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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. At which of the following firms does Obama note working after marrying Michelle?

2. On which of the following towns’ names does Obama focus pronunciation efforts?

3. On which day does Super Tuesday fall during Obama’s primary campaign?

4. Which of the following words does Obama note is a gaffe in Ames?

5. Which of the following preaches a service for the Obamas on the morning of Inauguration Day?

Short Essay Questions

1. What trust does Obama cite as integral to the modern social contract?

2. Why is Super Tuesday referred to by that name?

3. What are the three components of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus that Obama articulates?

4. What does Obama identify as “the one big tactical error of our campaign” (139)?

5. What shortcomings does Obama note in his collegiate self, based on his journaling?

6. What debate-day rituals does Obama note performing?

7. What does Obama note he believes his motivations were and are for leaving his community-organization work?

8. What advice does Obama note he would offer to his collegiate self, could he go back and give it?

9. Why does Obama note unease at being “the new ‘in’ thing” (196)?

10. How does Obama define “too big to fail” companies within the context of the 2008 financial crisis (181)?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If there is a single, dominant theme in the memoir, what is it? What in the text indicates as much? How does it do so?

Essay Topic 2

Obama writes of “that most precious of gifts: the conviction of innocence, as well as the righteous indignation that comes with it” (274). What tone does the memoir adopt towards that gift? What in the memoir supports the idea? How does it do so?

Essay Topic 3

In the memoir, Obama frequently compares himself to FDR. What function does the comparison serve in the memoir? How does it serve it?

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