Question

In these excerpts, how do both men use their personal histories to achieve their purpose?
Read the excerpt from Thoughts and Sentiments.
After coming to England, and seeing others write and read, I had a strong desire to learn, and getting what assistance I could, I applied myself to learn reading and writing, which soon became my recreation, pleasure, and delight; and when my master perceived that I could write some, he sent me to a proper school for that purpose to learn. Since, I have endeavoured to improve my mind in reading, and have sought to get all the intelligence I could, in my situation of life, towards the state of my brethren and countrymen in complexion, and of the miserable situation of those who are barbarously sold into captivity, and unlawfully held in slavery.

The first part of my life was rather unlucky, as I was placed in a family who judged ignorance the best and only security for obedience.—A little reading and writing I got by unwearied application.—The latter part of my life has been—thro' God's blessing, truly fortunate, having spent it in the service of one of the best families in the kingdom.—My chief pleasure has been books.

A-Both men use their past experiences to show readers that they persevered and became accomplished readers and writers.
B-Both men use their personal histories to show readers the horrors and misery of being enslaved.
C-Both men share their past experiences to show readers that they are much smarter than the average person.
D-Both men share their personal stories to show readers that they are still having a very difficult time adjusting to European customs.

Answer 1

Both men use their past experiences to show readers that they persevered and became accomplished readers and writers.

Answer 2

Read the excerpt from Thoughts and Sentiments.

Question: In these excerpts, how do both men use their personal histories to achieve their purpose?  

Options:

• A) Both men use their past experiences to show readers that they persevered and became accomplished readers and writers.
• B) Both men use their personal histories to show readers the horrors and misery of being enslaved.
• C) Both men share their past experiences to show readers that they are much smarter than the average person.
• D) Both men share their personal stories to show readers that they are still having a very difficult time adjusting to European customs.

Answer: The correct answer is option: A) Both men use their past experiences to show readers that they persevered and became accomplished readers and writers.

Explanation: In both excerpts, both men mention their past experiences and how they persevered in order to learn and become accomplished readers and writers.

In the first excerpt, the writer mentions his experience of his arrival to England and how he saw people reading and writing and this made him have a strong desire to learn. He also mentions that after learning, he continued to to improve his mind in reading, and to get all the intelligence that he could.

In the second excerpt, the writer mentions that the first part of his life was pretty bad because he was placed in service of a family who judged ignorance the best. However, later on he was placed in service of one of the best families in the kingdom where his chief pleasure was reading books and he thought of himself as truly fortunate.