Story: French Invoke Curfews to Quell Youth Rioting, 11/09/05
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec05/france_11-09.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What is happening in France and how is the government responding to the situation?

2. What instigated the rioting?

3. How severe is the rioting?

4. Who are the rioters? Why do they say they are rioting? Is religion a factor?

5. According to the article, how do the young people who are rioting in France feel about their futures?

6. How did the interior minister contribute to the situation?

7. How role is politics playing in the situation?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. According to Michelle Rosso, a French teacher, the rioting in France is similar to the U.S. civil rights movement in the 1960s. Do you agree or disagree? How are they similar? How are they different? Do you agree with the tactics of the rioters? Why or why not?

2. Do you think the French government is responding correctly to the rioting? What would you do differently?

3. What is an egalitarian social system? What does that mean in practical terms? What are some other countries that claim to be egalitarian? Are they successful? Why or why not?

Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.