Question

This passage is taken from the autobiography of Fredrick Douglass. Read the passage, then answer the question.

I was now about twelve years old, and the thought of being a slave for life began to bear heavily upon my heart. Just about this time, I got hold of a book entitled "The Columbian Orator." Every opportunity I got, I used to read this book. Among much of other interesting matter, I found in it a dialogue between a master and his slave. The slave was represented as having run away from his master three times. The dialogue represented the conversation which took place between them, when the slave was retaken the third time. In this dialogue, the whole argument in behalf of slavery was brought forward by the master, all of which was disposed of by the slave. The slave was made to say some very smart as well as impressive things in reply to his master—things which had the desired though unexpected effect; for the conversation resulted in the voluntary emancipation of the slave on the part of the master.

In the same book, I met with one of Sheridan's mighty speeches on and in behalf of Catholic emancipation. These were choice documents to me. I read them over and over again with unabated interest. They gave tongue to interesting thoughts of my own soul, which had frequently flashed through my mind, and died away for want of utterance. The moral which I gained from the dialogue was the power of truth over the conscience of even a slaveholder.

–Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an
American Slave,
Frederick Douglass

Which statement best summarizes the passage?

Through reading, Douglass expands his knowledge of his origins.
Douglass is able to obtain only two books, but he persists in learning to read.
Two important texts teach Douglass the power of truth to change opinions on enslavement.
Douglass discovers that it is impossible to shift people’s thinking on the issue of enslavement.

Answer 1

Two important texts teach Douglass the power of truth to change opinions on enslavement.

This is best because the passage describes how the Columbian Orator dialogue and Sheridan's speech gave Douglass language and the moral lesson that truth can move even a slaveholder’s conscience.