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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Steele say about the vulnerability of blacks?
(a) They are socially vulnerable.
(b) They are racially vulnerable.
(c) They are racially and socially vulnerable.
(d) They are sexually vulnerable.

2. According to Steele, accepting the negative feelings that others have towards another, generally promotes what two emotions for the 'victim'?
(a) Passiveness and low self-esteem.
(b) Aggression and high self-esteem.
(c) Aggression and low self-esteem.
(d) Passiveness and high self-esteem.

3. On college campuses, blacks many times engage in what type of behavior, in Steele's view?
(a) Self-righteousness.
(b) Self-satisfaction.
(c) Self-sacrificing.
(d) Self-segregation.

4. In Steele's mind, what undermines the struggles for freedom?
(a) Living in predominantly white neighborhoods.
(b) Having Chinese friends, as a black person.
(c) Accepting defeat.
(d) Advancing from being poor to the middle class.

5. What period in time did Steele refer to as 'turbulent'?
(a) 70's.
(b) 50's.
(c) 80's.
(d) 60's.

6. In what ways did Steele say blacks are excommunicated by their race when they create their own individual identity?
(a) Socially ONLY.
(b) Sexually.
(c) Socially and culturally.
(d) Culturally ONLY.

7. What did Steele learn about himself when writing The Content of Our Character?
(a) It was necessary to write the book with a partner.
(b) That he was not a great writer after all.
(c) How he thought.
(d) How others viewed him.

8. In terms of 'creating a black identity', what did Steele say is something that blacks engage in?
(a) Compensatory grandiosity.
(b) Writing.
(c) Singing.
(d) Dancing.

9. Steele said blacks are many times threatened by the repentance of whom?
(a) Other blacks.
(b) Themselves.
(c) Their alter-egos.
(d) Their oppressors.

10. What did Steele's attitude say is true of racial discrimination?
(a) Some blacks claim racial discrimination in situations where it is not true.
(b) It was a political ploy, but never actually happened in America.
(c) It is no longer practiced in America.
(d) It was necessary in order to keep order in America.

11. It's Steele's belief that in what types of areas do blacks many times withhold effort?
(a) Areas where whites do not typically succeed.
(b) Areas where they typically succeed.
(c) Areas where they do not typically succeed.
(d) All areas in life.

12. What did Steele say of the president mentioned in Chapter 1?
(a) He proved the average white American was not innocent.
(b) He gave the average white American a way to be innocent.
(c) He gave the average black American a way to be innocent.
(d) He proved the average black American was not innocent.

13. How did Steele say blacks address doubt?
(a) They never have doubts.
(b) They deal with it head-on.
(c) They avoid it.
(d) They ask others to help them deal with it.

14. What does Steele say is a bad source of recomposition for blacks?
(a) Black nationalism.
(b) White nationalism.
(c) Learning ancestral roots.
(d) Graduating from institutions of higher learning.

15. In Steele's opinion, why do blacks avoid 'important opportunities'?
(a) They do not want to run the risk of failing.
(b) They are never in a position to engage in 'important opportunities'.
(c) They do not avoid 'important opportunities'.
(d) Other races forbid them from doing so.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Steele, what did he have to remember and forget when writing?

2. What nickname did Chapter 4 say some blacks are given when they strive for achievement?

3. What prompted Steele to begin writing his first book?

4. What type of barrier did Steele say is the most powerful barrier blocking black progress?

5. How did Steele say blacks should address the methods of creating the black identity?

(see the answer keys)

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