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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why did Solomon want the old gentleman from New Orleans who was looking for a coachman to buy him?
(a) Because Solomon had always dreamed of being a coachman.
(b) Because Solomon knew that a coachman got to travel a lot; and he loved to travel.
(c) Because Solomon knew that it would not be difficult to hop on a steamer in New Orleans and head back to his life of freedom in New York.
(d) Because Solomon knew that the demands made upon a coachman were a lot fewer than those made upon a slave.

2. In general, how did Mrs. Berry and her daughter feel about Eliza?
(a) Mrs. Berry and her daughter felt sorry for Eliza.
(b) Mrs. Berry and her daughter were very fond of Eliza.
(c) Mrs. Berry and her daughter had a lot of respect Eliza.
(d) Mrs. Berry and her daughter did not like Eliza.

3. What did Freeman's customers tend to keep in mind as they shopped around his pen?
(a) That Freeman was known to charge more than what his animals were really worth.
(b) That although Freeman had the highest prices in town, he did offer the best animals on the market.
(c) That they were there to buy a clean and hardworking animal in tip-top condition.
(d) That regardless of the animal that they chose, they would get a good price from Freeman.

4. What inspired Solomon to want to help William Ford in the transporting of lumber?
(a) His desire to show that he was capable of handling the job better than Adam Taydem.
(b) His desire to impress William Ford.
(c) His desire to show his high level of intelligence.
(d) The kind manner that William Ford treated him and the other slaves.

5. What was the basis of the quarrel that took place between Solomon and Burch?
(a) Whether Solomon was stronger than Burch.
(b) Whether Solomon was jealous of Burch.
(c) Whether Solomon was a hard worker.
(d) Whether Solomon was a free man.

6. How did Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton treat Solomon while traveling to New York?
(a) With kindness and respect.
(b) They treated him in a business-like manner.
(c) They did not speak to him very much.
(d) They treated him like a hired hand.

7. How did the raft that Solomon built for William Ford's lumber transporting business benefit Ford?
(a) Ford and his unique raft were talked about in a positive way throughout Bayou Bœuf, and his business grew immensely.
(b) The raft provided Ford with a cost-effective, high-profit yielding and efficient means to transport lumber.
(c) Ford became the only lumber supplier in Bayou Bœuf to own a swift-flowing, lumber-carrying raft.
(d) The raft became a prop that Ford used to promote his business while speaking before prospective customers.

8. In one word, how could William Ford's overseer, Chapin be described?
(a) Unfair.
(b) Lenient.
(c) Fair.
(d) Strict.

9. Which of the following was one thing that Tibeats had a reputation of using when trying to out-maneuver his enemies?
(a) A pistol.
(b) The element of surprise.
(c) A hatchet.
(d) A pack of dogs.

10. How did Solomon feel about his father?
(a) Solomon did not know his father, so he did not have any feelings for him.
(b) Solomon loved his father, but had little if any respect for him.
(c) Solomon respected his father, but did not love him.
(d) Solomon had a lot of love and respect for his father.

11. If William Ford was a wealthy plantation owner, how did he manage to get into financial trouble?
(a) The debt was not his--it was actually his brother's.
(b) Mrs. Ford liked living extravagantly.
(c) The debt was not his--it was actually his sister's.
(d) The bank that he used has closed.

12. How could the purchase of Solomon, Eliza, and Harry from Freeman be viewed?
(a) As an unlucky one for all of them.
(b) As a lucky one for all of them.
(c) As a lucky one for Harry and Solomon only.
(d) As an unlucky one for Solomon and Eliza only.

13. What separated William Ford from other slave owners in Bayou Bœuf?
(a) He taught his slaves about God and provided them with Bibles.
(b) He taught each one of them a different trade.
(c) Once he bought slaves, he never sold them.
(d) He did not keep slaves whom he bought for more than three months.

14. What did Solomon learn while spending time in the yard outside Williams' Slave Pen?
(a) He learned that there were other slave pens nearby.
(b) He learned that some of the slaves were planning to escape.
(c) He learned that other slaves had escaped from that yard.
(d) He learned the background of the other slaves.

15. What circumstances allowed Solomon Northrup to be born a free man?
(a) Solomon's father was a free man.
(b) Solomon was born after the United States Civil War.
(c) Solomon had been born in Canada, and his family had migrated to the United States.
(d) Solomon's mother was a free woman.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Tibeats not attack Ford when Ford confronted him about his mistreatment of Solomon?

2. In general, how did Solomon view slave owner William Ford's position with regard to his views on religion and slavery?

3. How could the outcome of the talk between William Ford and John M. Tibeats with respect to the mistreatment of Solomon be described?

4. Aside from providing Solomon with favorable notoriety around Bayou Bœuf, his raft-building for Ford also provided him with which of the following?

5. Overall, how was Solomon likely to feel about John Tibeats?

(see the answer keys)

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