Question

read this excerpt from \the narrative of the life of frederick douglass.\
i am strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, as a testimonial of the gratitude and affection i bear them; but prudence forbids;—not that it would injure me, but it might embarrass them; for it is almost an unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this christian country.
which statement best describes douglasss viewpoint?
he is embarrassed to say that he was taught by young children.
he believes he could be punished for reading to children.
he thinks it is inappropriate to discuss how people learn to read.
he wishes he could thank the young boys who taught him to read.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: The excerpt says prudence (not embarrassment) stops him from naming the boys, so this is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: The text says it might embarrass the boys, not that he'd be punished for reading to them, so this is incorrect.
3. Analyze the third option: The excerpt is about not naming the boys to avoid embarrassing them (due to teaching slaves to read being an offense), not about discussing how people learn to read being inappropriate, so this is incorrect.
4. Analyze the fourth option: The line "I am strongly tempted to give the names... as a testimonial of the gratitude..." shows he wants to thank the boys who taught him, and prudence (not being able to name them) stops him. This matches.

Answer:

D. He wishes he could thank the young boys who taught him to read. (Note: Assuming the last option is D; if the options were labeled differently, adjust the identifier. Here, the last option's content is correct.)