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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. Who is the braider's boyfriend that agrees to come to speak to Ifemelu at the shop in Chapter 3?

2. Who is Obinze supposed to be on a date with at the party when he meets Ifemelu?

3. What is the name of Nicholas's wife?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What symbolism and themes are explored when Ifemelu cuts off her hair in the narrative?

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

7. Who does Obinze work for at a warehouse in London? How is he treated at this job?

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

9. How are Obinze's cousin in London and Aunty Uju in America similar in the novel?

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

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 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?

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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