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) helped
D) skill using hands
  • 2. How does the author show that Thomas Forten was skilled and hard-working?
A) Had several jobs to accomplish his goals
B) it was not mentioned
C) he supported abolition and believed in educating African-Americans
D) he was a good worker; purchased his wife's freedom
  • 3. Why does the author give information about Quaker Anthony Benezet?
A) Was the captain of the ship used to take Slaves to the West-Indies
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) Describe the people that James Forten knew
  • 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) It was the first time James seen black people
B) They showed weakness and lack of pride
C) They showed great pride and strength
D) It was odd for African American people to wear clean clothes where people could see them.
  • 5. Why does James Forten have reasons to be terrified when he is captured?
A) There was a constant threat of free African Americans being captured and forced into enslavement.
B) He was afraid to swim and didn't want to drown
C) There was no reason to be terrified
D) There was a constant threat of being shot
  • 6. Why did the author give so much detail about conditions on the prison ship?
A) The information the author gave was not true
B) The author wanted to show how happy the prisoners were
C) The author wanted to create a nice picture for the reader
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) Beasley's son did not help James
C) Beasley's son kept James from being placed on the slave ship bound for the West Indies
D) James did not form a relationship with his son
  • 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) Forten shows how ordinary people could make important contributions to American history, and how African Americans helped create the United States
C) The author wanted to show how weak James was
D) The author wanted to show how luck will get you through
  • 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) people who betray their country
D) the state of being owned and controlled by another person
  • 10. On page 325, what does the word traitors mean?
A) grim fear
B) prisoners
C) the lower inside part of the ship
D) people who betray their country
  • 11. On page 320, what does the word tacking mean?
A) changing directions while sailing
B) uncertain; hesitant
C) drawn into conflict or battle
D) a cluster of small iron balls used as a cannon charge
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