In December of 2012, a middle school student, Rebecca Ann Sedwick, became the target of harassment from her classmates when she started dating a boy they liked. A total of 15 girls, some of whom were Sedwick's best friends, bullied her at school and online. They called her horrible names, threatened to beat her up, and provoked her to commit suicide. On September 9, 2013, they got their wish. Sedwick climbed to the top tower of a concrete▼ factory and leapt to her death. She was only 12 years old. Sadly, Sedwick's case is not an isolated incident. Kids who are from families of modest economic means▼, different ethnic or racial backgrounds, or different sexual orientation typically find themselves the victims of bullying. Luckily, however, there are many groups fighting back.
Anti-Bullying Day, also known as Pink Shirt Day, originated in Canada and is celebrated on various dates throughout the world. On this particular day, participants typically wear pink shirts to take a stand against bullying. The American Justice Department estimates that one in four kids will be bullied during their adolescence▼ and the majority of the bullying continues well after the first incident. Now because of social media, many victims of bullying are able to report being threatened through text messages, Facebook posts, and emails even after the school day has finished. The purpose of Pink Shirt Day is to teach kids that it is OK to be different and that harassment should not be tolerated. While Pink Shirt Day and other anti-bullying campaigns are giving kids a voice to stand up for themselves, the rest of society needs to value the importance of its youth and seek to keep them protected.
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1. Why is Pink Shirt Day important?
(A) To teach students that they should connect with friends on Facebook.
(B) To show kids that they do not have to be the same as everyone else.
(C) To demonstrate that wearing a pink shirt can be fashionable.
(D) To let everyone know that Canada is a nice country to visit.
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2. How did Sedwick become a target for bullies?
(A) She wore pink shirts to school.
(B) She had too many Facebook friends.
(C) She started to date someone that her friends also liked.
(D) She bullied her classmates.
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3. According to the article, what is NOT a reason why someone may be bullied?
(A) He or she is from a different ethnic background.
(B) He or she is from a poor family.
(C) He or she is of a different sexual orientation.
(D) He or she is from an extremely rich family.
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4. According to the article, what are some ways to stop bullying?
(A) To let people know that harassment will not be tolerated.
(B) To send mean text messages to bullies.
(C) To wear black T-shirts.
(D) To stop going to school.
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