The affirmative action policies are difficult to understand. These policies suggest each organization should reflect the total population. For example, blacks make up about 15 percent of the population in the United States. If you own a small company with 100 employees, how many should be black?
B. Timed Reading
In the early 1970s, Allen Bakke, an engineer from California, decided that he wanted to change his career and become a doctor. He applied to the medical school at the University of California. Bakke was a good student; he had graduated from the University of Minnesota with an A average and had a master's degree from Stanford. He was not accepted by the University of California. He was very upset.
Bakke discovered that the university had an affirmative action policy; he believed that some black students who were accepted to the medical school were not as qualified as he was. In other words, he felt that they were accepted because of their race and not because of their background. It seems that the university was trying to equalize educational opportunities for minority students. The university hoped that by accepting a certain number of minority students, they could change a long history of discrimination.
Bakke felt that this affirmative action policy was unjust and that he had a right to attend medical school. He felt that he was better qualified and that the action of the medical school was reverse discrimination. He considered the action Illegal and decided to bring his problem to the court for a decision.
He brought the issue to two state courts in California. The decision of the judges was that the action of the medical school was perfectly legal and that Bakke had to accept this decision.
He then decided to bring the problem to the United States Supreme Court, where the final decision-making power in the United States lies. What do you think happened?
Read each of the following statements carefully to determine whether each is true (T), false (F), or impossible to know (ITK).
1. __________Bakke's background was better than most others.
2. __________Bakke had a good background.
3. __________Bakke applied to Stanford Medical School.
4. __________This case happened last year.
5. __________Reverse discrimination means not accepting minorities.
6. __________The Supreme Court makes final decisions about laws in the United States.
7. __________Bakke had no alternative after the decision of the two lower (state) courts.
8. __________The policy of the school was to fill all places with minority students.
9. __________The two state courts said that the action was illegal.
10. _________ Bakke accepted the decision of the state courts.
Ñ. Vocabulary
Fill in the blanks with vocabulary from the reading.
1. applied/accepted/attended
Allen Bakke __________ the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate. He __________ to the University of California, but was no_____________
2. discrimination/judge/illegal
The __________ considered that _________in any form was __________.
3. applicants/accepted/backgrounds
________ who had __________ that were not as good as Bakke's were __________.
4. policy/attempt
This ______________was an ___________ to equalize opportunities.
D. React
Mr. Bakke's affirmative action case is a difficult one. According to the facts, what would you decide? Get into groups of five and decide the case as the Supreme Court did. Remember that you must have a majority decision (3 to 2). After reaching your decision, present it to the class. Here is some useful vocabulary.
We feel that . . .
We agree that ...
Mr. Bakke should .. . legal/illegal
The university should . . . necessary/unnecessary
All applicants should .. . unconstitutional
Minority applicants must .. .
Racial discrimination ...
Reverse discrimination ...
employ employment
1. She is looking for ________________
Discriminate Discrimination
2. ______________ is unfortunately part of the history of this country
treat treatment
3. What is the best way to____________ cold?
educate education
4. Public schools should_______________ everybody.
protect protection
5. Don't worry. I'll ___________ you.
equalize equality
6. Is the basis of democracy ________________?
associate association
7. She denies any _______________ with him.
designate designation
8. The of “white only” facilitates is now over.
act action
9. They always ______________ natural.
solve solution
10. Time isn't going to ________ this problem.
Part2
In other chapters, you have studied parts of the boldfaced words in the following sentences. Write the letter with the correct meaning of the boldfaced word from the list below the sentences.
1. They asked the government to intervene because the two groups couldn't come to any agreement.
2. He walked right past me as if I were invisible.
3. All I want is an equitable solution to the problem.
4. I'm going to preview the movie I'm planning to show in class tomorrow.
5. I read that woman's autobiography. It was quite interesting.
6. Where's the exit to this building?
6. In my judgment, the driver was wrong.
7. I think he needs psychiatric help.
9. His leg was visible sticking out from behind the sofa.
10. Exercise has beneficial effects on your body and mind.
a. look at before b. opinion
c. fair d. story about your own life
e. mental f. able to be seen
g. come between h. way out
i. not able to be seen . j. good, positive
section 4
Look Back
A. Vocabulary
Circle the letter of the choice that best completes each sentence.
1. The woman did not want the magazines, but the salesman was ___. a. exclusive b. protective . ñ persistent
2. This paper from the state court is filled with _____.
a. tension b. legalities ñ. loss
3. She has everything in order: She _____ her work very carefully.
a. segregates b. organizes ñ. associates
4. She makes all the important company decisions, all the _____ ones.
a. reverse b. major ñ minor
5. It is _____ to do that now. Don't wait.
a. blatant b. advantageous ñ succeeding
7. ________ speaking, I don't understand the situation all.
a. Unjustly b. Continuously c. seriously
7. He_____ football with Americans.
a. associates b. participates c. discriminates
8. Cats are very ______ of their kittens.
a. protective b. serious c. affirmative
9. He has improved 100 percent. He has made great a. attempts b. gains c. losses
10. He has very_______ taste; only the best for him.
a. regulatory b. discriminating c. common
Â. Matching
DIRECTIONS: Find the word or phrase in column  which has a similar meaning to a word in column A. Write the letter of that word or phrase next to the word in column A.
A
Â
1. naturally
a. unfair
2. disadvantage
b. positive
3. adequate
c. tied with
4. legal
d. different
5. participation
e. enough.
6. segregate
f. easy to see
7. unjust
g. obviously
8. qualified
h. problem
9. associated
i. lawful
10. blatant
j. continue
11. serious
k. able
12. majority
l. important
13. distinct
m. larger percentage
14. persist
n. involvement
15. affirmative
o. separate
C. Synthesis Questions
1. In the 1960s, the now famous case of Rosa Parks occurred; she was a black woman who would not give up her seat on the bus and move to the back. She was then arrested. Can that happen today?
2. In many places in the world, there are all male private clubs. How do you feel about all-male clubs? Find out if these are possible in the United States.
3. The Ku Klux Klan is an anti-black organization in this country. Its members are prejudiced against blacks. Why do you think this group exists? Is this group legal in the United States?