Question

...they are frequently stowed so close, to allow no other position than lying on their sides. nor will the height between deck permit the indulgence of an upright posture. ...in each of the apartments are placed three or four large buckets ...to which, when necessary, the negroes have recourse. it often happens that those who are placed at a distance from the buckets, in endeavoring to get to them, tumble over their companions, in consequence of their being shackled ... unable to proceed and prevented from getting to the tubs, the necessities of nature are not to be resisted, ease themselves as they lie.... in the morning they were dragged up and their shackles inspected. any slaves who had died during the night (or too sick to recover) were unchained and thrown overboard. their bodies were quickly eaten by the sharks that followed every slave ship.”
summarize what the author is saying in this quote above?
what are five words you can use to accurately describe the conditions aboard a slave ship?

Explanation:

First, the "Summarize what the author is saying in this quote above?" part:

The quote describes the inhumane conditions on slave ships: enslaved people are packed tightly (no upright position, only lie on sides), have limited access to buckets for needs, are shackled so they can't move freely or resist, are inspected in the morning, and those who die or are too sick are thrown overboard to be eaten by sharks.

From the quote, we can identify key descriptive words. "Cramped" (due to being stowed close, no upright position), "inhumane" (treatment of slaves, throwing them overboard), "brutal" (shackling, shark-eating of bodies), "unsanitary" (limited access to buckets, poor conditions), "oppressive" (restricted movement, lack of freedom) fit the conditions.

Answer:

The author depicts the brutal and cramped conditions on slave ships: enslaved people are tightly stowed (only lie on sides), have restricted access to buckets, are shackled (limiting movement/resistance), are inspected daily, and deceased/sick slaves are thrown overboard to be devoured by sharks.

Then, the "What are FIVE words you can use to accurately describe the conditions aboard a slave ship?" part: