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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. Rankine opens Chapter 4 with the statement that "To live through the days sometimes you moan like" what?

2. Whom does the author cite with the quote in Chapter 2, "I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background"?

3. What does the word "iterate" mean in Chapter 4?

4. What does the author say sighing does in Chapter 4?

5. In Chapter 1, the author begins with the statement, "When you are alone and too tired even to turn on any of your devices, you let yourself linger in" what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Franz Fanon and why does the author cite him in Chapter 2?

2. What theme predominates Chapter 2 of Citizen: An American Lyric?

3. How does the narrator respond when she is called a derogatory name by a friend in Chapter 3?

4. What is symbolized by the imagery on the cover of Citizen: An American Lyric?

5. What happens in the narrative at the Catholic school in Chapter 1?

6. What conclusion does the author reach in Chapter 4?

7. How does the author illustrate the differences between white and black experiences in Chapter 3?

8. How does the author describe Serena Williams's performance in the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open in Chapter 2?

9. How is the theme of memory addressed in Chapter 4?

10. What theme predominates Chapter 1 of Citizen: An American Lyric?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of the pain of prejudice in Citizen: An American Lyric. How does the author develop this theme through symbolism and imagery? How is it developed through the scenarios presented by the author?

Essay Topic 2

Define and discuss "affirmative action" and how it is applied in the book. When was affirmative action introduced in the United States? How did it change race relations? How did it impact the quality of life for African Americans?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Don Imus and the controversy described in Chapter 3. Whom did Imus make racist slurs against? What were the repercussions of Imus's comments? How did Imus's comments influence racial tensions in the country?

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