Question

Equiano is pleased to be kept above deck, rather than below. He was moved above deck because…

A. He became sick
B. He did not start any rebellions
C. He was a man
D. He had children aboard the ship

Answer 1

The correct answer is option a. Equiano was likely moved above deck because he became sick, which was common practice to prevent the spread of disease among slaves and crew.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked why Equiano was pleased to be kept above deck on a slave ship, and the reason for him being moved above deck. From the reference information provided, the primary reasons for moving slaves above deck during these voyages were to provide them with fresh air, to make them exercise in order to maintain their sales value, and due to the fear of infectious diseases spreading among the slaves and the crew.

Illness was a major concern as it could diminish the captain's profit by reducing the number of living slaves that could be sold.

However, there is no direct mention of Equiano's specific situation in the provided information, so without additional context or reference to Equiano's own writings, we cannot definitively say why he in particular would have been moved above deck. From the options given, the most likely scenario common to slaves in such voyages would be A. He became sick, as sick slaves would need to be kept above deck to prevent the spread of disease.