Question

read this excerpt from the narrative of the life of frederick douglass. to use his own words, further, mr. auld said, \if you give him an inch, he will take an ell. he should know nothing but to obey, to do as he is told to do. now,\ said he, \if you teach him (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him. it would forever unfit him to be a slave. he would at once become unmanageable, and of no value. what is mr. auld’s attitude toward douglass? he believes douglass is planning an escape and should be monitored. he believes douglass is not as capable or as valuable as other enslaved persons. he believes douglass would be threatening if he knew how to read. he believes douglass should be taught to read and freed from slavery.

Explanation:

To determine Mr. Auld's attitude, we analyze his quotes: "If you teach [him] how to read, there would be no keeping him. It would forever unfit him to be a slave. He would at once become unmanageable, and of no value." This shows he thinks reading would make Douglass threatening (unmanageable, not fit for slavery). Let's check the options:

• First option: No mention of escape planning in the excerpt. Eliminate.
• Second option: The excerpt doesn't compare Douglass to other enslaved people. Eliminate.
• Third option: Matches the idea that reading would make Douglass threatening (unmanageable, can't be kept as a slave).
• Fourth option: Mr. Auld is against teaching Douglass to read, so this is wrong.

Answer:

He believes Douglass would be threatening if he knew how to read.