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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did someone ask Lalami via email after her first book was published?
(a) If she was related to any terrorists.
(b) If she was with the U.S. or against them.
(c) If she was a Muslim or a human being.
(d) If she was a terrorist.

2. What does Lalami say things like poll taxes and literacy tests succeed at doing?
(a) Repressing the female vote.
(b) Ensuring high voter turnout.
(c) Repressing the Black and brown vote.
(d) Ensuring voter equity.

3. What does Lalami receive in exchange for her alien-registration card at her citizenship ceremony?
(a) Sheet music for the Star Spangled Banner.
(b) An American eagle token.
(c) A slice of Apple pie.
(d) A miniature American flag.

4. What religion was Lalami's mother forced to follow after being sent to an orphanage after her parents died?
(a) Islam.
(b) Hinduism.
(c) Catholicism.
(d) Judaism.

5. Why was Lalami's mother-in-law living with her at the time of the twin tower attacks?
(a) She had just had knee surgery.
(b) Lalami needed help with their daughter.
(c) She was in the middle of a divorce.
(d) She was suffering dementia.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is one reason Lalami is taken aback when the woman in the audience at her reading of her novel asked about ISIS?

2. In "Assimilation," Lalami cites a New York Times article complaining that Chinese people do not assimilate like other cultures did. What year was this article published?

3. What did talk show host Bill Maher say on his show that resulted in advertisers pulling their ads?

4. Lalami ends the chapter "Borders," saying that border walls have been monuments of what?

5. What are some things Lalami says Border patrol agents are allowed to ask for at U.S. checkpoints?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways did Lalami's grandmother live a traditional Muslim life?

2. Why did Lalami originally move to the U.S. and how long did she plan to stay?

3. In "Faith," what background does Lalami provided about her mother's early life and adolescence?

4. What was the Demographics Unit that Lalami discusses at the end of "Allegiance"?

5. What are some things Lalami had to do in order to become a U.S. citizen?

6. What are some differences Lalami highlights between how white writers are seen versus Arab and Muslim writers?

7. What are some of the strict rules Lalami says she learned of her religion in the chapter "Faith"?

8. Describe the stark differences Lalami notes on either side of the Texas-Mexico border wall.

9. Describe Lalami's thoughts on how Arabs and Muslims are expected to act after events like 9/11?

10. What difference does Lalami note between Obama and Trump regarding their allegiance to America?

(see the answer keys)

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