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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. Who suffered the worst loss of all during the slave sale at Freeman's?
(a) The gentleman looking for a coachman.
(b) Theophilus Freeman.
(c) The planter from Natchez.
(d) Eliza.

4. How did Freeman's customers view the idea of buying slaves from the same family?
(a) They tried to make slave family-type purchases, because they could get two slaves for the price of one.
(b) They viewed it as a great idea that could keep a slave family together.
(c) They do not view the idea at all--they were simply there to make a slave purchase.
(d) They did not like the idea at all.

5. Why was Jacob Brooks willing to accompany Eliza to get her freedom papers?
(a) Because he wanted to help Mrs. Berry and her daughter carry out their revenge against Eliza.
(b) Because he was a gentleman and did not mind accompanying Eliza.
(c) Because he knew his way around the City, and could help Eliza find the place where freedom papers were issued with ease.
(d) Because he wanted to impress Mrs. Berry and her daughter.

6. What did the fact that William Ford was willing to buy Eliza's child, Emily, from slave dealer Theophilus Freeman say about Ford?
(a) That he could get a good price for Emily.
(b) That he knew that he could keep her around for many years to come.
(c) That he believed in keeping slave family members together.
(d) That he had another child slave at his plantation who could play with Emily.

7. In what order did the events listed take place in Solomon's life?
(a) He saved money, started his own business, got married, and worked hard.
(b) He got married, worked hard, saved money, and started his own business.
(c) He started his own business, worked hard, saved money, and got married.
(d) He worked hard, started his own business, got married, and saved money.

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

9. What major error did Solomon commit with respect to his perception of Brown and Hamilton?
(a) He considered them to be sincere in their actions toward him.
(b) He considered both men to be quite entertaining.
(c) He considered himself lucky to have met them.
(d) He considered them to be his friends.

10. What did Solomon find to be unusual during his stay at the hospital for the treatment of small pox?
(a) That coffins were being built behind the hospital.
(b) That there were no doctors in the building.
(c) That the same nurse tended to him during his entire stay.
(d) That he was never given any medicine.

11. Shortly after buying them, how did William Ford show Solomon and the other slaves that he was compassionate toward them?
(a) He provided the slaves with frequent passes so that they could visit their relatives who lived close by.
(b) He allowed them to eat hearty meals in his mansion on a regular basis.
(c) He allowed the slaves to stop and rest frequently as they recuperate from small pox.
(d) He had a doctor examine the slaves regularly to make sure that their health was in good order.

12. How were Solomon and the other slaves treated around Goodin's Pen in Richmond, Virginia?
(a) They were treated with limited time and attention.
(b) They were treated like merchandise.
(c) They were treated like valued friends.
(d) They were treated with the utmost dignity and respect.

13. How did Solomon describe the interaction among Eliza, Randall, and Emily at the time that they first saw each other?
(a) Happy and emotional.
(b) Short and happy.
(c) Long and normal.
(d) Pleasant and normal.

14. Why did Lawson take off in such high speed to find William Ford upon Chapin's request?
(a) He wanted to show just how fast he could make his mule run.
(b) He really wanted to get Solomon some help.
(c) He wanted to beat the last speed record he set while running his mule into town.
(d) He wanted to impress Mr. Chapin.

15. How did Solomon feel about the way that Merrill Brown and Abram Hamilton treated him while on the way to New York?
(a) He felt that the men should have treated him better.
(b) He questioned the way that they treated him.
(c) He felt good about the way the men treated him.
(d) He did not have an opinion about the way the men treated him.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did the fact that William Ford's slave, Walton had worked for Ford all of his life and spoke well about him say about Ford?

2. How could Solomon best be described as he argued with Burch right before his beating?

3. What inspired Solomon to want to help William Ford in the transporting of lumber?

4. If William Ford was a wealthy plantation owner, how did he manage to get into financial trouble?

5. What became a problem with the letter that Solomon had Englishman John Manning mail?

(see the answer keys)

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