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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. What is the name of Obinze's daughter?

2. Who says that African doctors should stay in Africa because they owe it to their country in Chapter 29?

3. What does Ifemelu do after her parents leave from their visit in Chapter 32?

4. Where does Emenike meet Obinze in Chapter 29?

5. What crime has Dike been accused of committing in Chapter 39?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Emenike respond when Obinze requests to see him in London? Why?

2. How is the theme of identity connected to Ifelemu's relationship with Blaine?

3. How is the motif of accents addressed by Ranyinudo in Part 7?

4. What connection does Ifemelu reach with Aisha in Chapter 41? What does this foreshadow?

5. Why does the author employ flashbacks in Chapter 31? How do flashbacks enhance the reader's experience?

6. How would you describe Ifemelu's employer and boss at Zoe magazine?

7. What issues does Shan describe with her editor and the publication of her book?

8. What argument do Ifemelu and Curt have regarding women's magazines in Part 4?

9. Why does Ifemelu argue with the Haitian woman in Chapter 31?

10. What are Ifemelu's present circumstances like in Chapter 43? Where is she staying?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the title of Americanah. What does this term mean, and who uses it in the narrative? Do you think that Ifemelu is an Americanah? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss perceptions of race in America versus in England and in Nigeria. What does Ifemelu mean when she implies that she was not “black” until she came to America? How does Ginika describe perceptions of race in the U.S.? Do you agree or disagree with her observations? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Dike in the novel. What is Ifemelu’s relationship with Dike like? How does Dike embody the themes of the narrative? How does Dike’s character evolve in the course of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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