A
On February 1, 1960, in the town of Greensboro, North Carolina, four African American college students sat down on chairs at the lunch counter (便餐馆) of the local Woolworth's department store. They weren't sitting down for a cup of coffee or a piece of bread. They were sitting down to change the world, or, at least, a part of it.
Throughout the South, prejudice (偏见) against African Americans was common. The Woolworth's lunch counter — like many restaurants, hotels, and hospitals — refused to serve African Americans. This humiliating (屈辱的) treatment made many African Americans unhappy and begin to say, “No more!” So, Ezell A. Blair, Jr., Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond — the four college students — decided to fight back without violence. The four men walked into Woolworth's with a clear plan of action. They knew the servers would refuse to serve them. They knew other customers would treat them rudely. But no matter what, they would remain peaceful and polite, even to those who behaved hatefully toward them.
They'd been inspired by civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King asked African Americans to challenge prejudice and demand equal treatment. But he did not believe in using violence to get results. Dr. King said that love can lead to understanding, but hate only leads to more hate. African Americans, he said, must do something quite difficult: fight violence and hate with peace and love.
The four men in Greensboro believed in the teachings of Dr. King. But as they took their seats at the counter, they had to wonder: Would these ideas work? In fact they did. By the end of the week, the four were joined by hundreds of other protesters (抗议者). News of their “sit-in” spread around the country, and soon other groups were protesting at Woolworth's around the country. By July, the lunch counter at Woolworth's was open to African Americans. Other restaurants soon followed. Through their simple act of sitting down, the four men took a brave stand for equality and peace.
21. Why did four college students walk into the Woolworth's store on February 1, 1960?
A. To have a drink. B. To enjoy a tasty lunch.
C. To fight for equal rights. D. To join in a heated discussion.
22. How did Dr. King affect the four college students in Greensboro?
A. By pushing them to go to college.
B. By acting as a role model for them.
C. By leading them to challenge themselves.
D. By encouraging them to respect each other.
23. How did the other protesters react to the four college students' sit-in?
A. They considered it unreasonable. B. They expressed dissatisfaction.
C. They showed no interest in it. D. They strongly supported it.
24. What is the best title for the text?
A. Stand Up by Sitting Down B. The Story of Dr. Martin Luther King
C. A Lasting Solution to Social Inequality D. Explore the roles of African America
