Frederick Douglas Passage

Who is the author of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass?

• StudySync

• Frederick Douglass

• Ms. Martinez

• Harper Collins

Douglass was “making friends of all the little white boys” most likely because __________.

• he did not want to be seen with any fellow slaves

• he knew that they could read and he could not

• he did not know what to do with his extra bread

• he hoped that one of them could convince his owner to free him

Douglass does not reveal the names of the boys who taught him to read most likely because ___________.

• he wishes that he never learned to read and would like to put it behind him

• he had long forgotten who they were

• he is still angry at them for having their freedom

• it was illegal teach slaves to read and he does not want them to get in trouble

What does the following passage mainly reveal about the life of Frederick Douglass?

“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.”

• Douglass’s owner had warned him that learning to read would cause him pain.

• Douglass only learned how to read in order to find out how to free himself.

• Douglass was threatened with whippings from his owner if he learned how to read.

• Master Hugh sympathized with Douglass because he also did not know how to read.

Which is most closely a central idea of this excerpt?

• No one felt sorry for the plight of slaves except for slaves themselves.

• Reading cannot change how you feel about things.

• The process of self-discovery can be a painful one.

• Children should not be learning about adult subjects.

Which evidence from the text most strongly supports the idea that self-discovery (learning/bettering oneself) is a painful process?

• “As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing.”

• “These words used to trouble them; they would express for me the liveliest sympathy, and console me with the hope that something would occur by which I might be free.”

• “The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder.”

• “When I was sent of errands, I always took my book with me, and by going one part of my errand quickly, I found time to get a lesson before my return.”

Which of the following inferences is best supported by the text?

• The boys who taught Mr. Douglass to read will be disappointed to see that he does not credit them by name.

• Books gave Mr. Douglass the hope that he could one day obtain his freedom.

• Mr. Douglass learned to read so that he could study a variety of topics.

• Mr. Douglass only thought about freedom when he was reading a book.

Which statement from the text most strongly supports that books gave Mr. Douglass the hope that he could one day obtain his freedom?

• “It is enough to say of the dear little fellows, that they lived on Philpot Street, very near Durgin and Bailey’s ship-yard.”

• “The plan which I adopted, and the one by which I was most successful, was that of making friends of all the little white boys whom I met in the street.”

• “The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder.”

• “I was now about twelve years old, and the thought of being a slave for life began to bear heavily upon my heart.”