Quiz on Equiano's Journey

Equiano is permanently separated from his sister —

• immediately after they are abducted from their home

• on the morning of their third day in captivity

• after a brief reunion at the seacoast

• moments before Equiano is taken aboard the ship

Answer explanation

Equiano is permanently separated from his sister on the morning of their third day in captivity, marking a significant and painful moment in their abduction experience.

Which of the following statements about the selection is false?

• Equiano’s father had many slaves and a large family.

• Equiano seems to be adopted into the family of a wealthy widow.

• Equiano meets Ben Franklin upon arriving in America.

• Many captives on slave ships die during the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer explanation

The statement about Equiano meeting Ben Franklin is false; there is no historical evidence of such a meeting. The other statements accurately reflect Equiano's experiences and background.

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The conditions of the enslaved people in the ship’s hold are —

• cramped but sanitary, with plenty of food

• dangerous, because of frequent storms

• suffocating and stinking, with minimal food

• deadly, because of a tuberculosis epidemic

Answer explanation

The conditions in the ship's hold were suffocating and stinking, with minimal food. This reflects the harsh realities of the Middle Passage, where enslaved people faced overcrowding and inadequate provisions.

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The destination of the slave ship is —

• Barbados

• Massachusetts

• Cuba

• Virginia

Answer explanation

The slave ship's destination was Barbados, a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade, where many enslaved individuals were taken to work on plantations. The other options, while relevant, were not primary destinations for slave ships.

The best evidence that many of the crew members are motivated by cruelty as well as profit is that they —

• refuse to let captives eat fish, which the crew has in abundance

• refuse to let sick people come up onto the deck

• keep the enslaved people from knowing their destination

• force Equiano to look through a quadrant

Answer explanation

The crew's refusal to let captives eat fish, which is plentiful, indicates a motivation rooted in cruelty, as they prioritize suffering over basic needs, highlighting their disregard for the well-being of the enslaved.

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Upon arrival in Barbados, Equiano and his fellow passengers are —

• herded up like cattle and sold at auction

• released from confinement and given small farms

• reunited with their family members

• given food and new clothes

Answer explanation

Upon arrival in Barbados, Equiano and his fellow passengers were treated as commodities, being herded up like cattle and sold at auction, reflecting the brutal reality of the slave trade.

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While he is in the merchant’s custody, Equiano is astonished to see —

• people in fine uniforms

• men riding horses

• familiar landmarks from his homeland

• flying fishes

Answer explanation

While in the merchant's custody, Equiano is astonished to see people in fine uniforms, which highlights the stark contrast between his previous experiences and the new, unfamiliar environment he finds himself in.

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When Equiano first encounters ships, he and his fellow captives believe that ships are stopped by —

• wind

• engines

• magic

• slaves

Answer explanation

When Equiano first sees ships, he and his fellow captives are astonished and believe that the ships are stopped by magic, as they cannot comprehend the mechanics behind their movement.

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Equiano calls slave dealers “nominal” Christians because they —

• do not follow Christ’s teachings

• actually practice other, non-Christian religions

• belong to a special sect of Christianity

• seek to convert slaves to Christianity

Answer explanation

Equiano refers to slave dealers as "nominal" Christians because they do not adhere to Christ's teachings, despite identifying as Christians. Their actions contradict the moral principles of Christianity.

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What can you tell from reading Equiano’s narrative about his later life that is not explicitly mentioned in it?

• In time, he would be reunited with his sister.

• At some point, he must have gotten an education.

• Eventually, he would be sold to a slaveowner in America.

• He would never again return to Africa.

Answer explanation

Equiano's ability to write and articulate his experiences suggests he received an education, even if not detailed in his narrative. This implies he must have learned to read and write, which was uncommon for enslaved individuals.