"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" Review Quiz

What does Douglass most likely mean by the following statement?: "There are forces in operation which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery."

• The North will defeat the South in the American Civil War.

• Certain social and political elements are acting against slavery.

• The details in the Declaration explicitly forbid slavery.

• The slave trade was losing its economic power in the South.

What kind of “easy and delightful” speech does Douglass wish he could present?

• Douglas wishes he could announce the end of the American Civil War.

• Douglas wishes he could express true gratitude for American independence.

• Douglas wishes he could point out the progress the nation has made since its founding.

• Douglas wishes he could demonstrate his ideals of justice and equality.

What is the “mournful wail” that gives Douglass the topic for his speech?

• The "mournful wail" is the sound of the frightened and dying in the war.

• The "mournful wail" is the sound of disappointment from those expecting better of the nation.

• The "mournful wail" is the sound of suffering Americans who are enslaved.

• The "mournful wail" is the sound of cries of frustrated abolitionist.

Why does Douglass criticize the idea of "arguing" against slavery?

• He feels that actions speak louder than words.

• He feels the wrongness of slavery is extremely obvious.

• He feels that prejudiced people would not take his argument seriously.

• He feels that there is no need to argue since the North is set to win the Civil War.

According to Douglass, how do laws in the South prove that slaves are human beings?

• The laws hold slaves legally accountable for their actions, like human beings.

• The laws directly refer to the enslaved as "men" and "women."

• The legal system is usually only reserved for human affairs.

• African Americans are still given certain protections under the current laws.

Douglass's reference to Isaiah 35:6, that "lame man leap as an hart," is an example of what?

• an extended metaphor

• an anthesis

• parallel structure

• an allusion

Someone refusing to move to the side of an aisle could be best described as...

• obdurate

• stolid

Which of the quotes demonstrates parallel structure?

• "The arm of the Lord is not shortened."

• "...false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future."

• "Blasphemy in the thought. That which is inhuman cannot be divine!"

• "Fellow citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here today?"

What is Douglass's rebuttal to the idea that slavery is supported in the Bible?

• He cites biblical evidence which outright denounces slavery.

• He refuses to state anything on the matter, believing the argument to be too ridiculous to address.

• He points out the church's involvement in the abolitionist movement.

• He expresses a belief that something as wicked as slavery cannot be divine in origin.

If you leave out important details about what happened to prevent yourself from admitting guilt, did you denounce or equivocate?

• denounce

• equivocate