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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who takes Ifemelu aside and talks to her about safe sex in Chapter 5?

2. What term does Ginika say is an insult in America but a compliment in Nigeria in Chapter 12?

3. Where does Ifemelu go in Chapter 1 to have her hair braided?

4. How many comments trailed Ifemelu's last blog post, according to the narrator in Chapter 1?

5. For how long has Aunty Uju been in America in the beginning of Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. What attracts Ifemelu to becoming a blogger?

2. Discuss the symbolism of Ifelemu's mother's hair in the narrative. What is represented when she cuts her hair?

3. How does Ifemelu perceive the differences between the news in America and Nigeria when she first arrives in the U.S.?

4. What does Aisha solicit Ifemelu to do in Chapter 1? Why?

5. How are Obinze's cousin in London and Aunty Uju in America similar in the novel?

6. How would you describe Ifemelu's mother's relationship with religion?

7. What discussion emerges in Ifemelu's history class regarding the film Roots in Part 2?

8. How is "American Tribalism" defined in the narrative?

9. How would you describe Ifemelu's character when she is first introduced? What are her circumstances?

10. Who does Obinze work for at a warehouse in London? How is he treated at this job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze Ifemelu’s first impressions of America. How does the United States differ from Ifemelu’s expectations? Upon what were Ifemelu’s expectations based? What differences have the most impact on Ifemelu’s perceptions of America?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of isolation and conformity. How do Ifemelu and other Nigerian immigrants go about assimilating into American culture in the narrative? What do you think they lose along the way toward conformity? How is Ifemelu affected by her assimilation into American culture?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the backdrop of the Obama Presidential campaign in the narrative. How does the campaign influence Ifemelu’s thoughts on race in America? How does the campaign affect Ifemelu’s relationship with Blaine? What does the Obama Presidency signify for the characters in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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