Question

Compared to enslaved people in Brazil or the West Indies, American enslaved people had ______ diets. American enslaved people suffered ______ diseases than those in the Caribbean, and American slaveowners typically ______ concerned with the health of their living property.

1) better, fewer, were
2) worse, more, were
3) better, more, were
4) worse, fewer, were

Answer 1

American enslaved people generally had better diets and suffered fewer diseases than those in Brazil or the West Indies, and their owners were relatively more concerned with their health.

Step-by-step explanation:

Compared to enslaved people in Brazil or the West Indies, American enslaved people had better diets. This can be partly attributed to the fact that the work of growing and processing tobacco on the English North American mainland colonies was less physically grueling than sugar and rice plantations. As a consequence, enslaved people in America suffered fewer diseases than those in the Caribbean, where conditions were far harsher, leading to a higher death toll and a necessity for constant replenishment of the enslaved population. Furthermore, American slaveowners typically were concerned with the health of their 'property' to some extent, especially compared to the Caribbean where the replacement of slaves was a more common practice. Therefore, the most accurate completion of the statement would be: American enslaved people had better diets, suffered fewer diseases, and American slaveowners typically were more concerned with the health of their living property.