Unit-3, Lesson-3 (B): May Day
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.
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 McCormic Harvester Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight hour workday. Two days later, a workers rally was held near the McCormic 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 strikebreakers 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 best answer from the alternatives. 1 x 7 = 7
(a) The policemen attacked the strikers on ---.
i. May 1st ii. May 2nd
iii. May 3rd iv. May 4th
(b) Clubs and revolvers were used upon ---.
i. trade union leaders ii. policemen
iii. strikers iv. strikebreakers
(c) The workers demand was to --- work time.
i. sustain ii. assign
iii. reduce iv. upgrade
(d) To stop exploitation workers should not ---.
i. express their opinion in public
ii. rule out any unfair condition by their bosses
iii. speak meekly
iv. think of their privilege
(e) "And not to give in to their bosses." --- What does 'give in' mean here?
i. Dominate
ii. Refuse
iii. Agree to continuing struggling
iv. Agree to stop struggling
(f) May Day has taught the working people how to ---- their demand.
i. fulfil ii. gain
iii. earn iv. achieve
(g) Now, May Day works as a reminder of --- of the previous workers.
i. exploitation ii. freedom
iii. loyalty iv. promise
2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
(a) Which demand did the workers struggle for?
(b) What activities did the workers do against the authorities?
(c) What happened when the policemen attacked the strikers?
(d) Why is the event of May 1, 1886 a reminder for the workers?
(e) Why did the workers sacrifice their lives?
Answer: 1. (a) iii. May 3rd, (b) iii. strikers, (c) iii. reduce, (d) iii. speak meekly, (e) iv. Agree to stop struggling, (f) ii. gain (g) i. exploitation.
2. (a) The workers struggled for an eight hour workday.
(b) They held a rally against the authorities. The rally was addressed by the labour leaders. The labour leaders urged the workers to stand together, to go on with their struggle and not to give in to their bosses.
(c) When the policemen attacked the strikers, one of them was killed instantly, five or six others were seriously wounded and many others were injured.
(d) The event of May 1, 1886 is a reminder for the workers as it teaches them to stand up and speak out to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives if they are exploited.
(e) The workers sacrificed their lives to gain eight-hour workday, better working condition, better pay and better lives.
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