Malala Yousafzai: A Voice for Education
Lexile: 870 | Grade: 6
Passage
Malala Yousafzai is a world leader known not for ruling a country, but for leading a movement. Born in 1997 in Pakistan, Malala grew up in a region where some people believed that girls should not go to school. Her father ran a school and encouraged her to learn and speak out for her rights.
When Malala was just 11 years old, she began writing a blog under a fake name. She described what life was like for girls in her hometown under Taliban rule. She talked about going to school in secret and her hope that one day, all children—especially girls—could learn freely.
In 2012, Malala was attacked on her way home from school. A member of the Taliban boarded her school bus and shot her. The world was shocked, but Malala survived. Instead of staying silent, she became even more determined to speak out for education.
After her recovery, Malala gave speeches around the world and met with world leaders to discuss the importance of education. In 2014, at just 17 years old, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Malala started the Malala Fund to help girls in countries where it’s hard to go to school. She also went on to attend college at Oxford University in England. Even though she faced danger, Malala chose courage and compassion over fear. Today, she is a powerful voice for children and education around the world.
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Questions
Q1: What is the central idea of the passage?
- A. Malala wants to become a teacher.
- B. Malala is a global leader who fights for girls’ education and equal rights.
- C. Malala moved to England to study medicine.
- D. Malala wants to become a government leader in Pakistan.
Q2: What happened after Malala was attacked?
- A. She gave up speaking publicly.
- B. She decided to leave school forever.
- C. She became even more determined to support education for girls.
- D. She moved to a new town and changed her name.
Q3: Why did Malala use a fake name when writing her blog?
- A. She wanted to write more creatively.
- B. She was too young to have her name published.
- C. She didn’t want her father to find out.
- D. She needed to stay safe while speaking out.
Q4: What does the word 'movement' mean in paragraph 1?
- A. A type of dance
- B. A group of people working for change
- C. A change in location
- D. A fast physical action
Q5: Which event happened first in Malala’s story?
- A. She won the Nobel Peace Prize.
- B. She gave a speech at the United Nations.
- C. She wrote a blog about girls’ education.
- D. She created the Malala Fund.
Q6: Which sentence best shows Malala’s character?
- A. She stopped going to school after her injury.
- B. She chose courage and compassion over fear.
- C. She refused to speak to leaders.
- D. She kept her beliefs to herself.
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Answers & Reasoning
Q1: What is the central idea of the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage focuses on Malala’s leadership in the global movement for girls’ education and her continued activism.
Q2: What happened after Malala was attacked?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The text explains that after recovering, she continued to speak out and became a global voice for education.
Q3: Why did Malala use a fake name when writing her blog?
✅ Correct Answer: D
💡 Reasoning: Because speaking out was dangerous under Taliban rule, she used a fake name to protect herself.
Q4: What does the word 'movement' mean in paragraph 1?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: In this context, a 'movement' refers to Malala’s leadership in a social cause.
Q5: Which event happened first in Malala’s story?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The passage states that she began blogging when she was 11, before all other major events.
Q6: Which sentence best shows Malala’s character?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: This quote highlights her bravery, empathy, and leadership, even in the face of danger.
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