Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

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

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

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

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

• angry she became when she witnessed her husband mistreating the slaves

What is the most likely reason the author included paragraph 5 in the selection?

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

• To show that reading is an important step in gaining knowledge

• To show that he was thinking about running away from his master

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

Which of these conclusions about Douglass’s unutterable anguish is supported by paragraph 6?

• He sees that his life would have been in turmoil even if he had not become a slave.

• He sees that there is no such thing as truth or human rights in the world.

• He realizes that his master is correct that he should not have learned how to read.

• He realizes that reading the book has shown him what he is missing by being enslaved.

Through the experiences described in this excerpt, Douglass gained ---

• gratitude for his master's and mistress's actions

• a belief that people are not to be trusted

• more knowledge about the problem of slavery

• pleasure in spending time with his white friends

Frederick Douglass used what skill to work against slavery?

• rowing boats

• making speeches

• singing hymns and rap songs

• making pottery

The first person to help Douglass learn to read was

• another slave.

• Master Hugh.

• the mistress of slaveholder

• a white boy from the street.

Which sentence from the excerpt best demonstrates Douglass’s feelings about reading after he learned about slavery?

• In the same book, I met with one of Sheridan’s mighty speeches on and in behalf of Catholic emancipation.

• In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity.

• It was pressed upon me by every object within sight or hearing, animate or inanimate.

• I heard nothing without hearing it, and felt nothing without feeling it.

Why does Douglass first describe his mistress as “a kind and tender-hearted woman”?

• To contrast with her later, cruel behavior

• To show how much he wanted to learn to read

• To prove that some slaveholders were caring

• To emphasize his good fortune

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

The first person to help Frederick Douglass learn to read was?

• Master Hughes

• the little boys he met at the pier

• the man who ran the bakery

• the wife of Master Hughes