Frederick Douglass Comprehension Check

The first person to help Douglass learn to read was

• another slave

• Master Hugh

• the wife of Master Hugh

• a white boy from the street

What does Douglass trade with poor local boys in exchanged for reading lessons?

• beads
• books
• bread
• money

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.

What is Douglass's most likely purpose for writing his autobiography?

• to make readers agree that reading is important
• to inform readers about the life of a slave
• to express feelings about Master Hugh
• to tell an interesting story from his past

Which is an example of a cause-and-effect relationship?

• Douglass comes to consider reading both a blessing and a curse.
• Douglass gave bread to young boys and they helped him learn to read.
• Douglass considers his mistress to be kind and later she is cruel to him.
• Douglass was twelve years old and did not want to be a slave for life.

What does Fredrick Douglass learn to do?

• read and write
• plant and harvest
• bake bread
• talk to slaveowners

How does his mistress change?

• She becomes kinder once she gets to know him.
• She doesn't think he should read, but she still finds him a school.
• Slavery did not change her. She was always mean.
• Slavery changed her and made her more cruel.

Why would Douglass make friends with the boys on the street?

• He was lonely.
• He needed something to eat.
• He wanted to learn to read.
• He had a lot in common with them.

Why doesn't Douglass name the boys who taught him to read?

• They may be embarrassed because it was unacceptable to teach a slave to read.
• It was so long ago that he forgot all their names.
• They have already been thanked and he doesn't want them to become too arrogant.
• Douglass was bitter because they did teach him to read, but then stopped.