Question

In which excerpt from Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad is Tubman using pathos?

“She tried to explain to them why none of them could go back to the plantation. If a runaway returned, he would turn traitor, the master and the overseer would force him to turn traitor.”

“Then she told them of her own first vain effort at running away, evoking the memory of that miserable life she had led as a child, reliving it for a moment in the telling.”

“She started talking about William Still and the Philadelphia Vigilance Committee. No one commented. No one asked any questions. She told them the story of William and Ellen Craft and how they escaped from Georgia.”

“She said that he had thick white hair, soft, almost like a baby's, and the kindest eyes she had ever seen. He was a big man and strong, but he had never used his strength to harm anyone, always to help people.”

Answer 1

The answer is “She tried to explain to them why none of them could go back to the plantation. If a runaway returned, he would turn traitor, the master and the overseer would force him to turn traitor.”(A)

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

In my opinion, the correct answer is D. “She said that he had thick white hair, soft, almost like a baby's, and the kindest eyes she had ever seen. He was a big man and strong, but he had never used his strength to harm anyone, always to help people.” By using pathos, the speaker appeals to the audience's emotions and empathy. In this case, she describes an old Quaker who used to help fugitives. He is described in very sympathetic terms, drawing on the contrast between his appearance and demeanor. The B option might seem to be correct, but it is not because it doesn't provide enough details to create the emotional response.