In the mid-nineteenth century, some abolitionist newspapers ______ westward migration in the United States; by printing a
letter that described the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California during the Gold Rush, Frederick
Douglass’s newspaper North Star was one such publication that inspired readers to relocate.
stimulated
assigned
opposed
disregarded
Choice A is the best answer. "Stimulated" means "encouraged interest or increased activity in." Because the newspapers
discussed the beneﬁts of westward migration and "inspired readers to relocate," we can infer that they encouraged people to
move west.
Choice B is incorrect. "Assigned" means "gave a job or duty." Newspapers do not have the power to assign people to move
west, although they can encourage it. Choice C is incorrect. "Opposed" means "disapproved of." We can tell that this isn’t the
case, because the newspapers discussed "the easy fortunes and high salaries miners could make in California" and "inspired
readers to relocate." Choice D is incorrect. "Disregarded" means "ignored." If the newspapers are writing about the west and
"inspir[ing] readers to relocate," they can’t be ignoring it at the same time.