Frederick Douglass Learning to Read

The first person to help Douglass learn to read was

• another slave.
• Master Hugh.
• the wife of Master Hugh.
• a white boy from the street.

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.

The more Douglass read books such as "The Columbian Orator," the more he

• enjoyed being able to read.

• became excited for his future.

• realized his value to his master.

• came to hate his enslavers.

What is Douglass's most likely purpose for writing his autobiography?

• to make readers agree that reading is important
• to inform readers about the life of a slave
• to express feelings about Master Hugh
• to tell an interesting story from his past

Which is an example of a cause-and-effect relationship?

• First, Douglass is glad to be able to read, but then he thinks it is a curse.

• Douglass gave bread to young boys, so they helped him learn to read.

• Douglass considers his mistress to be kind and later she is cruel to him.

• Douglass was twelve years old and did not want to be a slave for life.

How did learning to read inspire Frederick Douglass to make a change?

• he read about freedom which led to him escaping slavery

• he did not learn to read because it was against the law

• he went to school with white children

• he became very involved in Catholic emancipation

Frederick Douglass used what skill to fight against slavery?

• rowing boats

• making speeches

• singing hymns

• making pottery

It was against the law for enslaved people to learn to read. Slave owners worried that their slaves would learn about _______.

• slavery
• religion
• taxes
• freedom

Which of the following is NOT a way Douglass learned how to read and write?

• He gave poor white boys bread to teach him what they learned in school.

• He used chalk to write on brick walls and fences.

• He went to school.

• He read his master's family books and newspapers.

How does Douglass learn about abolition?

• By asking his master

• By reading about it in the city paper

• By talking to his friends

• By checking a thesaurus