Frederick Douglass Exam (Modified)

Read this sentence: "Before she got married, she had to work hard to earn her own money." What does this tell us about Mrs. Auld before she was married?

• She had to work to take care of herself.

• She had many jobs to make money.

• She got help from a group that helps women who need it.

• She liked to live freely and independently.

Answer explanation

The sentence indicates that Mrs. Auld had to work hard to earn her own money, implying that she had to take care of herself before getting married. This highlights the correct choice: 'She had to work to take care of herself.'

Which sentence tells the main idea of the first paragraph?

• Frederick Douglass's new teacher was a strange lady who confused him.

• Frederick Douglass's new teacher was a hardworking weaver who didn't need slaves.

• Frederick Douglass's new teacher was nice when they first met because she never had slaves before.

• Frederick Douglass's new teacher was nice when they first met, but this changed quickly.

Answer explanation

The main idea of the first paragraph is that Frederick Douglass's new teacher was nice when they first met. She never had slaves so she saw him as a fellow human being. She wasn't brainwashed.

Imagine some actors are practicing a play about the life of Frederick Douglass. They are practicing a scene from Chapter 6 of his story. Match the quote from the first paragraph to the clue they give the actors:

“I was utterly astonished at her goodness.”

• Shows how the actor playing Douglass should move his body

• Shows how the actor playing Mrs. Auld should speak to the actor playing Douglass

• Shows emotions the actor playing Douglass should convey

• Shows emotions the actor playing Mrs. Auld should convey

Answer explanation

“I was utterly astonished at her goodness” shows an emotion—astonishment—that the actor playing Douglass should convey.

Imagine some actors are practicing a play about the life of Frederick Douglass. They are practicing a scene from Chapter 6 of his story. Match the quote from the first paragraph to the clue they give the actors:

“Her favor was not gained by it; she seemed to be disturbed by it.”

• Shows how the actor playing Douglass should move his body

• Shows how the actor playing Mrs. Auld should speak to the actor playing Douglass

• Shows emotions the actor playing Douglass should convey

• Shows emotions the actor playing Mrs. Auld should convey

Answer explanation

“Her favor was not gained by it; she seemed to be disturbed by it” shows emotions the actor playing Mrs. Auld should convey (she should appear disturbed when Douglass behaves in a servile manner).

Imagine some actors are practicing a play about the life of Frederick Douglass. They are practicing a scene from Chapter 6 of his story. Match the quote from the first paragraph to the clue they give the actors:

“Her face was made of heavenly smiles, and her voice of tranquil music.”

• Shows how the actor playing Douglass should move his body

• Shows how the actor playing Mrs. Auld should speak to the actor playing Douglass

• Shows emotions the actor playing Douglass should convey

• Shows emotions the actor playing Mrs. Auld should convey

Answer explanation

“Her face was made of heavenly smiles, and her voice of tranquil music” shows how the actor playing Mrs. Auld should speak to the actor playing Douglass (she should smile and use a kind tone of voice).

Imagine some actors are practicing a play about the life of Frederick Douglass. They are practicing a scene from Chapter 6 of his story. Match the quote from the first paragraph to the clue they give the actors:

“The crouching servility, usually so acceptable a quality in a slave, did not answer when manifested toward her.”

• Shows how the actor playing Douglass should move his body

• Shows how the actor playing Mrs. Auld should speak to the actor playing Douglass

• Shows emotions the actor playing Douglass should convey

• Shows emotions the actor playing Mrs. Auld should convey

Answer explanation

“The crouching servility, usually so acceptable a quality in a slave, did not answer when manifested toward her” shows how the actor playing Douglass should move his body (crouching or bowing in a way that seems servile).

Frederick Douglass uses special words in paragraph 2 to tell us how he feels when Mrs. Auld changes. Which of the following BEST tells how he feels about her change?

• Douglass was not surprised when she changed.

• Douglass did not think she had really changed.

• Douglass was happy when she changed.

• Douglass was sad when she changed.

Answer explanation

Frederick Douglass felt sad when Mrs. Auld changed.

Read this sentence from paragraph 2: "The bad power was already in her hands, and soon started its terrible work." What does this sentence mean in the paragraph?

• The sentence uses a special way of saying things to explain why Mrs. Auld changed.

• The sentence uses a special way of saying things to show the difference in Mrs. Auld's looks and actions before and after she became a slaveholder.

• The sentence uses detailed words to describe how Mrs. Auld would hurt the slaves.

• The sentence uses plain words to explain that Mrs. Auld was secretly poisoned, which changed how she acted.

Answer explanation

. This sentence explains that the metaphorical “poison of irresponsible power,” or Mrs. Auld’s experiences as a slaveholder, is what caused her to change from kind to cruel.

How did Frederick Douglass show the difference between Mrs. Auld when he first met her and how she was later?

• By showing how she talked to him differently

• By comparing how she acted to how her husband acted

• By grouping the things that happened in her life into good and bad experiences

• By talking about how she looked and sounded when he first met her and after she changed

Answer explanation

In paragraph 1, Douglass describes Mrs. Auld’s appearance (“Her face was made of heavenly smiles”) and voice (“of tranquil music”) when he first met her. Then, in paragraph 2, he describes how these changed: “That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that voice, made all of sweet accord, changed to one of harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to that of a demon.

Who wrote the autobiography, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave"?

• James Madison

• Abraham Lincoln

• Frederick Douglass

• Jasper Dale