Engl i sh

Summer work for grade 8

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Grade 8 English Summer Work

International School of Arts and Sciences ISAS

Name: ________________________

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A. Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions.

Could the Futuristic Traveling Tube Become a Reality?

It sounds like something straight out of a science fiction movie or a silly cartoon: a futuristic traveling tube that can quickly shoot people wherever they want to go, inside a tiny pod. But this may be just around the corner for people looking for a faster, easier, and cheaper‐than‐ ever way to travel. South African‐American inventor and billionaire Elon Musk, who, in the past, has worked on both private space flight and electric cars, recently announced he has been working on the design of this traveling tube, which could forever change the way we travel the world. In an interview, Musk described the new tube as a fifth kind of transportation. “We have planes, trains, automobiles, and boats,” he explained. “What if there was a fifth mode? I have a name for it, [it’s] called the Hyperloop.” The Hyperloop would have the power to cut back on travel time between major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is what inspired Musk to design the Hyperloop in the first place. Musk stated in an interview that he actually came up with the idea for the Hyperloop while thinking about the train that takes people between Los Angeles and San Francisco—it is known for being one of the slowest in the country. “This system I have in mind...can never crash, is immune to weather, it goes three or four times faster than the bullet train…it goes an average speed of twice what an aircraft would do,” explained Musk. “You would go from downtown L. A. to downtown San Francisco in under 30 minutes,” he added. “It would cost you much less than an air ticket [and less] than any other mode of transport.” People using the Hyperloop would shoot around in pods, which are each just over six‐and‐a‐ half feet across, and the pods would travel through tubes located either above ground or under water, though Musk has not yet released his final design drawings. Additionally, Musk believes the Hyperloop could be completely powered by the sun—making it more environmentally friendly than cars, airplanes, or train systems. Someday it could possibly move people between the East and West Coasts of the United States in less than an hour, which is faster than

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any other mode of transportation that exists. Eventually, the Hyperloop would be able to move people around the world. The Hyperloop could even run 24/7, be cheap, and allow people to travel on their own schedule. People could show up at the Hyperloop station whenever they want and be quickly sent on their way. Musk is not the first person outside of science fiction novelists to dream up vacuum tube technology for moving people. The idea has been around for some time, and inventors in other countries, including China, are reportedly working on similar technology. 1. What is the Hyperloop?

a) an electric car that Elon Musk is designing b) a private spaceship that Elon Musk is designing c) a traveling tube that Elon Musk is designing d) a bullet train that Elon Musk is designing

2. What does this passage describe?

a) This passage describes a traveling tube that could help people get around in the future.

b) This passage describes the costs of building traveling tubes around the world.

c) This passage describes the damage that cars, planes, and trains do to the environment.

d) This passage describes the reasons that people are looking for a cheaper-than-ever way to travel.

3. If built, the Hyperloop would be faster than any other type of transportation. What evidence from the passage supports this statement?

a) People using the Hyperloop would travel in pods that are about six-and-a-half feet across.

b) The Hyperloop is being designed to travel twice the speed of an airplane.

c) Right now people can fly, drive, or take a train to get from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

d) Inventors in other countries are working on technology similar to the Hyperloop.

4. Based on information in the passage, what is one reason that people might want to use the Hyperloop instead of other kinds of transportation?

a) People with motion sickness might not be able to handle the Hyperloop.

b) People are tired of using the same four kinds of transportation over and over.

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c) The Hyperloop could take people to places where planes and trains do not go.

d) People would not have to pay as much to use the Hyperloop. 5. What is this passage mainly about?

a) science fiction movies and cartoon featuring futuristic traveling tubes with tiny pods

b) the interest that inventor Elon Musk has in private space flight and electric cars

c) why the train between Los Angeles and San Francisco is one of the slowest in the country

d) a tube that could make travel in the future easier, faster, and cheaper 6. Read the following sentences: “Additionally, Musk believes the Hyperloop could be completely powered by the sun—making it more environmentally friendly than cars, airplanes, or train systems. Someday it could possibly move people between the East and West Coasts of the United States in less than an hour, which is faster than any other mode of transportation that exists.” What does the word mode mean in the sentence above?

a) ticket b) type c) train d) travel

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. The Hyperloop would offer travellers many benefits, _______ fast trips and low prices.

a) meanwhile b) finally c) including d) otherwise

8. According to the passage, what are some of the questions that remain unanswered about the Hyperloop?

9. Is anyone besides Elon Musk working on technology similar to the Hyperloop? If so, who?

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10. Based on information in the passage, is a travelling tube such as the Hyperloop likely to become a reality or not? Explain your answer with evidence from the passage.

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B. Underline the prepositional phrase.

1. Jason rode his bicycle to the store.

2. At the end of recess, the children ran into the school.

3. I found my baseball lying by the side of the road.

4. When the beater spins around the bowl, the batter raises above the edge.

5. Our dog and cat sleep together in the corner of the hall.

6. Beneath the bridge is an old boat anchored to a tree along the banks.

7. Your books are on the top of the counter.

8. Jane went to the dance with Mark.

9. From the top of the hill, you can see into the valley.

10. In the end of the movie, Homer asks his lawyer for advice and then, with great fear, walks toward the judge.

C. Subject-Verb and Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement: Fill in the blanks with the correct provided.

1. Neither of us was/were able to predict the outcome of today's game.

2. Macaroni and cheese is/are my favorite dish.

3. At the foot of the mountain was/were two enormous vineyards, both owned by the same woman.

4. A small percentage of the grain was/were ruined by the prolonged rain.

5. Most parents mistakenly think that mumps has/have been eliminated as a childhood disease.

6. Our college should change its/their policy about withdrawals.

7. Coaches Espinoza and Calhoun coach different sports. Neither Espinoza nor Calhoun scheduled her/their team for the gym this afternoon.

8. No one has offered to let us use her/their home for the department meeting.

9. If I ever find my glasses, I think I'll have it/them replaced.

10. General Motors will probably recall most of its/their four-wheel- drive vehicles.

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D. Fill in the appropriate pronoun in this pronoun-antecedent agreement exercise.

1. Since the doctor went to medical school, _____ should know what treatment you need.

a.) they b.) she

2. If anyone has an opinion about capital punishment, _____ should state it.

a.) he b.) they

3. Because the members of the chemistry class did poorly on the exam, ____ had to take a make-up exam.

a.) they b.) it

4. Due to the fact that my car is older than other cars, I don't expect ____ to run in the winter.

a.) them b.) it

5. If people don't like to shop at that store, ____ shouldn't go there.

a.) heb.) they

6. Any worker can break ____ arm during an accident.

a.) hisb.) their

7. When computers crash, ____ need to be fixed immediately.

a.) itb.) they

8. A typical shopper doesn't like it when ____ is consistently interrupted by a salesperson.

a.) sheb.) they are

9. If you need help with your grammar, ____ may want to take advantage of this online writing lab.

a.) they b.) you

10. Before students take a test, ____ should prepare adequately.

a.) theyb.) he

E. Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions.

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The Incredible Machine Everyone has a favorite attraction at an amusement park, and I am no different. However, unlike most people who seem to prefer roller coasters, my favorite ride is a little more gentle. Every time I go to Coney Island, Navy Pier, or the Santa Monica Pier, I absolutely have to ride the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel is simple and yet also quite complex. That is, riding it is easy, but how it works is complicated. A series of carts are attached to a wheel, which is attached to a rim. That rim rotates vertically around an axis, and gravity keeps the carts upright. As simple as the ride seems, only advanced engineers can make safe and fun Ferris wheels.

What It Lacks in Thrills...

While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still very exciting. The fact of being high in the air makes it so much more entertaining than a lot of rides. I mean, how often do you hang from that high up in daily life? Nevertheless, I have to admit, I don’t seek Ferris wheels out because of their excitement. Rather, I find them very relaxing. At the top of the Ferris wheel, you get beautiful sights of the park. You also get a sense of calm that you don’t get in the hustle and bustle of the park below. Additionally, Ferris wheels are also gorgeous to look at when they are lit up at night. In fact, the original Ferris wheel was designed as much to be seen as to be ridden.

It Happened at the World’s Fair

The first Ferris wheel was made by and named after George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. He designed it for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. It was the tallest attraction there, standing 264 feet high. However, visitors to the fair were impressed by the size of the ride as well as the mechanics of it. In 1893, anything that was not turned by hand was considered a sight to see. And the wheel, which was a machine, was truly incredible to see. Further, as one visitor put it, the wheel was amazing because it seemed to be missing support. That is, it did not look like it could stand on its own. And yet it did and even rotated!

They Keep Reaching Higher and Higher

Ferris wheel technology has only improved since then. Most of today’s Ferris wheels are much larger than that first one. The largest in the world is the "Singapore Flyer," which stands slightly taller than twice what Ferris’s did! Today, the Ferris wheel is the most common amusement park ride. But that does not mean you should take them for granted. Instead, be thankful for Ferris’ invention. The next time you’re at an amusement park, don’t just look up at the impressive wheel in the sky on your way to a newer attraction. Take it for a spin!

1. As used in paragraph 1, the word attraction most nearly means

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A. sense B. park C. ride D. vision

2. It can be understood that Coney Island, Navy Pier, and the Santa Monica Pier are all examples of

A. amusement parks B. Ferris wheels C. vacation spots D. boat docks

3. As used in paragraph 2, which is the best antonym for complex?

A. impressive B. beautiful C. exciting D. simple

4. What does the author like best about Ferris wheels?

A. the impressive engineering and beauty of them B. the excitement and thrills they guarantee C. the beautiful sights and relaxation they allow D. the fact that most amusement parks have one

5. According to the passage, the Ferris wheel was originally designed for

A. Coney Island B. the world’s fair C. Disneyworld D. Singapore

6. This passage was most likely written to

A. describe the author’s favorite amusement park rides

B. explain the original design of Ferris wheels and how they work today

C. describe the history of Ferris wheels and why they are so popular

D. explain the history of Ferris wheels and why the author likes them

7. Using information in the passage, the reader can understand that the tallest Ferris wheel in the world is

A. under 250 feet tall B. between 250 and 500 feet tall C. between 500 and 750 feet tall D. over 750 feet tall 8. In paragraph 2, the narrator says, "As simple as the ride seems, only

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advanced engineers can make safe and fun Ferris wheels." Can you think of any other machines that seem simple but actually are not? List at least two and explain why they are not actually simple.

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

9. In paragraph 3, the narrator says, "While the Ferris wheel is not as thrilling as a rollercoaster, it is still very exciting ." Can you think of any other machines that are not "thrilling" but still "exciting"?

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

10. In the final section of the passage, we learn how Ferris wheels "keep reaching higher and higher." This seems to be a common trend among the developers of modern technology. What makes us want to continually strive to create something bigger and better? Is this good? Discuss. ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

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F. Circle the correct word in each sentence below.

1. Mrs. Khan (lies, lays) an eraser on her desk as soon as she enters the room.

2. When Kieran saw the beach, he thought he had (lain, laid) his eyes on paradise.

3. Lester likes to (lie, lay) in his room for about an hour after he wakes up.

4. The dog (lies, lays) her paws all over the furniture when we go out.

5. This clay pot has (lain, laid) in the underground cave for thousands of years.

6. Uday, please (lie, lay) down before you faint from exhaustion!

7. The factory will dismiss employees if they (lie, lay) down on the job.

8. The factory will dismiss employees if they (lie, lay) down their tools.

9. When farmers harvest mangoes, they must (lie, lay) mulch so that the harvest trucks have propertraction.

10. EMX has (lain, laid) aside its prejudices and will consider all applicants, regardless of background.

G. In each of the following exercises, circle the word that completes the sentence correctly.

1) Their dream house (sits/sets) on the hilltop overlooking the ocean.

2) The dog trainer commanded, “(Sit/Set) down. Good boy!”

3) Cassandra (has sat/has set) for the artist who painted her portrait a number of times.

4) Sandra Day O’Connor was the first female member to (sit/set) on the Supreme Court.

5) While Tasha’s mother did not require constant care, she did need someone to (sit/set) with her in the mornings and early evenings.

6) Because the athlete missed practice, he is likely to (sit/set) out during the next soccer game.

7) Beth remembered (sitting/setting) the teacup on the saucer.

8) Mother scolded her little girl saying, “(Sit/Set) there in time out for five

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minutes.

9) The crying child (sat/set) wondering what she did wrong.

10) Thomas (sat/set) on the straight-backed chair even though he was uncomfortable (sitting/setting) there.

H. Underline or Circle the correct verb:

1. Please pull out the rug when I (rise, raise) the table.

2. The accident rate always (rises, raises) on holidays.

3. The bread, (rises, raises) because it contains yeast.

4. We will lose money unless we (rise, raise) the price.

5. New car prices generally (rise, raise) in the spring.

6. The Smiths protested when we (rose, raised) to leave.

7. I (rose, raised) the mini blinds to let in the light.

8. Our canoe drifted away when the tide (rose, raised).

9. The tree roots have (rose, raised) the sidewalk several inches.10. Attendance has (raised, risen) this year.

I. Rewrite the following sentences making and necessary changes in subject-verb agreement.

1) Kevin ran to the grocery store and buys a bag full of candy.

______________________________________________________

2) I wake up every morning at 5:30 and I ate cereal.

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3) The crowd of spectators cheered loudly for their favorite team and they wear face paint to show off their pride.

______________________________________________________

4) Celeste looks at herself in the mirror and realized her clothes don’t match.

______________________________________________________

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5) Ms. Jess corrects all the quizzes and acted like the grades didn’t bother her, but they did!

______________________________________________________

6) Mr. David trains for spelling bees. (Past progressive)

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7) Dr. Kim writes prescriptions for her patients. (Future progressive)

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8) The class wants passing grades on their assessments. (Present progressive)

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J. Put in semicolons, colons, dashes, quotation marks, Italics (use an underline), and parentheses where ever they are needed in the following sentences.

1. The men in question Harold Keene, Jim Peterson, and Gerald Greene deserve awards.

2. Several countries participated in the airlift Italy, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

3. Only one course was open to us surrender, said the ex-major, and we did.

4. Judge Carswell later to be nominated for the Supreme Court had ruled against civil rights.

5. In last week's New Yorker, one of my favorite magazines, I enjoyed reading Leland's article How Not to Go Camping.

6. Yes, Jim said, I'll be home by ten.

7. There was only one thing to do study till dawn.

8. Montaigne wrote the following A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.

9. The following are the primary colors red, blue, and yellow.

10. Arriving on the 8 10 plane were Liz Brooks, my old roommate her husband and Tim, their son.

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11. When the teacher commented that her spelling was poor, Lynn replied All the members of my family are poor spellers. Why not me?

12. He used the phrase you know so often that I finally said No, I don't know.

13. The automobile dealer handled three makes of cars Volkswagens, Porsches, and Mercedes Benz.

14. Though Phil said he would arrive on the 9 19 flight, he came instead on the 10 36 flight.

15. Whoever thought said Helen that Jack would be elected class president?

16. In baseball, a show boat is a man who shows off.

17. The minister quoted Isaiah 5 21 in last Sunday's sermon.

18. There was a very interesting article entitled The New Rage for Folk Singing in last Sunday's New York Times newspaper.

19. Whoever is elected secretary of the club Ashley, or Chandra, or Aisha must be prepared to do a great deal of work, said Jumita, the previous secretary.

20. Darwin's On the Origin of Species 1859 caused a great controversy when it appeared.

K. Punctuate the following sentences with apostrophes according to the rules for using the apostrophe.

1. Whos the partys candidate for vice president this year?

2. The fox had its right foreleg caught securely in the traps jaws.

3. Our neighbors car is an old Chrysler, and its just about to fall apart.

4. In three weeks time well have to begin school again.

5. Didnt you hear that theyre leaving tomorrow?

6. Whenever I think of the stories I read as a child, I remember Cinderellas glass slipper and Snow Whites wicked stepmother.

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7. We claimed the picnic table was ours, but the Smiths children looked so disappointed that we found another spot.

8. Its important that the kitten learns to find its way home.

9. She did not hear her childrens cries.

10. My address has three 7s, and Tims phone number has four 2s.

11. Didnt he say when he would arrive at Arnies house?

12. Its such a beautiful day that Ive decided to take a sun bath.

13. She said the watch Jack found was hers, but she couldnt identify the manufacturers name on it.

14. Little girls clothing is on the first floor, and the mens department is on the second.

15. The dogs bark was far worse than its bite.

16. The moons rays shone feebly on the path, and I heard the insects chirpings and whistlings.

17. Theyre not afraid to go ahead with the plans, though the choice is not theirs.

18. The man whose face was tan said that he had spent his two weeks vacation in the mountains.

19. I found myself constantly putting two cs in the word process.

20. Johns 69 Ford is his proudest possession.

L. In the following sentences put in quotation marks wherever they are needed, and underline words where italics are needed.

1. Mary is trying hard in school this semester, her father said.

2. No, the taxi driver said curtly, I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes.

3. I believe, Jack remarked, that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least that's what I read in a book entitled Guide to Europe.

4. My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.

5. She asked, Is Time a magazine you read regularly?

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6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the words of the old popular song, A Good Man Is Hard to Find.

7. When did Roosevelt say, We have nothing to fear but fear itself?

8. It seems to me that hip and cool are words that are going out of style.

9. Yesterday, John said, This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East; however, he did not return it.

10. Can you believe, Dot asked me, that it has been almost five years since we've seen each other?

11. A Perfect Day for Bananafish is, I believe, J. D. Salinger's best short story.

12. Certainly, Mr. Martin said, I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will understand.

M. Add commas as needed in the sentences below.

1. He left the scene of the accident and tried to forget that it had happened. 2. Oil which is lighter than water rises to the surface. 3. Madame de Stael was an attractive gracious lady. 4. Nice is a word with many meanings and some of them are contradictory. 5. The contractor testified that the house was completed and that the work had

been done properly. 6. Some people refuse to go to the zoo because of pity for creatures that must

live in small cages. 7. Taxicabs that are dirty are illegal in some cities. 8. The closet contained worn clothes old shoes and dirty hats. 9. The uninvited guest wore a dark blue tweed suit. 10. After surviving this ordeal the trapper felt relieved. 11. Mark Twain's early novels I believe stand the test of time. 12. December 7 1941 will never be forgotten. 13. The field was safe enough wasn't it? 14. Write the editor of the Atlantic 8 Arlington Street Boston Massachusetts

02116. 15. He replied "I have no idea what you mean." 16. After a good washing and grooming the pup looked like a new dog. 17. Because of their opposition to institutions that force creatures to live in

captivity some people refuse to go to the zoo.

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18. Men who are bald are frequently the ones who are the most authoritative on the subject of baldness.

19. Vests which were once popular have been out of vogue for several years. 20. As a celestial goddess she regulated the course of the heavenly bodies and

controlled the alternating seasons. 21. I hope that someday he will learn how to be polite.

N. Add commas as needed in the sentences below. 1. When I get to the mall I will go to the food court.

2. After ten minutes I asked the nurse about the medicine.

3. Because the car broke down I had to call for help.

4. When the flight lands I will hug my family.

5. Until the gas prices go down I will work two jobs.

6. Tomorrow Wednesday we will take a trip to the zoo.

7. My brother a 22 year old male graduated from college today.

8. I like video games but my sister on the other hand does not.

9. You however are very sunburned.

10. John for example likes to work.

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O. Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions.

Frederick Douglass: From Slavery to Freedom

by Steven Mintz

Frederick Douglass was one of the first fugitive slaves to speak out publicly against slavery. On the morning of August 12, 1841, he stood up at an anti‐slavery meeting on Nantucket Island. With great power and eloquence, he described his life in bondage. As soon as he finished, the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison asked the audience, “Have we been listening to a thing, a piece of property, or to a man?” “A man! A man!” five hundred voices replied. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the pioneering feminist, vividly recalled her first glimpse of Douglass on an abolitionist platform: “He stood there like an African prince, majestic in his wrath, as with wit, satire, and indignation he graphically described the bitterness of slavery and the humiliation of subjection.”

Douglass (who was originally named Frederick Bailey, after a Muslim ancestor, Belali Mohomet) had personally experienced many of slavery’s worst horrors. Born in 1818, the son of a Maryland slave woman and an unknown white father, he was separated from his mother almost immediately after his birth and remembered seeing her only four or five times before her death. Cared for by his maternal grandmother, an enslaved midwife, he suffered a cruel emotional blow when, at the age of six, he was taken from his home to work on one of the largest plantations on Maryland’s eastern shore. There, Douglass suffered chronic hunger and witnessed many of the cruelties that he later recorded in his autobiographies. He saw an aunt receive forty lashes and a cousin bleeding from her shoulders and neck after a flogging by a drunken overseer.

Douglass was temporarily rescued from a life of menial plantation labor when he was sent to Baltimore to work for a shipwright. There, his mistress taught him to read until her husband declared that “learning would spoil” him. Douglass continued his education on his own. With fifty cents that he earned blacking boots, Douglass bought a copy of the Columbian Orator, a collection of speeches that included a blistering attack on Frederick Douglass: From Slavery to Freedom slavery. This book introduced him to the ideals of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution and inspired him to perfect his oratorical skills.

At fifteen, following his master’s death, Douglass was returned to plantation life. He was unwilling to show deference to his new owner, whom he refused to call “Master.” To crush Douglass’s rebellious spirit, he was hired out to a notorious “slave breaker” named Edward Covey. For seven months, Douglass endured abuse and beatings. But one hot August morning he could take no more. He fought back and defeated Covey in a fist fight. Covey never mistreated Douglass again.

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In 1836, Douglass and two close friends plotted to escape slavery. When the plan was uncovered, Douglass was thrown into jail. Instead of being sold to slave traders and shipped to the deep South, as he had expected, Douglass was returned to Baltimore and promised freedom at the age of 25 if he behaved himself.

In Baltimore, Douglass worked in the city’s shipyards. Virtually every day, white workers harassed him and on one occasion beat him with bricks and metal spikes. Eventually, Douglass’s owner gave him the unusual privilege of hiring himself out for wages and living independently. It was during this period of relative freedom that Douglass met Anna Murray, a free black woman whom he later married.

In 1838, after his owner threatened to take away his right to hire out his own time and keep a portion of his wages, Douglass decided to run away. With papers borrowed from a free black sailor, he boarded a train and rode to freedom. To conceal his identity, he adopted a new last name, Douglass, chosen from Sir Walter Scott's poem, “Lady of the Lake.”

He settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he worked in the shipyards, and began to participate in anti‐slavery meetings. As a traveling lecturer, Douglass electrified audiences with his first‐hand accounts of slavery. When many northerners refused to believe that this eloquent orator could possibly have been a slave, he responded by writing an autobiography that identified his previous owners by name. Fearful that his autobiography made him vulnerable to kidnapping and a return to slavery, Douglass fled to England. Only after British abolitionists purchased his freedom 1846 did he return to the United States.

Initially, Douglass supported William Lloyd Garrison and other radical abolitionists, who believed that moral purity was more important than political success. Douglass later broke with Garrison, started his own newspaper, The North Star, and supported political action against slavery. He was an early supporter of the Republican Party, even though its goal was to halt slavery’s expansion, not to abolish the institution. Following the Civil War, the party rewarded his loyalty by appointing him marshal and register of deeds for the District of Columbia and then US minister to Haiti.

Douglass supported many reforms including temperance and women’s rights. He was one of the few men to attend the first women’s rights convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, and he was the only man to vote for a resolution demanding the vote for women. His main cause, however, was the struggle against slavery and racial discrimination. In the 1840s and 1850s, he not only lectured tirelessly against slavery, he also raised funds to help fugitive slaves reach safety in Canada. During the Civil War, he lobbied President Lincoln to make Frederick Douglass: From Slavery to Freedom slave emancipation a war aim and to organize black regiments. Declaring that “liberty won by white men would lack half its lustre,” he personally recruited some 2,000 African American troops for the Union Army. Among the recruits were two of his sons, who took part in the bloody Union assault on Fort Wagner in South Carolina in July 1863, which resulted in more

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than 1,500 Northern casualties—but which proved black troops’ heroism in battle.

Douglass never wavered in his commitment to equal rights. During Reconstruction, he struggled to convince Congress to use federal power to safeguard the freedmen’s rights. Later, as the country retreated from Reconstruction, Douglass passionately denounced lynching, segregation, and disfranchisement. Toward the end of his career, he was asked what advice he had for a young man. “Agitate! Agitate! Agitate!” he replied. Despite old age, Douglass never stopped agitating. He died in 1895, at the age of 77, after attending a women’s rights meeting with Susan B. Anthony.

It is a striking historical coincidence that the year of Douglass’s death brought a new black leader to national prominence. Seven months after Douglass died, Booker T. Washington, the founder of the Tuskegee Institute, delivered a speech in Atlanta, Georgia, that catapulted him into the public spotlight. The “Atlanta Compromise” speech called on African Americans to end their demands for equal rights and strive instead for economic advancement. “In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the finger,” Washington declared, “yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” Washington’s philosophy of “accommodation” with segregation represented the polar opposite of Douglass’s goal of full civil and political equality. It would be more than half a century before civil rights activism began to transform Douglass’s ideal of social equality into a reality.

1. What was Douglass forced to do at the age of six? A. work for a shipwright in Baltimore B. work on a plantation in Maryland C. take care of his grandmother D. escape from slavery

2. What does this text mostly describe?

A. the history of the anti-abolition and equal rights movements B. the life and political activism of Frederick Douglass C. the horrors of slavery Frederick Douglass witnessed as a child D. the contrast between the beliefs of Frederick Douglass and Booker T.

Washington 3. Frederick Douglass valued his education when he was growing up. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion?

A. Douglass witnessed many cruelties while on the plantation that he later recorded in his autobiographies.

B. In Baltimore, Douglass’s mistress taught him to read until her husband stopped her from continuing.

C. After his master said that “learning would spoil” him, Douglass continued his education on his own.

D. The collection of speeches in Columbian Orator introduced Douglass to the ideals of the American Revolution.

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4. Why might Frederick Douglass have been a more effective anti-slavery orator than some other abolitionists?

A. He was better-educated than most other people in the abolition movement.

B. His ideas and goals regarding slavery were more popular than those of other abolitionists.

C. He was able to powerfully communicate his first-hand experience as a slave.

D. He was able to travel more easily than other people in the abolition movement.

5. What is the main idea of this text?

A. Due to his courage, rebellious spirit, and intelligence, Frederick Douglass was able to escape from slavery.

B. Over the course of his life, Frederick Douglass went from being a slave to being a respected activist for abolition and equal rights.

C. As an adult, Frederick Douglass fought for equal rights and supported the women’s rights and temperance movements.

D. Although Frederick Douglass fought for civil and political equality for blacks for many years, his goals were not achieved in his lifetime.

6. Most of the paragraphs are in chronological order, except for the first paragraph. Read these sentences from the first paragraph of the text. “Frederick Douglass was one of the first fugitive slaves to speak out publicly against slavery. On the morning of August 12, 1841, he stood up at an anti-slavery meeting on Nantucket Island. With great power and eloquence, he described his life in bondage. As soon as he finished, the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison asked the audience, ‘Have we been listening to a thing, a piece of property, or to a man?’ ‘A man! A man!’ five hundred voices replied.” Why might the author have begun the text in this way?

A. to immediately show readers that Frederick Douglass was a powerful voice in the abolition movement

B. to ask the readers to consider whether Frederick Douglass was a thing, a piece of property, or a man

C. to indicate that Frederick Douglass first began making powerful speeches at a very young age

D. to imply that Frederick Douglass’s speech on August 12, 1841 was the most important speech he ever gave

7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Douglass was one of the few men to attend the first women’s rights convention, _______ his main cause was the struggle against slavery and racial discrimination.

A. for example B. consequently C. therefore D. although

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8. What was one horror that Douglass experienced during his childhood? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 9. What were Douglass’s political beliefs? Be sure to mention his beliefs about both race and gender in your answer. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ 10. How might Frederick Douglass’s childhood experiences have shaped his political beliefs? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________