MCNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave

The selection can best be identified as an autobiography because —

• it has a narrator describing real people

• it has historical figures in authentic settings

• it is told in first person about actual events

• it is told in third person with accurate facts

Match the statement from the text to the author’s reason for writing it.

As many of these as I could, I converted into teachers. (paragraph 4)

• To illustrate how Douglass learned to read

• To show that his friends gave him hope that one day he would be free

• To explain that not having knowledge is sometimes better than having knowledge

Match the statement from the text to the author’s reason for writing it.

“Have not I as good a right to be free as you have?” (paragraph 4)

• To illustrate how Douglass learned to read

• To show that his friends gave him hope that one day he would be free

• To explain that not having knowledge is sometimes better than having knowledge

Match the statement from the text to the author’s reason for writing it.

As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. (paragraph 6)

• To illustrate how Douglass learned to read

• To show that his friends gave him hope that one day he would be free

• To explain that not having knowledge is sometimes better than having knowledge

In paragraph 2 of the selection, Douglass calls his mistress tiger like to emphasize how —

• threatening she became when she decided to deny him an education

• confused she was about whether to hate or enjoy being a slave owner

• forceful she became when it came to caring for the hungry or needy

• angry she was when she noticed her husband mistreating the slaves

Read the sentence from paragraph 6.

The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers.

Which word is best used in the place of abhor to keep the meaning of the sentence the same?

• Annoy

• Fear

• Impair

• Loathe

Choose the phrase that correctly uses an infinitive phrase in the underlined section in the sentence below.

More than ever, Frederick Douglass wanted to be learned how to read.

• learn how to read

• learning how to read

• to learn how to read

• correct as is

Choose the phrase that correctly uses an infinitive phrase in the underlined section in the sentence below.

He got a lesson from his friends, he brought them bread.

• To get a lesson from his friends

• By getting a lesson from his friends

• He was getting a lesson from his friends

• Correct as is

Read the sentence from paragraph 6.

As I read and contemplated the subject, behold! that very discontentment which Master Hugh had predicted would follow my learning to read had already come, to torment and sting my soul to unutterable anguish.

Which word is best used in the place of discontentment to keep the meaning of the sentence the same?

• Misery

• Potential

• Sensation

• Uncertainty

What is the most likely reason the author includes paragraph 5 in the text?

• To suggest that a book gave him hope that someday he could be free

• To show that reading a book and debating its ideas would set him free

• To show that he was planning to run away soon from his master

• To suggest that he could talk with his master if he were well-read