James Forten Reading Test
  • 1. What does the word dexterity mean
A) having no hands
B) give support for someone's effort or plans
C) skill using hands
D) helped
  • 2. How does the author show that Thomas Forten was skilled and hard-working?
A) he supported abolition and believed in educating African-Americans
B) Had several jobs to accomplish his goals
C) he was a good worker; purchased his wife's freedom
D) it was not mentioned
  • 3. Why does the author give information about Quaker Anthony Benezet?
A) Describe the people that James Forten knew
B) He supported abolition and believed in educating African Americans to help them play meaningful roles in the colonies
C) He was James Forten's Grandfather
D) Was the captain of the ship used to take Slaves to the West-Indies
  • 4. What does the author mean when he writes that the black soldiers seemed taller and blacker than any men James had ever seen?
A) They showed weakness and lack of pride
B) It was odd for African American people to wear clean clothes where people could see them.
C) It was the first time James seen black people
D) They showed great pride and strength
  • 5. Why does James Forten have reasons to be terrified when he is captured?
A) There was a constant threat of being shot
B) He was afraid to swim and didn't want to drown
C) There was a constant threat of free African Americans being captured and forced into enslavement.
D) There was no reason to be terrified
  • 6. Why did the author give so much detail about conditions on the prison ship?
A) The author wanted to create a nice picture for the reader
B) The author wanted to show how happy the prisoners were
C) The information the author gave was not true
D) To give a clear idea of what James and the other colonial prisoners endured
  • 7. How did James's friendship with Beasley's son help him?
A) His friendship placed James on the prison ship
B) James did not form a relationship with his son
C) Beasley's son kept James from being placed on the slave ship bound for the West Indies
D) Beasley's son did not help James
  • 8. Why did the author choose to tell Jame's Forten's story even though he didn't believe Forten was a hero?
A) The author wanted to show that African Americans had very little importance in American history
B) The author wanted to show how luck will get you through
C) Forten shows how ordinary people could make important contributions to American history, and how African Americans helped create the United States
D) The author wanted to show how weak James was
  • 9. On page 326, the word enslavement means:
A) a disease transmitted by mosquitoes; its symptoms include high fever and vomiting
B) someone who works for another person in order to learn a trade
C) the state of being owned and controlled by another person
D) people who betray their country
  • 10. On page 325, what does the word traitors mean?
A) grim fear
B) the lower inside part of the ship
C) people who betray their country
D) prisoners
  • 11. On page 320, what does the word tacking mean?
A) drawn into conflict or battle
B) a cluster of small iron balls used as a cannon charge
C) uncertain; hesitant
D) changing directions while sailing
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