Part 1: Reading

Directions: Read quickly and don’t stop at words you don’t know. Time yourself. How long did it take?

Write your time here: 4min

Part 2: Questions

Directions: Try to answer as many questions as you can without looking back at the reading.

1. Read the following paragraphs from the section “Lizzo Apologizes.”

"I think ableism is unfortunately so well ingrained in our society that people don't always realize when
it's being used,” she said. This speaks to the lack of representation and visibility of people with
disabilities worldwide, Diviney added. "If that improved, conversations like this one might not need to
happen."

Several activists noted that the word has been normalized, which is hurtful to those who experience
spasms. A spasm is a sudden uncontrolled contraction of a muscle or group of muscles. Imani Barbarin, a
disability advocate with a large social media following, posted on TikTok that her spasms are so severe
she sometimes vomits.

How is the central idea developed in these two paragraphs?

a) They show how certain terms are so common in society that people are unaware that they are
hurtful.
b) They show how disability advocates have struggled to change people’s choices of words.
c) They show that TikTok is the most popular social media platform for disability advocates.
d) They show that ableism is more common today than in any period in American history.

2. Read the following sentences from the article.

Diviney then told Lizzo that it was 2022, and that the artist should “do better.” (1)

Sometimes people might also publicly shame a person on social media for their behavior. (2)

Lizzo's decision to rerelease the song was celebrated online. (3)

The correction was especially moving for Diviney, who said that her intention from the beginning was to
educate the artist. (4)

Which two sentences taken together provide the BEST evidence to support the idea that people
positively responded to Lizzo’s new lyrics?

a) 1 and 2
b) 1 and 4
c) 2 and 3
d) 3 and 4
3. Which section from the article BEST explains why Lizzo understands how words can hurt others?
a) Introduction [paragraphs 1-5]
b) “Lizzo Apologizes”
c) “Don’t ‘Cancel’ Lizzo”
d) “Celebrating Lizzo’s Decision”

4. Which statement would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

a) Lizzo has become an important figure in the music industry.
b) Sometimes people use social media to publicly shame others.
c) Disability advocates felt that Lizzo used an ableist slur in her song “Grrrls.”
d) Imani Barbarin went on TikTok to discuss the severity of her condition

Part 3: Check and Vocabulary

Directions: Read again slowly to double check your answers and answer any you missed the first time.
Also, while you read this time, write down any words you don’t know. Don’t look them up yet! Guess the
meaning yourself first from the context (reading skill 1). After that, check your dictionary.

Words you didn’t know Meaning guess (can be in your Meaning check (can be in
1st language) English or your 1st language)
slammed A lot of work to do be closed forcefully and loudly
discrimination prejudice not based on reason or actual
experience.
dedicated committed devoted to a task or purpose;
having single-minded loyalty or
integrity.

Part 4: Summary

Directions: Write a 5-7 sentence paragraph that explains the central idea of the text. Then write a 3-4
sentence response. (See Writing Module-Skills-Summary and Response for example)

Disability rights activist Hannah Diviney noted one word in the new song "Grrrls" by singer
Lizzo: "spaz. Diviney, a person with cerebral palsy, said to Lizzo in a post, "Your new song gets
me really upset [and] sad. Diviney asserts that the term "spaz" is an ableist slur and does not
denote someone who is irrational or mad. Ableism is a sort of social discrimination and prejudice
towards individuals with impairments. Diviney then told Lizzo that she needed to "do better"
because it was 2022. Lizzo apologized and stated that she had modified "I'mma spaz" to "hold
me back" in a message released across all of her social media accounts. This demonstrates how
poorly disabled people are depicted and treated.
Response

I read this text and wrote about discrimination against the disabled. I also agree that disabled people
should cancel certain words. If you think about it personally, this article has a lot of influence on the
disabled.