Question

read the excerpt from \what the black man wants.\
i am for the \immediate, unconditional, and universal\ enfranchisement of the black man, in every state in the union. loud applause. without this, his liberty is a mockery; without this, you might as well almost retain the old name of slavery for his condition; for in fact, if he is not the slave of the individual master, he is the slave of society, and holds his liberty as a privilege, not as a right. he is at the mercy of the mob, and has no means of protecting himself.
how does the repetition of the phrase \without this\ support the paragraphs argument?
( \bigcirc ) it reinforces the idea that without equality in the us, the idea of a free society is a joke.
( \bigcirc ) it suggests that a free society is possible, with or without equal rights for all people.
( \bigcirc ) it indicates that douglass would be content without material possessions or status.
( \bigcirc ) it proposes that slavery will not be abolished in the us without the support of all citizens.

Explanation:

The text emphasizes that without "immediate, unconditional, and universal" enfranchisement (equality), black men's liberty is a mockery (like slavery). The repetition of "without this" highlights the connection between equality and a truly free society. Option B is wrong as the text shows equality is necessary for a free society. Option C is off - topic as material possessions aren't the focus. Option D is incorrect as the text is about enfranchisement (equality) not slavery abolition through citizen support.

Answer:

A. It reinforces the idea that without equality in the US, the idea of a free society is a joke.