📖 Study Summary: May Day (Unit 3, Lesson 2)
May Day or International Workers' Day is observed on May 1st all over the world to commemorate the historic struggle and sacrifices of the working people. On May 3, 1886, striking workers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago demanding an eight-hour workday were attacked by police, resulting in casualties.
This historic event is 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.
📝 Part 1: Fill in the Blanks (Without Clues)
Read the text and fill in the gaps with suitable words.
May Day is 1. ______ internationally on May 1st to honor the 2. ______ of the working class. Historically, workers had to work 3. ______ hours or more a day. On May 3, 1886, workers in Chicago went on 4. ______ demanding an 8-hour workday. Police 5. ______ on the peaceful crowd, killing at least one worker and 6. ______ several others. The events of May 1886 serve as a 7. ______ that workers must stand 8. ______ against exploitation. Today, workers enjoy an 8-hour workday 9. ______ to the historical sacrifices made by those brave 10. ______.
💡 Answer Key (Part 1):
observed / celebrated
sacrifices / struggles
fourteen / long
strike
fired / attacked
injuring / wounding
reminder
together / united
due / thanks
workers / martyrs
📝 Part 2: Fill in the Gaps (With Clues)
Fill in the gaps using the suitable words from the box below.
| exploitation | struggle | observe | eight | strike |
| police | sacrifices | rights | demanding | peaceful |
All over the world, people (a) ______ May Day to honor the historical (b) ______ of workers. In 1886, workers staged a (c) ______ in Chicago (d) ______ an eight-hour workday. During a (e) ______ rally, the (f) ______ attacked the workers. This tragic event encouraged workers to fight for their (g) ______. Today, workers work for (h) ______ hours a day instead of long hours. May Day reminds us to resist (i) ______ in workplaces. It stands as a symbol of the workers' long (j) ______.
💡 Answer Key (Part 2):
(a) observe
(b) sacrifices
(c) strike
(d) demanding
(e) peaceful
(f) police
(g) rights
(h) eight
(i) exploitation
(j) struggle
❓ Part 3: Model Questions
Why is May Day observed globally?
Answer: May Day is observed globally to commemorate the historical struggle and sacrifices of working-class people to establish an eight-hour workday and fair rights.
What were the demands of the striking workers in Chicago in 1886?
Answer: The striking workers demanded an eight-hour workday instead of working fourteen or more hours a day.
What happened on May 3, 1886, near the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company?
Answer: Police attacked a peaceful rally of striking workers, leaving at least one worker dead, several seriously injured, and many others wounded.
What lesson do we learn from the events of May Day?
Answer: May Day teaches us that workers must stand up, unite, and speak out against exploitation to achieve better working conditions, fair wages, and dignity.
