Answer:
A. Unwise
Explanation:
The word "imprudent" refers to something that is rash, that lacks discretion, or that is not well-thought-out. In this case, the author tells us that the act of striking back was "imprudent," and that it could have had bad consequences, such as Douglass' immediate death. Therefore, the word that best matches "imprudent" in meaning is "unwise."