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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 6: "Part Six: Backlash".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Chapter Fourteen: The Intrusion of Caste in Everyday Life," what does Wilkerson compare to the modern phenomenon of whites calling the police on Blacks who are just going about ordinary everyday business?
(a) Whites deputized to police escaped slaves.
(b) Zookeepers reacting with fear to escaped "animals."
(c) Adults supervising a race of "children."
(d) Wardens in a prison.

2. In "Chapter Thirteen: The Insecure Alpha and the Purpose of an Underdog," what is Wilkerson arguing about the role of the "omega" wolf, at the bottom of the pack hierarchy?
(a) That humans should treat people at the bottom of the human "pack" with more kindness and respect.
(b) That it does not actually exist in natural wolf groupings.
(c) It performs a valuable and necessary role.
(d) That since humans are not canines, it is not relevant to human societies.

3. According to "Chapter Twenty-Five: A Change in the Script," what percentage of White voters voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012?
(a) 43 and 39%, respectively.
(b) 38 and 23%, respectively.
(c) 32% each time.
(d) 45% each time.

4. On page 287 of "Chapter Twenty-Two: The Stockholm Syndrome and the Survival of the Subordinate Class," what does Roxanne Gay say causes whites to "embrace narratives about forgiveness"?
(a) A desire to pretend that the world is fair.
(b) Christianity.
(c) The urge to protect their caste privilege.
(d) A subconscious sense of guilt for the wrongs of the past.

5. In "Chapter Fifteen: The Urgent Necessity of a Bottom Rung," how did the incident at People's Grocery begin?
(a) With an argument between two children.
(b) When a Black man did not show enough deference to a white bus driver.
(c) When a Black soldier arrived in uniform.
(d) When a Black man tried to vote.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Chapter Fifteen: The Urgent Necessity of a Bottom Rung," what is the story of Burton Holmes and Freddie Stowers meant to illustrate?

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 "Chapter Fifteen: The Urgent Necessity of a Bottom Rung," what does Wilkerson say is the "greatest threat to a caste system" (224)?

4. According to Wilkerson in "The Second Pillar: Heritability," what distinguishes "caste" from "class"?

5. In "Chapter Twenty-One: The German Girl with the Dark, Wavy Hair," what point does Wilkerson make about the relationship of the loss of the Jewish population and the chapter's titular story?

(see the answer key)

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