Question

read this excerpt from the narrative of the life of frederick douglass. mrs. auld had bread for the hungry, clothes for the naked, and comfort for every mourner that came within her reach. slavery soon proved its ability to divest her of these heavenly qualities. under its influence, the tender heart became stone, and the lamblike disposition gave way to one of tiger - like fierceness. the first step in her downward course was in her ceasing to instruct me. the reader can infer that being a slaveholder made mrs. auld
○ more fierce about protecting enslaved people.
○ less concerned about helping enslaved people.
○ more gentle when teaching enslaved people.
○ less religious than most enslaved people.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: The excerpt says slavery made her fierce in a negative way (tiger - like fierceness) and she stopped helping (ceasing to instruct), so she wasn't more fierce about protecting enslaved people. Eliminate this.
2. Analyze Option 2: The text shows she had "heavenly qualities" (like helping) but slavery made her lose them, and she stopped instructing (a form of help). So being a slaveholder made her less concerned about helping enslaved people. This fits.
3. Analyze Option 3: The excerpt says she stopped instructing, so she wasn't more gentle when teaching. Eliminate this.
4. Analyze Option 4: There's no comparison between her religiousness and enslaved people's in the excerpt. Eliminate this.

Answer:

B. less concerned about helping enslaved people