Question

question 18 of 20
read the following excerpt from frederick douglass’s autobiography:
i had the strongest desire to see baltimore. cousin tom,
though not fluent in speech, had inspired me with that
desire by his eloquent description of the place.
which one of these did douglass use to establish ethos?

a. slang

b. sparse detail

c. formal diction

d. subjectivity

Explanation:

To establish ethos (credibility), Douglass uses formal diction. The excerpt's language is polished and proper (e.g., "strongest desire," "eloquent description") rather than slang (A, informal), sparse detail (B, lacks detail here), or subjectivity (D, focuses on a reasoned account, not personal bias). Formal diction conveys seriousness and authority, building credibility.

Answer:

C. Formal diction