The Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

The word "prudence" means:

• the wise handling of practical matters

• shyness or nervousness

• difficulty understanding simple ideas

• a fear of punishment

Apprehension is

• a type of novel.

• a fear of the future.

• the understanding of a text.

• the demonstration of an idea.

To "commence" means to

• sell

• speak

• confuse

• begin

What is "vindication?"

• a source of information

• a type of crime

• the proof that a claim is correct

• the need to receive payment

When something is unabated, it

• remains at full force.

• is considered wrong or illegal.

• can be obtained without cost.

• needs additional research or study.

Which of the following is a step that Douglass took in order to learn how to read?

• He saved his money to buy books when he went on errands.

• He stole the textbooks from the white kids in his neighborhood that attended school.

• He took lessons with his master once a week.

• He paid poor little white boys with bread in exchange for reading lessons.

Why is it that Douglass feels that "learning to read had already come to torment him."

• The ability to read was something that Douglass felt very proudly about.

• Douglass didn't like having to carry heavy books everywhere he went.

• Now that he could read, there were many people that wanted him to teach them, but he didn't have the time.

• Once he could read, he became very aware of how terrible slavery was and it made him hate his master and fight against slavery.

The first person to teach Douglass how to read was

• another slave.

• Master Hugh.

• the wife of Master Hugh.

• a white boy from the street.

Why does Douglass say that learning to read was a curse rather than a blessing?

• It showed his horrible situation, but not how to escape it.

• No books were available to him so he had nothing to read.

• He was upset that his slave owners would be angry with him.

• The young boys who helped him learn could get in serious trouble.

The more Douglass read books such as "The Columbian Orator," the more he

• enjoyed being able to read.

• became hopeful for his future.

• realized his value to his master.

• came to hate his enslavers.