Twelve Years a Slave

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. According to Berlin’s Introduction to Twelve Years a Slave, what makes this text particularly trustworthy?

A) It was the first time a former enslaved person had published their story.

B) It confirms that life for enslaved people was not much better than life for free Blacks in the North. 

C) It revealed for the first time that the condition of enslavement was passed down from mother to son.

D) It is full of detailed, verifiable information about enslaved life on the plantation.

2. Which correctly identifies the offspring of Solomon Northop and Anne Hampton? 

A) 3 children: Sally, Elizabeth, and Laurie

B) 3 children: Elizabeth, Margaret, and Alonzo

C) 2 children: Elizabeth and Alonzo

D) 2 children: Margaret and Frederick

3. In Chapter 5, Northup and Arthur abandon their plan to overthrow the brig when Robert becomes sick and dies of what illness?

A) Smallpox

B) Cholera

C) Yellow fever

D) Malaria

4. What instrument does Freeman force Northup to play so that customers can watch the enslaved individuals dance? 

A) he harmonica

B) The piano

C) The violin

D) The drums

5. Why does William Ford sell Northup in Chapter 8?

A) Due to financial hardship

B) He has too many enslaved people and not enough work.

C) His wife dislikes the relationship between Northup and Eliza.

D) Ford’s church requested labor for building a new church.