2. Sojourner Truth
She was born into slavery around 1797 in New York State's Hudson River Valley, 80 miles
from New York City. As a slave, she was known simply as "Isabella." But a decade and a half after
escaping from bondage, she adopted a new name. As Sojourner Truth, she became a legend in the
struggle to abolish slavery and extend equal rights to women.
The youngest of some ten or twelve children, she grew up in a single room in a dark and
damp cellar, sleeping on straw on top of loose boards. For sixteen years from 1810 to 1826, she served
as a household slave in upstate New York and was sold five times. One owner beat her so savagely that
her arms and shoulders bore scars for the rest of her life. She bore a fellow slave five children, only
to see at least three of her offspring sold away.
In 1843, Isabella took the name Sojourner Truth, convinced that God had called on her to
wander the country and boldly speak out the truth. Her fame as a preacher, singer, and orator for
abolition and women's rights spread quickly and three incidents became the stuff of legend. During
the late 1840s, when the black abolitionist Frederick Douglass expressed doubt about the possibility of
ending slavery peacefully, she replied forcefully, "Frederick is God dead?" Several years later, in a
speech before a woman's rights convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851, she demanded that Americans
recognize that impoverished African-American women were women too, reportedly saying "I could
work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear de lash as well! And ain't I a
woman?" And in 1858, when a hostile audience insisted that the six-foot tall orator spoke too
powerfully to be a woman, she reportedly bared her breasts before them.
During the Civil War, she took an active role promoting emancipation as the Union cause.
When the war was over, she traveled across the North, collecting signatures on petitions calling on
Congress to set aside western land for former slaves. At her death in 1883, she could rightly be
remembered as one of the nation's most eloquent opponent of discrimination in all forms
(Martin, James, et al. America and Its People 332-33)
3. Step One
Make a one sentence summary of each
paragraph in order to discover the
overall main idea
4. Paragraph One
She was born into slavery around 1797
in New York State's Hudson River Valley, 80
miles from New York City. As a slave, she was
known simply as "Isabella." But a decade and
a half after escaping from bondage, she
adopted a new name. As Sojourner Truth, she
became a legend in the struggle to abolish
slavery and extend equal rights to women.
5. Paragraph One
She was born into slavery around 1797
in New York State's Hudson River Valley, 80
miles from New York City. As a slave, she was
known simply as "Isabella." But a decade and
a half after escaping from bondage, she
adopted a new name. As Sojourner Truth, she
became a legend in the struggle to abolish
slavery and extend equal rights to women.
Sojourner Truth was a slave who became a legend in the
struggle to abolish slavery and extend equal rights to women.
6. Paragraph Two
The youngest of some ten or twelve
children, she grew up in a single room in a dark
and damp cellar, sleeping on straw on top of
loose boards. For sixteen years from 1810 to
1826, she served as a household slave in upstate
New York and was sold five times. One owner
beat her so savagely that her arms and shoulders
bore scars for the rest of her life. She bore a
fellow slave five children, only to see at least
three of her offspring sold away.
7. Paragraph Two
The youngest of some ten or twelve
children, she grew up in a single room in a dark
and damp cellar, sleeping on straw on top of
loose boards. For sixteen years from 1810 to
1826, she served as a household slave in upstate
New York and was sold five times. One owner
beat her so savagely that her arms and shoulders
bore scars for the rest of her life. She bore a
fellow slave five children, only to see at least
three of her offspring sold away.
Sojourner Truth faced terrible hardships
8. Paragraph Three
In 1843, Isabella took the name Sojourner
Truth, convinced that God had called on her to wander the
country and boldly speak out the truth. Her fame as a
preacher, singer, and orator for abolition and women's rights
spread quickly and three incidents became the stuff of legend.
During the late 1840s, when the black abolitionist Frederick
Douglass expressed doubt about the possibility of ending slavery
peacefully, she replied forcefully, "Frederick is God dead?"
Several years later, in a speech before a woman's rights
convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851, she demanded that
Americans recognize that impoverished African-American
women were women too, reportedly saying "I could work as
much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear de
lash as well! And ain't I a woman?" And in 1858, when a hostile
audience insisted that the six-foot tall orator spoke too
powerfully to be a woman, she reportedly bared her breasts
before them.
9. Paragraph Three
In 1843, Isabella took the name Sojourner Truth, convinced
that God had called on her to wander the country and boldly speak out
the truth. Her fame as a preacher, singer, and orator for abolition and
women's rights spread quickly and three incidents became the stuff of
legend. (1) During the late 1840s, when the black abolitionist Frederick
Douglass expressed doubt about the possibility of ending slavery
peacefully, she replied forcefully, "Frederick is God dead?" (2) Several
years later, in a speech before a woman's rights convention in
Akron, Ohio, in 1851, she demanded that Americans recognize that
impoverished African-American women were women too, reportedly
saying "I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could
get it-and bear de lash as well! And ain't I a woman?" (3) And in
1858, when a hostile audience insisted that the six-foot tall orator
spoke too powerfully to be a woman, she reportedly bared her breasts
before them.
Three incidents which tell of her fame as a preacher, singer, and orator for
abolition and women's rights
10. Paragraph Four
During the Civil War, she took an active role
promoting emancipation as the Union cause. When
the war was over, she traveled across the North,
collecting signatures on petitions calling on Congress
to set aside western land for former slaves. At her
death in 1883, she could rightly be remembered as
one of the nation's most eloquent opponent of
discrimination in all forms (Martin, James, et al.
America and Its People 332-33)
11. Paragraph Four
During the Civil War, she took an active role
promoting emancipation as the Union cause. When
the war was over, she traveled across the
North, collecting signatures on petitions calling on
Congress to set aside western land for former slaves.
At her death in 1883, she could rightly be
remembered as one of the nation's most eloquent
opponent of discrimination in all forms
(Martin, James, et al. America and Its People 332-33)
She took an active role in promoting emancipation and
discrimination in all forms.
12. Which sentence best states the
main idea of this passage?
A. Sojourner Truth became known as a courageous
opponent of discrimination.
B. Sojourner Truth was a gifted preacher, singer and
orator.
C. Sojourner Truth wandered the country and boldly
spoke the truth.
D. Sojourner Truth was a slave who was horribly abused.
13. Paragraph Summaries
1. Sojourner Truth was a slave who became a legend in
the struggle to abolish slavery and extend equal
rights to women.
2. Sojourner Truth faced terrible hardships
3. Three incidents which tell of her fame as a
preacher, singer, and orator for abolition and
women's rights
4. She took an active role in promoting emancipation
and discrimination in all forms.
14. Which sentence best states the
main idea of this passage?
A. Sojourner Truth became known as a courageous
opponent of discrimination.
B. Sojourner Truth was a gifted preacher, singer and
orator. (3)
C. Sojourner Truth wandered the country and boldly
spoke the truth. (3)
D. Sojourner Truth was a slave who was horribly abused.
(2)
15. The implied main idea of
paragraph two is?
A. Sojourner Truth was a strong and courageous woman.
B. Sojourner Truth suffered many hardships because of
slavery.
C. Sojourner Truth was sold five times.
D. Sojourner Truth suffered the loss of her children.
2. Sojourner Truth faced terrible hardships
16. The implied main idea of
paragraph two is?
A. Sojourner Truth was a strong and courageous woman.
B. Sojourner Truth suffered many hardships because of
slavery.
C. Sojourner Truth was sold five times.
D. Sojourner Truth suffered the loss of her children.
2. Sojourner Truth faced terrible hardships
17. The author uses an overall
organizational pattern that
A. compares and contrasts her life as a slave and free
woman.
B. provides the time line of her struggle to oppose
prejudice.
C. suggests reasons for Sojourner Truth's fame.
D. gives examples of Sojourner Truth's courage.
MI: Sojourner Truth became known as a courageous
opponent of discrimination.
18. Sojourner Truth
She was born into slavery around 1797 in New York State's Hudson River Valley, 80 miles
from New York City. As a slave, she was known simply as "Isabella." But a decade and a half after
escaping from bondage, she adopted a new name. As Sojourner Truth, she became a legend in the
struggle to abolish slavery and extend equal rights to women.
The youngest of some ten or twelve children, she grew up in a single room in a dark and
damp cellar, sleeping on straw on top of loose boards. For sixteen years from 1810 to 1826, she served
as a household slave in upstate New York and was sold five times. One owner beat her so savagely that
her arms and shoulders bore scars for the rest of her life. She bore a fellow slave five children, only
to see at least three of her offspring sold away.
In 1843, Isabella took the name Sojourner Truth, convinced that God had called on her to
wander the country and boldly speak out the truth. Her fame as a preacher, singer, and orator for
abolition and women's rights spread quickly and three incidents became the stuff of legend. During
the late 1840s, when the black abolitionist Frederick Douglass expressed doubt about the possibility of
ending slavery peacefully, she replied forcefully, "Frederick is God dead?" Several years later, in a
speech before a woman's rights convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851, she demanded that Americans
recognize that impoverished African-American women were women too, reportedly saying "I could
work as much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear de lash as well! And ain't I a
woman?" And in 1858, when a hostile audience insisted that the six-foot tall orator spoke too
powerfully to be a woman, she reportedly bared her breasts before them.
During the Civil War, she took an active role promoting emancipation as the Union cause.
When the war was over, she traveled across the North, collecting signatures on petitions calling on
Congress to set aside western land for former slaves. At her death in 1883, she could rightly be
remembered as one of the nation's most eloquent opponent of discrimination in all forms
(Martin, James, et al. America and Its People 332-33)
19. The author uses an overall
organizational pattern that
A. compares and contrasts her life as a slave and free
woman.
B. provides the time line of her struggle to oppose
prejudice.
C. suggests reasons for Sojourner Truth's fame.
D. gives examples of Sojourner Truth's courage.
MI: Sojourner Truth became known as a courageous
opponent of discrimination.
20. best be described as
The tone of this passage could
best be described as
A. nostalgic
B. dramatic
C. gloomy
D. objective
21. best be described as
The tone of this passage could
best be described as
A. nostalgic
B. dramatic
C. gloomy
D. objective
22. The author's claim that "During the Civil War, she
took an active role promoting emancipation as the
Union cause." (line 24-25) is
A. adequately supported by factual details.
B. inadequately supported by strongly held
opinion.
23. The author's claim that "During the Civil War, she
took an active role promoting emancipation as the
Union cause." (line 24-25) is
A. adequately supported by factual details.
B. inadequately supported by strongly held
opinion.
24. Identify the relationship between the
following two sentences from
paragraph 4:
"During the Civil War, she took an active role promoting
emancipation as the Union cause. When the war was
over, she traveled across the North, collecting
signatures on petitions calling on Congress to set aside
western land for former slaves." (lines 24-26)
A. Simple listing
B. Cause and effect
C. Time order
D. Contrast
25. Identify the relationship between the
following two sentences from
paragraph 4:
"During the Civil War, she took an active role promoting
emancipation as the Union cause. When the war was
over, she traveled across the North, collecting
signatures on petitions calling on Congress to set aside
western land for former slaves." (lines 24-26)
A. Simple listing
B. Cause and effect
C. Time order
D. Contrast
26. What is the relationship between
parts of the following sentence?
"But a decade and a half after escaping from
bondage, she adopted a new name." (lines 2-3).
A. Clarification
B. Time order
C. Addition
D. Contrast
27. What is the relationship between
parts of the following sentence?
"But a decade and a half after escaping from
bondage, she adopted a new name." (lines 2-3).
A. Clarification
B. Time order
C. Addition
D. Contrast
28. What is the relationship between
parts of the following sentence?
"But a decade and a half after escaping from bondage, she
adopted a new name." (lines 2-3).
Try flipping the order:
She adopted a new name a decade and a half after escaping
from bondage
A. Clarification
B. Time order
C. Addition
D. Contrast
29. What is the relationship between
parts of the following sentence?
"But a decade and a half after escaping from bondage, she
adopted a new name." (lines 2-3).
Try flipping the order:
She adopted a new name a decade and a half after escaping
from bondage
A. Clarification
B. Time order
C. Addition
D. Contrast
30. Based on the passage, Sojourner Truth
changed her name from 'Isabella'
because
A. she was convinced God called her to wander the
country and speak the truth.
B. she spoke too powerfully and was too tall to be known
as a woman.
C. Isabella was her name as a slave.
D. she wanted to be remembered as one of the nation's
most eloquent opponents of discrimination.
31. Paragraph Three
In 1843, Isabella took the name Sojourner
Truth, convinced that God had called on her to wander the
country and boldly speak out the truth. Her fame as a
preacher, singer, and orator for abolition and women's rights
spread quickly and three incidents became the stuff of legend.
During the late 1840s, when the black abolitionist Frederick
Douglass expressed doubt about the possibility of ending slavery
peacefully, she replied forcefully, "Frederick is God dead?"
Several years later, in a speech before a woman's rights
convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851, she demanded that
Americans recognize that impoverished African-American
women were women too, reportedly saying "I could work as
much and eat as much as a man-when I could get it-and bear de
lash as well! And ain't I a woman?" And in 1858, when a hostile
audience insisted that the six-foot tall orator spoke too
powerfully to be a woman, she reportedly bared her breasts
before them.
32. Based on the passage, Sojourner Truth
changed her name from 'Isabella'
because
A. she was convinced God called her to wander the
country and speak the truth.
B. she spoke too powerfully and was too tall to be known
as a woman.
C. Isabella was her name as a slave.
D. she wanted to be remembered as one of the nation's
most eloquent opponents of discrimination.
34. Paragraph Four
During the Civil War, she took an active role
promoting emancipation as the Union cause. When
the war was over, she traveled across the
North, collecting signatures on petitions calling on
Congress to set aside western land for former slaves.
At her death in 1883, she could rightly be
remembered as one of the nation's most eloquent
opponent of discrimination in all forms
(Martin, James, et al. America and Its People 332-33)
