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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. Which tribe does the author describe as "warriors"?

2. How did the author respond when another boy claimed that Fufi was his dog?

3. How did the author's mother save him from the threatening men on the mini-bus?

4. How did Patricia handle "major disputes" (84) with the author?

5. To what was Patricia referring when she spoke of "the black tax" (66)?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who did the author credit with keeping communities together in Soweto during apartheid?

2. Why did Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah name her son "Trevor"?

3. Why does Trevor Noah say the township of Soweto only has two roads leading in and out?

4. How was it possible for Robert to open an integrated restaurant during apartheid?

5. What did the author realize about his racial identity after he started attending H. A. Jack Primary?

6. How did Patricia react when the author was punished for stealing the eucharist?

7. Why did Patricia believe that a demon was in her house?

8. Why did the author have trouble learning more about Robert after their reunion?

9. According to the author, why are black people in South Africa suspicious of cats?

10. Why did Trevor Noah yell at his mother after they ran from the mini-bus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to the collection "Born a Crime," many languages are spoken in South Africa and Trevor Noah benefitted from knowing several of them growing up. Write an essay explaining the role that language plays in both creating and resolving conflicts through one or more stories in the collection.

Essay Topic 2

At many different points throughout the collection "Born a Crime," Trevor Noah describes his family's fluctuating social and economic status. Write an essay analyzing the role that poverty and classism played in challenging and facilitating the author's understanding of himself as he grew up.

Essay Topic 3

At many points in the collection "Born a Crime," Trevor Noah draws links between the racial politics of South Africa and America. Write an essay analyzing the similarities and differences that the author describes between the two countries and assess the author's purpose for drawing these comparisons.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 739 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample