Fredrick 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

• 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

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 been born free.

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

• He realizes that his master was correct about how reading the book was a big mistake.

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

Which of the following is the author's reason for writing it?

• 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

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

Which of the following is the author's purpose for writing the above quote?

• 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

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

What is the author's purpose for writing the above quote?

• 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

Read the sentence from paragraph 2. What is the antecedent for the pronoun she in this sentence?

• mistress

• simplicity

• soul

• human

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

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.

Part A Which word best describes how Douglass feels after Master Hugh puts a stop to his education?

• Angry

• Determine

• Hopeful

• Discouraged

Part B Which sentence from paragraph 3 of the selection best supports the answer to Part A?

• From this time I was most narrowly watched.

• If I was in a separate room any considerable length of time, I was sure to be suspected of having a book, and was at once called to give an account of myself.

• All this, however, was too late.

• Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell.

Why does Douglass say that learning to read was a curse rather than a blessing?

• It showed his horrible situation, but not how to escape it.

• No books were available to him so he had nothing to read.

• He was upset that his slave owners would be angry with him.

• The young boys who helped him learn could get in serious trouble.