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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 does Lalami suspect audience members would not ask a white writer about?
(a) Black History Month.
(b) The Civil War.
(c) The KKK.
(d) The Quran.

2. In what country was Laila Lalami born?
(a) Iraq.
(b) Saudi Arabia.
(c) Egypt.
(d) Morocco.

3. In "Allegiance," what does Lalami says happens to Arabs and Muslims when they question the U.S. war in Afghanistan or Iraq?
(a) People confide in them that they feel that same way.
(b) People tell them to go back to their country.
(c) People become suspicious of them.
(d) People are interested in understanding why.

4. After a steel fence was built at the California-Mexico border the number of illegal crossings declined, while the number of what increased?
(a) Citizenship ceremonies.
(b) Passport applications.
(c) Immigrant deaths.
(d) Legal crossings.

5. In what ways does Lalami say she lives in the so-called gray zone in the chapter "Faith"?
(a) She is Muslim, but she does not follow strict dietary laws on rituals.
(b) She is Muslim but she does not talk to other people about her religion.
(c) She is Muslim, but has not been home in over 20 years.
(d) She is Muslim but she does not wear a headscarf.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why was Lalami's mother-in-law living with her at the time of the twin tower attacks?

2. What did Lalaimi come to the United States to study?

3. How is Melilla's border different from when Lalami was a child?

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

5. How many checkpoints like the one in Sierra Blanca does Lalami say are in the United States in the chapter "Borders"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Faith," what does Lalami say about Muslim history in America? When did Muslim's first arrive? Why? How were they treated?

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

3. In "Faith," who does Lalami say helped to fund the Muhahideen?

4. What information does Lalami provide about her mother's early life in "Faith"?

5. What is the history of Chinese immigration to American that Lalami notes in "Assimilation" between 1875 and 1924?

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

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

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

9. Describe Trump's "deceitful move" in banning Muslims according to Lalami in "Allegiance."

10. What does Lalami note at the end of "Allegiance" about the prior use of the Pomona Fairplex, where she received her citizenship?

(see the answer keys)

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