Question

background information: these are journal entries from john newton, a trader of enslaved persons. they were written in 1754. sunday 22 june being pretty warm, put up the men and washed all the slaves with fresh water. i am much afraid of another range from the flux diarrheal infection, for we have had 1 taken within these few days. thursday 27 june when we were putting the slaves down in the evening, one that was sick jumped overboard. got him in again but he died immediately between his weakness and the salt water he had swallowed, tho i imagine he would have lived but a little while being quite worn out. which of these claims is supported by evidence in both passages? many enslaved persons died on the middle passage. millions of africans were enslaved and sent to the americas. the ships were overcrowded. many of those enslaved chose to jump overboard

Explanation:

从日记内容看，“Being pretty warm, put up the men and washed all the slaves with fresh water. I am much afraid of another range from the flux [diarrheal infection], for we have had 1 taken within these few days.”以及“one that was sick jumped overboard. Got him in again but he died immediately between his weakness and the salt - water he had swallowed”能体现出船上拥挤，生存条件差等情况，这暗示了船只拥挤。而其他选项“许多被奴役者在跨大西洋航行（中程航行）中死亡”“数百万非洲人被奴役并被送往美洲”“许多被奴役者选择跳船”在这两段日记中没有足够支撑证据。

Answer:

C. The ships were overcrowded