READING COMPREHENSION
You are working on a project on Women’s and Children’s Rights for your English class. Read the
following text and match the topics (A-D) with the correct paragraphs (1-4).
A. Women and peace.
B. IWD today.
C. What is IWD?
D. Origins of IWD.
International Women’s Day (IWD)
1.____ It is a day celebrated in many Western countries to recognize
women’s achievements, to fight for women’s rights and to accelerate
gender equality –globally and at a local level.
2.____ The first National Woman’s Day was celebrated in the United
States on February 28, 1909, to honor the 1908 New York City strike
in which thousands of women workers protested against their poor
working conditions. In 1910, during an International Conference of
Working Women in Denmark, the idea of having a global day to
celebrate and fight for women’s rights was approved. No specific date
was fixed, but as a result, International Women’s Day was observed
for the first time in some European countries like Austria, Germany
and Switzerland.
3. ____ The day also became a mechanism for protesting First World War. As part of the peace
movement, many women around the world campaigned against the war and expressed their
solidarity with other activists. In 1917, Russian women began a strike for “bread and peace” in
response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers in the war. Four days later, the Russian
government granted women the right to vote.
4.____ In 1975, the United Nations fixed IWD on March 8, and this has been the global date of
celebration ever since. On this day today, thousands of women organize peaceful marches, strikes
and other events and many famous feminist leaders give important speeches to raise awareness, to
fight for more rights and against violent practices towards women. “The story of women’s struggle
for equality belongs to all who care about human rights,” says the feminist journalist and political
activist Gloria Steinem. Now is your turn! Make every day International Women’s Day!
Text adapted from: www.un.org and www.internationalwomensday.com
B) Read the text about International Women’s Day (IWD) again and answer the questions
below.
/10 points
1. Where is IWD celebrated?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Who protested in 1908 and why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What did many women do during the First World War?
_____________________________________________________________
4. How do women observe IWD today?
____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________