Name: ______________________
Class: _________________
Date: _________
ID: A
Texas v. Johnson
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
Comprehension
Read each of the following questions. Then choose the letter of the best answer.
____
1. Which statement best paraphrases the sentence, "We decline, therefore, to create for the flag an
exception to the joust of principles protected by the First Amendment. . . ." (lines 1–2) from the Court
Opinion by William J. Brennan?
A The Court will not take sides on such principles.
B The flag is less important than other such principles.
C The Court is more important than other such principles.
D The flag is the same as other such principles.
____
2. According to the opinion, what may the government do regarding the flag?
A arrest people who show disrespect toward it
B encourage people to treat it properly
C give it special treatment under the law
D require people to salute it
____
3. According to the Court, government officials may foster national unity by
A compulsion and punishment.
B example and compulsion.
C example and persuasion.
D persuasion and punishment.
____
4. Which sentence reflects the Court’s belief about the effects of its decision?
A Fewer people will choose to display the flag.
B Many people will still be inspired by the flag.
C More people will decide to burn the flag.
D Most people will become indifferent to the flag.
____
5. What counterargument does Justice Brennan make against Texas’s “implicit assumption” that burning
the flag will lead to riots?
A People only riot when they care deeply about something.
B There is no evidence to support this assumption.
C The First Amendment prevents citizens from rioting.
D People who riot will be severely punished.
____
6. According to Justice Brennan, what principles does the flag represent?
A arrogance and conformity
B conformity and tolerance
C freedom and inclusiveness
D morality and freedom
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Name: ______________________
ID: A
Vocabulary
Choose the answer that best explains the meaning of each underlined word.
____
7. A compulsion is a
A binding contract.
B forced obligation.
C free choice.
D guiding principle.
____
8. An idea in a text that is implicit is
A direct.
B unknown.
C stated.
D understood.
____
9. Which phrase best defines reaffirmation?
A an act of endorsing again
B an act of feeling good
C an act of speaking slowly
D an act of standing strong
____ 10. Resilience means the ability to
A recover from an injury or setback.
B reply to an opposing view.
C respond rigidly in a riot.
D review aspects of an argument.
Short Answer
Written Response
Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the court opinion.
11. Why does Justice Brennan cite earlier points of law in his opinion? Give examples from the text to
support your answer.
12. Does Justice Brennan agree with Gregory Lee Johnson’s feelings about the flag? Cite evidence from
the opinion to support your answer.
2
ID: A
Texas v. Johnson
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
ANS:
D
B
C
B
A
C
B
D
A
A
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
PTS:
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
SHORT ANSWER
11. ANS:
Brennan wants to show that earlier Courts held similar opinions about freedom of speech and
protecting the flag. Citing precedents (or previous cases) is a common form of legal reasoning. He
quotes one case directly because it addressed government limits in compelling certain behavior and
paraphrases another that addressed the question of whether an act of individual protest would
adversely affect the role of the flag in the Nation.
PTS: 10
12. ANS:
Responses will vary. Students should understand that Brennan likely does not agree with Johnson’s
feelings or actions but upholds his right to free speech (lines 37–39). Brennan believes that people
should be encouraged to treat the flag properly (lines 3–4) and states that the flag plays a “special
role” (lines 16, 24, 37) and has a “deservedly cherished place in our community” (lines 26–27). Some
students may say that Johnson chose flag burning as his form of protest because he agrees that it
plays this special role and wanted to make a very strong statement, citing similar evidence and lines
19–25.
PTS: 10
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