Click here to go to a news.google.com/newspapers page. Scroll to the middle of the page to find the article titled «May Day» which was published  in The Age, 1 May, 1981. You can decrease or enlarge the page by clicking on the magnifying button.

Read the article and do the following tasks:

A) Match the words with their definition:

1. tenuous                           to allow
2. inciting                            summarizing  
3. institution                       to start, to open      
4. to grant                           fixture
5. to launch                         urging 
6. outlining                          weak,questionable

B) Answer the questions

1. Why was the International Workers’ Day first held?
2. Where and when did the International Workers’ Day first begin?
3. Who organized the march?
4. What happened during the march?
5. Why were four union leaders arrested and hanged?
6. Why do we celebrate the International Workers’ Day?

C) True or False?

1. In many countries May Day is an official out of work day for the citizens.
2. Australia was a pioneer in allowing 8 hours work a day. 
3. In Australia the 8 hours work demand started by people working in Melbourne’s Parliament.
4. In Australia the 8 hours work demand started with a strike.

D) Answer briefly

1. How does the writer explain the  “more casual approach” to celebrating May Day in Australia?
2. How did “stubbornness” help workers in Australia establish 8 hours work a day?

Answers

A)

1. tenuous                           weak,questionable
2. inciting                            urging
3. institution                      fixture
4. to grant                           to allow
5. to launch                        to start, to open
6. outlining                         summarizing

B)

1. It was a demostration aiming to establish 8 hours work a day.
2. It began in Chicago on 1 May 1886.
3. The march was organized by American and Canadian trade union leaders.
4. Six workers were shot dead by the police.
5. They were accused of causing violence and political subversion.
6. To honor and commemorate the 1886 workers’ struggle and sacrifice to establish an eight-hour work day.

C)

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True

D) (suggested answers)

1. The writer thinks that May Day in Australia isn’t celebrated in a solemn way, because labor rights were won easily.
2. They collectively stopped working and made it clear that they would not go back to work until their demands were met. This attitude made the emloyers give in.

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