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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 does Curt's mother compliment Ifemelu on when she meets her in Chapter 19?

2. What is the name of the son Aunty Uju gives birth to in Chapter 6?

3. What does Aunty Uju complain about Bartholomew regarding in Chapter 17?

4. What job does Obinze take when he first arrives in England?

5. What does the narrator describe Philadelphia as smelling like in Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Obinze observe regarding Nigerians with English accents in Part 3?

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

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

4. How is the relationship between accent and identity illustrated in Chapter 17?

5. What is significant about Ginika's response to Ifemelu regarding the white and black salespeople at the dress shop in Part 2?

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

7. How would you describe Obinze in the beginning of the novel? What objects symbolize Obinze's character?

8. What differences stand out the most to Ifemelu between Nigeria and America after she's first arrived in the U.S. in Part 2?

9. Describe Aunty Uju in the narrative. What is Aunty Uju's role in Ifemelu's life?

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

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

What propels Ifemelu’s decision to return to Nigeria? How do Americans in the narrative respond when they learn that Ifemelu is returning to her home country? Why? How does Ifemelu feel about her decision?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 911 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample