Read the following excerpt from Frederick Douglass's "Learning to Read and Write" and answer the question.

As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow slaves for their stupidity. I have often wished myself a beast. I preferred the condition of the meanest reptile to my own.

Which word is closest in meaning to the word writhed in the excerpt above?

A) visualized

B) squirmed

C) agonized

D) wiggled

Question

Jaden Patrick

English

23 July, 00:24

Read the following excerpt from Frederick Douglass's "Learning to Read and Write" and answer the question.

As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out. In moments of agony, I envied my fellow slaves for their stupidity. I have often wished myself a beast. I preferred the condition of the meanest reptile to my own.

Which word is closest in meaning to the word writhed in the excerpt above?

A) visualized

B) squirmed

C) agonized

D) wiggled

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Bradley Novak · Answer 1

Agonized. The author is saying that that learning to read for this character started to show him things that were difficult for him to know about. He did not mean to literally wiggle or squirm. He was visualizing what he read but it was more than that. He was feeling the emotion as well.