You will be given a definition of a task first, then some input of the task.
In this task, you are given a sentence and question which can be answered using the sentence. Your task is to answer the question using the information from the sentence. The answer to the question is unique and it is a continuous text span from the sentence.

Sentence: As ex-slaves risked beatings for failing to meet the continuing duties , their freedom was limited . 
 Question: what was  continuing?
Output:
duties