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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 advice does Obinze give to Ifemelu to help her understand American culture in Chapter 14?

2. Why did Ifemelu's mother cut off her hair?

3. For how long has Ifemelu been in America when she sends Obinze a text to say she is returning to Nigeria in Chapter 1?

4. For how long has Ifemelu lived with Blaine when she tells him she's moving back to Nigeria in Chapter 1?

5. Why does Obinze seek an arranged marriage in Chapter 23?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you describe Ifemelu's mother's relationship with religion?

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

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

4. What influence does Ifemelu's father have on her choices and actions in the narrative?

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

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

7. What attracts Ifemelu to becoming a blogger?

8. What do bananas and peanuts symbolize for Ifemelu? How are they perceived by Dike in Part 2?

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

10. How would you describe Ifemelu's character when she is first introduced? What are her circumstances?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of isolation and conformity. How do Ifemelu and other Nigerian immigrants go about assimilating into American culture in the narrative? What do you think they lose along the way toward conformity? How is Ifemelu affected by her assimilation into American culture?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Obinze’s relationship with his mother differs greatly from Ifemelu’s relationship with her mother in the novel. Discuss the differences of these relationships. How does Ifemelu relate to Obinze’s mother? What resentments does Ifemelu harbor regarding her own mother? Why does she harbor these resentments?

(see the answer keys)

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