مکالمه ی فعالانه قسمت ج

ACTIVE SPEAKING / PART C

HUMAN CARGO AND EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE

At this time in US history, the country was divided with slave-owning states in the South, and slave free states in the North.

Was the country divided? Yes, the country was divided. Where were the slave-owning states? The slave-owning states were in the South. Where were the slave free states? The slave free states were in the North.

The nearest free state was Pennsylvania.

Was Virginia the nearest free state? No, Virginia wasn’t the nearest free state. The nearest free state was Pennsylvania.

To get there, the box would need to travel 275 miles transferring multiple times from road to boat to train.

How many miles would the box need to travel? The box would need to travel 275 miles. Would it need to travel by road, boat and plane? No, it wouldn’t need to travel by road, boat and plane. It would need to travel by road, boat and train.

Best case scenario, it would take 24 hours to get there.

What was the best case scenario? The best case scenario, it would take 24 hours to get there.

If he were caught, he would surely be whipped, sent back south and made an example of in the worst possible way.

Would he be whipped if he were caught? Yes, he would be whipped if he were caught. Would he be sent to another country? No, he wouldn’t be sent to another country. He would be sent south.

Would he be made an example of? Yes, he would be made an example of.

Brown’s friends were even more afraid of what would happen if the mail got delayed.

What were Brown’s friends afraid of? Brown’s friends were afraid of what would happen if the mail got delayed.

Dying in the box from heat and suffocation was a very real possibility.

Was dying in the box from heat and suffocation a possibility? Yes, dying in the box from heat and suffocation was a possibility.

Brown insisted on his plan and his friends finally agreed to help.

Who insisted on the plan? Brown insisted on the plan. Who agreed to help? Brown’s friends agreed to help.

Brown needed an excuse to get out of work, so he wouldn’t be missed during his escape.

What kind of excuse did Brown need? Brown needed an excuse to get out of work. Why did he need an excuse to get out of work? He needed an excuse to get out of work, so he wouldn’t be missed during his escape.

He poured acid on his hand, but used too much and burned himself to the bone.

What did he pour on his hand? He poured acid on his hand. Did he use a lot or a little acid? He used a lot of acid. He used too much acid. What happened to his hand? He burned his hand to the bone.

Free to skip work that day, he got on with his plan.

What did he get on with? He got on with his plan.

He crammed his 100-kilo body into a 90 cm by 75 cm by 60 cm box made of wood.

How big was Brown? Brown was 100 kilos. Was the box 90 cm by 75 cm by 60 cm? Yes, the box was 90 cm by 75 cm by 60 cm. What was the box made of? The box was made of wood.

His friends nailed it shut and he had no way out.

What did his friends do? His friends nailed it shut. Did he have a way out? No, he had no way out.

Either he made it to Philadelphia, or he died in the box.

What were his options? Either he made it to Philadelphia, or he died in the box.

It was an arduous journey that began with a 4-hour boat ride.

What kind of journey was it? It was an arduous journey. Did it begin with a 2 hour boat ride? No, it didn’t begin with a 2 hour boat ride. It began with a 4 hour boat ride.

His friends had written “this side up with care” on the box, but the box was immediately put upside down.

What did his friends write on the box? His friends wrote “this side up with care” on the box. Was the box put upside down? Yes, the box was put upside down.

Brown traveled much of the way on his head with his body contorted and his hand burned badly.

Did Brown travel much of the way on his head? Yes, Brown traveled much of the way on his head.

What about his body? His body was contorted. What about his hand? His hand was burned badly.

He had only four little holes drilled into the box for air.

How many holes did he have for air? He had four holes for air.

It was August in Virginia, so it was likely hot and humid outside, and inside a cramped box it was probably unbearable.

What month was it? It was August. What was the Virginia weather like in August? It was likely hot and humid. Was it probably comfortable inside the box? No, it probably wasn’t comfortable. It was probably unbearable.

Next he was transferred to a boat, where he was again placed upside down.

Where was he transferred to next? Next, he was transferred to a boat. Was he place right side up?

No, he wasn’t placed right side up. He was placed upside down.

He felt the blood filling his eyes and thought they would surely burst.

Did he feel the blood filling his eyes? Yes, he felt the blood filling his eyes. Did he think they would burst? Yes, he thought they would burst.

Thankfully, some passengers looking for a place to sit turned the box on its side.

Who turned the box on its side? Some passengers turned the box on its side. What were they looking for? They were looking for a place to sit.

After 4 hours on the boat, he was transferred by wagon from Washington DC to Baltimore.

Was he transferred by wagon or train from Washington DC to Baltimore. He was transferred by wagon from Washington DC to Baltimore.

In Baltimore, Brown’s box was thrown from the wagon, rolled down a hill, and Brown once again landed on his head.

Who was thrown from the wagon? Brown was thrown from the wagon. How did Brown land? Brown landed on his head.

Brown was knocked out. He woke up sometime later to find himself on a train to Philadelphia.

Was Brown knocked out? Yes, Brown was knocked out. Did he wake up to find himself on a train to Virginia? No, he didn’t wake up to find himself on a train to Virginia. He woke up to find himself on a train to Philadelphia.