Question

read the passage from sugar changed the world. some of the enslaved took the next step. running away from the sugar plantations, or attacking them in force, was another kind of statement. when the enslaved africans could not stand their lives anymore, they risked everything to run or to fight. there was just one way for the owners to silence their workers: by making the price of fight or rebellion too high. spreading terror was the job of the overseer. how does the authors use of the word silence affect the tone? silence has a negative connotation, indicating that the mill owners wanted a quiet workplace. silence has a positive connotation, indicating that quiet workers are productive workers. silence has a negative connotation, indicating that the owners would not tolerate protests. silence has a positive connotation, indicating that enslaved people took part in wordless protests.

Explanation:

The passage describes how plantation owners used methods like spreading terror to make enslaved workers silent, implying they would not tolerate protests. The word "silence" here is used in the context of suppressing the voices of the enslaved due to fear - a negative connotation.

Answer:

Silence has a negative connotation, indicating that the owners would not tolerate protests.