Question

read the excerpt from what to the slave is the fourth of july? when the dogs in your streets, when the fowls of the air, when the cattle on your hills, when the fish of the sea, and the reptiles that crawl, shall be unable to distinguish the slave from a brute, then will i argue with you that the slave is a man! what effect does the repetition of the word when have? the repetition gives the excerpt a philosophical quality. the repetition distracts readers from douglass’s original point. the repetition clarifies the time in which the speech was delivered. the repetition reinforces douglass’s incredulity at the opposition’s attitudes.

Explanation:

The repetition of "when" lists various non - human entities (dogs, fowls, cattle, fish, reptiles) and then contrasts the slave with them. The effect is to reinforce Douglass's incredulity at the opposition's (those who don't see slaves as men) attitudes, as it emphasizes the absurdity of not recognizing the slave as a man when other beings are recognized in their own spheres. The other options are incorrect: it doesn't give a philosophical quality, distract from the point, or clarify the time of the speech.

Answer:

The repetition reinforces Douglass's incredulity at the opposition’s attitudes.