The First Black Sea Captain (Reading)

Click the link below for the reading passage:

The First Black Sea Captain

1) From paragraph 2, all of the following are true about Robert Smalls' early life EXCEPT:

A) He had a remarkable memory for maritime features but was illiterate.
B) He was born near the sea and proved to be a naturally gifted sailor.
C) In his first job, he was paid to work in a shipyard.
D) His employment opportunities were limited by his social status.


2) What was the main reason that Smalls and his family were still slaves in 1861?

A) He wasn't earning enough money to procure their freedom.
B) He was such a gifted seaman that his owner delayed selling him.
C) Everyone in his life was holding him back from that decision.
D) The American Civil War prevented anyone from thinking about their future.


3) From paragraph 4 line 4, which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "ordnance"?

A) artillery
B) vessels
C) materials
D) drugs


4) From paragraph 6 line 11, the word "they" refers to:

A) The ship's crew.
B) The Confederate forts.
C) The 13 slaves.
D) Smalls' family.


5) From paragraphs 8 and 9, which of the following was NOT a result of the Smalls' escape:

A) Black soldiers began to enlist in the military.
B) Smalls' actions put President Lincoln in danger.
C) Smalls was given a reward for his heroism.
D) Newspapers congratulated his intelligence.


6) From paragraph 10 line 5, which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "maneuver"?

A) protect
B) encourage
C) employ
D) direct


7) From paragraph 11, the sentence "In combat, Captain Smalls fought in 17 naval engagements; off duty, he studied with tutors to learn to read and write, skills which has been forbidden him as a slave," could best be restated as:

A) As a successful commander, Smalls was able to get tutors to help him gain literacy skills even though it was forbidden.
B) In spite of the fact that as a slave, Smalls had never learned to read and write, he managed to lead many successful naval campaigns.
C) During his command, Smalls fought a number of naval battles while learning literacy skills in his spare time.
D) After Smalls' successful career as a commanding officer, he was able to study with tutors to become literate.


8) In the last paragraph, why does the passage mention "the USS Robert Smalls"?

A) To show that Smalls was still respected even after his death.
B) To illustrate the location of Smalls' grave.
C) To explain why Smalls' home was made a National Historic Landmark.
D) To show what happened to the ship that he captained.


9) Choose 3 sentences to summarize the main points of the passage.

A) After the Civil War, Smalls moved back to his hometown and worked in politics until his death in 1915.

B) Smalls escaped from slavery by stealing a ship, imitating his captain and joining the other side of the war.

C) Smalls passed away in his hometown of Beaufort, having never been fully recognized for his achievements.

D) At just 12 years old, Smalls got his first job in a shipyard in Beaufort.

E) After Smalls' escape, the Southern (Confederate) Army began allowing black soldiers into the military, which was a significant political and social change.

F) Smalls became a captain partly because of the cowardice of his predecessor but mostly because of his heroism and intelligence.