Walking Tall

Why were some schools still segregated in 1960 even though the Supreme Court had ruled that segregation was unconstitutional in 1954?

• Under law, black children could not attend the same public schools as white children.

• Many Southern cities were not following the court’s ruling.

• There was not enough space for black children to attend white schools.

• There was not enough money for schools to implement the law.

What does the author describe in the beginning of the passage?

• the Little Rock Nine and the problems they had when trying to attend a white high school

• how President Eisenhower was forced to send U.S. troops to protect African-American students

• how Ruby Bridges became one of the first African Americans to attend a white elementary school

• the relationship between Ruby Bridges and her first teacher, Barbara Henry

Many people did not want Ruby Bridges to attend William Frantz Public School. What evidence from the passage best supports this conclusion?

• Ruby Bridges spent her first day of school inside the principal’s office.

• Ruby Bridges was the only student in Mrs. Henry’s class for her first year at school.

• A screaming mob was protesting outside the school when Ruby arrived.

• Ruby Bridges was one of the first African Americans to attend a white elementary school.

Why did parents probably pull their children out of school after Ruby Bridges arrived?

• They didn’t want their children to go to school with a black child.

• They did not like Ruby Bridges and did not want their children to be her friend.

• They were afraid that Ruby Bridges would be mean to their children.

• They thought that their children deserved a vacation from school.

What is this passage mostly about?

• a group of African-American high school students called the Little Rock Nine

• the people who protested against desegregated schools in the South

• the efforts of civil rights workers to improve life for African Americans

• difficulties faced by African Americans during the desegregation of schools

Read the following sentence: “With the marshals surrounding her, the 6-year-old walked into the school and into history books.

”What does the author suggest by saying that Ruby Bridges “walked... into history books”?

• She had difficulty finding the rooms in this new and unfamiliar school.

• She became very unpopular for changing the way the school operated.

• She became very unpopular for changing the way the school operated.

• She immediately began studying history.

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

Ruby Bridges attended the previously all-white William Frantz Public School, __________ many people did not want her to.

• therefore

• finally

• for instance

• even though

What does “segregated” mean? Give an example of something that was segregated in the United States.