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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How far is the distance between Brent's grandmother's house and the plantation house where Brent is sent to work?

2. After discovering he can't manage Douglass, Thomas Auld finally rents Douglass out to a man by what name?

3. Which of the following preachers does Douglass say is the favorite of the slaves in St. Michael's?

4. At the beginning of the narrative, what does Brent say her is brother's name?

5. For which relative does Douglass feel especially sorry after the death of his former master?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the fate of Douglass' grandmother in Chapter 8?

2. What bit of good news does Brent receive in Chapter 40, and what bad news overshadows it?

3. What is Douglass' life like under Mr. Covey?

4. At the beginning of his narrative, what reason does Douglass give for not knowing how old he is?

5. What fright does Brent face in Chapters 35 and 36?

6. Why, after purchasing her from Dr. Flint, does Mr. Sands agree to send Ellen to the North?

7. What changes in the last six months of Douglass' time with Mr. Covey?

8. What sort of reception does Douglass find in the household of Thomas Auld?

9. Why does Brent start to fear her master when she is 15 years old?

10. Describe the process by which Douglass teaches himself to write after Mrs. Auld stops teaching him.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore and discuss the reason why slaves were commonly separated from their families. What logistical purpose did the separation serve? Detail three ways in which the separation of family members benefited the slave system, as discussed by Douglass, and include supporting information from his narrative.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Douglass' view of the Underground Railroad with the more conventional view. What arguments does Douglass give against the Railroad? Cite supporting information from his narrative.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the slave trade into which Gustavus Vassa is sold with the slave system he speaks of in his recollections of growing up in Africa. Highlight three major similarities or differences between the Western slave trade and the slave system common to African tribes.

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