SSAT Reading Question 170: Answer and Explanation
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Question: 170
4. The purpose of Douglass's speech was to
- A. inform members of the society of the horrors of slavery
- B. convince listeners to adopt fair and equal voting requirements
- C. inform listeners of the progress of the war
- D. convince members of the society that slavery should be ended
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
B is correct. The passage is written in the first person and offers the views of the author on the subject of slavery and voting rights. The last paragraph makes it clear that the author is trying to convince members of the society that "whatever rule you adopt, whether of intelligence or wealth, as the condition of voting for whites, you shall apply it equally to the black man." He goes on to say that if "I am satisfied, and eternal justice is satisfied; liberty, fraternity, equality, are satisfied, and the country will move on harmoniously." As stated in the italic text at the start of the article, this speech was given at a meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society. It is unlikely that members of an Anti-Slavery Society would need to be convinced that slavery should be ended, so choice D can be eliminated. Choices A and C can also be eliminated because the passage is a statement of the author’s opinions on the subject, not just an objective presentation of information about the horrors of slavery (choice A) or the progress of the war (choice C). Choice E is not correct because, while the passage mentions that granting voting rights to blacks will help the country "move on harmoniously," it does not explain how this will happen.