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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. What does the "woman with multiple degrees" say she didn't know black women could get, in Chapter 3?

2. In Chapter 3, the author describes Judith Baker discussing what makes language hurtful. She writes that Baker's response is "We suffer from the condition of being" what?

3. What does the real estate woman repeatedly say to the author's friend when she is showing the author her house in Chapter 3?

4. What word from Chapter 2 means ordinary or everyday?

5. What does the word "denigrate" mean in Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in the narrative at the Catholic school in Chapter 1?

2. How does the author illustrate the differences between white and black experiences in Chapter 3?

3. How does the author describe Serena Williams in Chapter 4?

4. What symbolism can be seen in the imagery in Chapter 1?

5. What theme predominates Chapter 2 of Citizen: An American Lyric?

6. What is symbolized by the imagery on the cover of Citizen: An American Lyric?

7. Who is Franz Fanon and why does the author cite him in Chapter 2?

8. What theme predominates Chapter 1 of Citizen: An American Lyric?

9. How does the narrator respond when called by the wrong name by a woman at work in Chapter 3?

10. What realization does the author reach in Chapter 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Hennessey Youngman and what show does he produce? What does the author cite Youngman for in Chapter 2? Does the author agree with Youngman's assertions? Do you? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Define and discuss "affirmative action" and how it is applied in the book. When was affirmative action introduced in the United States? How did it change race relations? How did it impact the quality of life for African Americans?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of anger in Citizen: An American Lyric. What is "saleable anger" and how is it employed? What statements does the author make regarding anger? Is anger a positive or negative aspect? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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