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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 2: "Part Two: The Arbitrary Construction of Human Divisions".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Through the Fog of Delhi to the Parallels in India and America," what is the rhetorical purpose of including the detail of the fog that Wilkerson sees when her plane lands?
(a) Wilkerson is metaphorically challenging the reader to reason past a "fog" of propaganda.
(b) It symbolizes the difficulty of seeing the Indian social system clearly.
(c) Wilkerson personifies the fog in an analogy that demonstrates how tradition "clouds" an understanding of present realities.
(d) It foreshadows the difficulties Wilkerson will have in gaining cooperation during her visit.

2. In the beginning of "Chapter Six: The Measure of Humanity," what physical characteristic is the basis for Wilkerson's imaginary caste system?
(a) Eye color.
(b) Sex.
(c) Height.
(d) Shoe size.

3. At what famous Alabama bridge did the police violently attack peaceful protesters on their way to Montgomery?
(a) The Benson Bridge.
(b) The Edmund Pettus Bridge.
(c) The Seven Mile Bridge.
(d) The New River Gorge Bridge.

4. On page 12, Wilkerson says that some contagions can only be managed with "vigilance." How is she proposing they should be managed?
(a) With great speed.
(b) With constant watchfulness.
(c) With careful thoroughness.
(d) With brute force.

5. What social trend does Wilkerson link to the 2016 election?
(a) An increase in hate crimes.
(b) A decrease in undocumented immigration.
(c) A rise in anxiety and depression.
(d) The offshoring of manufacturing jobs.

Short Answer Questions

1. On page 16, Wilkerson says that people adjust to the "idiosyncrasies" of an old house. What is she saying that they adjust to?

2. In "Chapter Six: The Measure of Humanity," what reason does Wilkerson give for most people's participation in the American caste system?

3. In "An American Untouchable," how does the high school principal in India refer to Martin Luther King'?

4. In "A Long-Running Play and the Emergence of Caste in America," what does Wilkerson say Americans want to dismiss as a "sad, dark chapter" of American history (43)?

5. On page 6, Wilkerson refers to white "preeminence." What quality is she referring to?

(see the answer key)

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