Is Britain a meritocracy? Simon Woolley left school without any A-levels, but after a life of campaigning for equality is now the head of a Cambridge college.
The Lord who grew up on a council estate
Community champion: Race and equalities activist Simon Woolley, founder of the campaigning organisation Operation Black Vote (OBV), received a knighthood in the late Queen’s 2019 birthday honours list. Comprehension quiz
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What does the word “rife” mean as it is used in the quote, “…racism was rife”?
A: Rare or uncommon
B: Widespread and common
C: Funny or amusing
D: Secret or hidden
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Which word is the closest synonym for “resilient” in this context?
A: Weak
B: Flexible
C: Quick to give up
D: Able to recover quickly
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Add the correct punctuation to this sentence:
being clever is one thing but its nothing without good character
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What two subjects did Simon Woolley study at university when he was 27?
A: History and politics
B: English Literature and Spanish
C: Car mechanics and engineering
D: Business and marketing
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Which is NOT one of the demands of the pressure group “Charter 88” that Simon Woolley joined?
A: A Bill of Rights
B: Proportional representation
C: An end to racism
D: More people from ethnic minorities involved in politics
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What is the key message Simon Woolley hopes his story will show young people?
A: Only people who are born clever can succeed.
B: It doesn’t matter where you start; you can still aim for your dreams.
C: Everyone needs to be fostered or adopted to become successful.
D: You should always train as a car mechanic first.
Answers
Tap to reveal
1: B, 2: D, 3: Being clever is one thing, but it's nothing without good character., 4: B, 5: D, 6: B
1: B, 2: D, 3: Being clever is one thing, but it's nothing without good character., 4: B, 5: D, 6: B
Glossary
Skinheads - Young people, usually male, of a subculture characterised by close-cropped hair and heavy boots, often very aggressive and racist.
Resilient - Tough or able to cope with difficulty.
Learning Curve - The rate of a person's progress in gaining experience or new skills.
Pressure group - A group that tries to influence political policy in favour of a specific cause — for example climate change or gun control.
Bill of Rights - A list of a country's citizens' basic rights and freedoms that are protected by law, such as those in the US Constitution.
Proportional representation - A voting system in which the winning party gets a proportion of parliamentary seats equal to its proportion of the vote.