The Niger Expedition of 1841

What does the word "abominable" mean as used in the text?

• causing moral revulsion

• never done or known before

• the activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale

What does the word "unprecedented" mean as used in the text?

• causing moral revulsion

• never done or known before

• the activity of buying and selling, especially on a large scale

What does the word "Rousing" mean as used in the text?

• a musket with a short barrel

• with great enthusiasm or excitement

• having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

• the system of ropes, cables, or chains used to support a ship’s masts

What does the word "Amiable" mean as used in the text?

• a musket with a short barrel

• with great enthusiasm or excitement

• having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner

• the system of ropes, cables, or chains used to support a ship’s masts

What does the word "Mortal" mean as used in the text?

• a musket with a short barrel

• with great enthusiasm or excitement

• causing or likely to cause death

• harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant

What does the word "Noxious" mean as used in the text?

• a musket with a short barrel

• with great enthusiasm or excitement

• causing or likely to cause death

• harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant

PART A: Which of the following identifies the central idea of the text?

• The British Parliament was not interested in abolishing slavery globally, but rather profiting from trade with the inhabitants of Africa.

• The Niger expedition was unsuccessful, as the Englishmen were unable to provide African chieftains with what they required in order to stop trading slaves.

• While chieftains wanted to stop participating in the slave trade, they were afraid of how the Western World would retaliate.

• While the Niger expedition began as a means to eradicate slavery, Britain eventually decided the only option was to take control of the entire Niger River.

PART B: Which section from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• "But the abominable trade continued — in 1839, about 100,000-150,000 African slaves were sold to the Western World — and, as one member of the House of Lords concluded, the trade 'could not be repressed by the entire British Navy.'" (Paragraph 2)

• "The ambitious plan was to win or buy the cooperation of the tribal chieftains along the River Niger through a series of treaties, as well as introduce Christianity and increase commerce." (Paragraph 3)

• "'If you want me to put (the trade) down, you must send plenty of ships' for the legitimate commerce. Since the expedition was unable to make such promise, Allen and Thomson wrote that King Obi believed they had 'undoubtedly broken the treaty and have justified his return to the Slave Trade.'" (Paragraph 25)

• "Allen proposed the establishment of 'a British colony on the Niger… which would be populated entirely by native Africans' have 'its own army and navy (and) work to eradicate the slave trade in the interior of Africa.'" (Paragraph 29)

PART A: What is the meaning of "odyssey" in paragraph 7?

• a dangerous journey

• a doomed mission

• an epic journey

• an essential mission

PART B: Which detail from paragraph 7 best supports the answer to Part A?

• The expedition was an adventure.

• It was carried out by men who paid a heavy price with their lives and health.

• And except for some impressive scientific findings

• as described by two of its surviving Royal Navy officers