that workers will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives.
1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1x7=7
(a) The workers in 1886 went on strike demanding ----- workday.
(i) an eight and half an hour
(ii) an eight hour
(iii) a nine hour
(iv) a ten hour
(b) The word ‘rally’ means -----.
(i) line (ii) gather
(iii) gathering (iv) seminar
(c) The phrase ‘public holiday’ means---.
(i) workers’ holiday
(ii) holiday of the public
(iii) public day
(iv) govt. holiday
(d) The word ‘commemorate’ stands for ----.
(i) loyalty towards authority
(ii) the struggle for specific movement
(iii) honour the memory of an event
(iv) a unity among people
(e) What is the purpose of the author of this passage?
(i) to portray the brutality and atrocity of the owners of mills and factories
(ii) to state the short history of May Day and the significance of it
(iii) to highlight the violent roles of about 200 policemen
(iv) to heighten the kind and sympathetic roles of some of strikebreakers
(f) Which of the following best describes the workers before May 1st?
(i) deprived (ii) privileged
(iii) benefitted (iv) solvent
(g) What does the expression, “Industrial Revolution” mean?
(i) revolution of the owners of the industries
(ii) expansion of mills and factories
(iii) demands of the labourers
(iv) rights of the labourers
2. Read the passage again. Now, answer the following questions in your own words. 2x5=10
(a) What does May Day commemorate?
(b) What were the causes that led to the struggle?
(c) Who addressed the rally? What did some strikebreakers do?
(d) What do the workers learn from the events of May 1, 1886? Do you agree with them?
(e) Do you support the idea that May Day is an inspiration for workers across the world? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: 1. a) ii, b) iii, c) iv, d) iii, e) ii, f) i, g) ii.
2. a) May Day commemorates the historical struggle and sacrifices of the working people to establish an eight hour workday.
b) The workers were deprived of their basic rights. Right from the Industrial Revolution, the workers had to work for a long shift, fourteen or even more hours a day that led to the struggle.
c) The leaders of trade unions addressed the rally. Some strikebreakers started leaving the meeting place.
d) From the events of May 1, 1886, the workers learn that they will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives.
Yes, I do agree with them because nothing is achieved without struggle.
(e) Yes, I support the idea, because the events of May day have shown the workers of the world how due rights of better working conditions, better pay and better lives are gained. The workers will have to stand up and speak out for their rights. Otherwise, they will be ever exploited.
লেখক : সিনিয়র শিক্ষক, ইংরেজি
লেক সার্কাস গার্লস হাই স্কুল, কলাবাগান, ঢাকা
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