Practice Test

Question 4 • Senior English

Which is the best example of an explicit statement from Thoughts and Sentiments that shows Cugoano's beliefs about slavery?

Answer

“However, notwithstanding all that has been done and written against it, that brutish barbarity, and unparalelled injustice, is still carried on to a very great extent in the colonies, and with an avidity as insidious, cruel and oppressive as ever.”

“However, it cannot but be very discouraging to a man of my complexion in such an attempt as this, to meet with the evil aspersions of some men, who say, ‘That an African is not entitled to any competent degree of knowledge, or capable of imbibing any sentiments of probity; and that nature designed him for some inferior link in the chain, fitted only to be a slave.’”

“By some of such complexion, as whether black or white it matters not, I was early snatched away from my native country, with about eighteen or twenty more boys and girls, as we were playing in a field.”

“But the supporters and favourers of slavery make other things a pretence and an excuse in their own defence; such as, that they find that it was admitted under the Divine institution by Moses, as well as the long continued practice of different nations for ages; and that the Africans are peculiarly marked out by some signal prediction in nature and complexion for that purpose.”

Explanation

Choice A explicitly calls slavery “brutish barbarity” and “unparalelled injustice,” directly stating Cugoano’s belief that it is cruel and unjust. Choice B describes the racist claims he faced, while C recounts his capture. Choice D presents excuses made by slavery’s supporters rather than stating his view as directly.

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