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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. Why did Alexandra remain standing while other "black ghettoes" (201) were razed?

2. How did the author behave when he realized he had a crush during grade 9?

3. How did the author first respond in his trial when he thought the judge asked him how he was?

4. Why did the author have trouble fitting in with his colored classmates at Sandingham?

5. How did the author feel about pushing his mother's car?

Short Essay Questions

1. What aspect of Patricia's romantic advice did the author have the most trouble understanding?

2. What geographical explanation does the author give when he states that "it's physically impossible for [Alexandra] to change" (201)?

3. What did the author realize when Abel beat up the ringleader from the incident under the mulberry tree?

4. What conclusion did the author draw after his encounter with the police at the end of the story "The Cheese Boys"?

5. How did Patricia respond when the author tried to tell Abel what happened under the mulberry tree?

6. What niche did the author find at Sandingham high school during lunch time?

7. Why did the author feel regret regarding his friend Zaheera?

8. How does the author explain Patricia's ability to buy a house in Highlands North?

9. Why was the author late to the dance?

10. Why did Patricia encourage the author to hang out with his cousin at the university?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many traumatic events transpire throughout the collection "Born a Crime," yet Trevor Noah maintains a comedic tone. Write an essay analyzing a comedic technique the author uses in the book and describe how the book's comedic tone relates to the author's philosophy towards life and suffering.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the collection "Born a Crime," Trevor Noah describes numerous male role models who influenced his life growing up. Write an essay analyzing the attitudes and beliefs of at least two men in the author's life and explain how the author depicts the influence they had on his identity.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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