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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. How does Ifemelu perceive her physique in Chapter 1?

2. Which of his friends does Obinze call first for help in getting an NI number and work when he arrives in England?

3. What advice does Obinze give to Ifemelu when her student records become frozen in Chapter 13?

4. What is Obinze's boss called in Chapter 2?

5. Who has purchased Aunty Uju's new house in Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Ifemelu begin relaxing her hair in Part 2? What effect does it have?

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

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

6. What is the name of the blog that Ifemelu writes and what is the focus of the blog?

7. Discuss the symbolism of Ifelemu's mother's hair in the narrative. What is represented when she cuts her hair?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What leads up to Dike’s suicide attempt? How does Ifemelu perceive Dike’s suicide attempt and the causes behind it? Do you agree with Ifemelu’s observations? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss gender roles and expectations in Nigeria and America. How do perceptions of women and men differ in America from in Nigeria? How are these perceptions illustrated through Ifemelu’s experiences in each country? Discuss examples of relationships between men and women in the novel and how these relationships are shaped by the culture and history where they develop.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the nonlinear nature of the narrative in Americanah. What storyline takes place in the present tense? How and why does the author employ flashbacks and flash-forwards in the telling of the story? How do you think the novel would differ if the events of the story were related in a linear timeline?

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