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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 the city of New Haven smell like, according to the narrator in Chapter 1?

2. What is the name of the woman who braids Ifemelu's hair in Chapter 1?

3. Who is the black American man that Ifemelu meets on the train in Chapter 17?

4. What does the narrator describe in Ifemelu's soul in Chapter 1?

5. What comfort food does Ifemelu associate with Nigeria?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the narrative point of view in Americanah. From what perspective is the story related?

3. What racism has Dike encountered while at summer camp in Part 2? How does this experience affect him?

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

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

6. How are Ifemelu's perceptions of Princeton, New Jersey, described in Chapter 1?

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

8. What attracts Ifemelu to becoming a blogger?

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

10. What can be discerned about Obinze's character based on his treatment of Cleotilde?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss Ifemelu’s blog that she creates after returning to Nigeria. What is the name of the blog? What subjects and themes are addressed in the blog? How does this blog differ from the one Ifemelu created in America?

Essay Topic 2

What leads to Ifemelu’s dissatisfaction at working for the magazine Zoe in Lagos? Who are Ifemelu’s coworkers and employer? How does she relate to these characters? What does Ifemelu do after leaving her position?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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