Question

Read the excerpt from activist Cesar Chavez’s 1984 address to the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco.

All my life, I have been driven by one dream, one goal, one vision: To overthrow a farm labor system in this nation which treats farm workers as if they were not important human beings.

Farm workers are not agricultural implements—they are not beasts of burden to be used and discarded. . . .

. . . My motivation comes from my personal life—from watching what my mother and father went through when I was growing up—from what we experienced as migrant farm workers in California.

That dream, that vision, grew from my own experience with racism—with hope—with the desire to be treated fairly and to see my people treated as human beings and not as chattel.

It grew from anger and rage—emotions I felt 40 years ago when people of my color were denied the right to see a movie or eat at a restaurant in many parts of California.

It grew from the frustration and humiliation I felt as a boy who couldn't understand how the growers could abuse and exploit farm workers when there were so many of us and so few of them.

Which ideas from the excerpt would be most appropriate to include in a summary? Select two options.

My singular objective has been to change farming practices so workers are respected.
There was a time when people like me were not welcome in restaurants or theaters.
I have been angry for at least 40 years because of horrible experiences in my life.
This dream for change came from my own experiences of racism and mistreatment.
My dreams for change came from watching my parents as I was growing up.

Answer 1

The correct answers (simplified) are:

A.) My singular objective has been to change farming practices so workers are respected. (1)

D.) This dream for change came from my own experiences of racism and mistreatment. (4)

Answer 2

These answers do not fully reflect the powerful poetry used to show his feelings. For example, Farm workers are not agricultural implements to be used like beasts of burden and discarded.

His anger stems from what he sees (growers misused their control; the workers were many and the growers were few). His anger stems from what he experiences (restaurants were a closed door for him. The latest movies were forbidden territory). His anger grew from the injustice he saw his people suffer. There was no fairness in the way they were treated. His anger is fueled by watching those he loved be reduced to powerlessness and prejudice against those around him.

Which two statements reflect this?

I would pick the first one. His anger is pretty singular and he does want to see injustice go on. The second last one would also be a choice. The root of the problem is racism and mistreatment.

Answer: A and D