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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Morrison, globalism creates a fear of what?
(a) Ideology.
(b) Development.
(c) Marketing.
(d) Foreignness.

2. In "The Slavebody and the Blackbody," Morrison says what about slavery?
(a) It is an ancient practice that is not always tied to racism.
(b) Most modern Americans do not have any historic ties to slavery.
(c) Slavery's consequences have been the same throughout history.
(d) Writing about it can be cruel to modern African Americans.

3. In "Arts Advocacy," Morrison recounts discovering that a highly regarded artist vetoed funding for another artist for what reason?
(a) He knew that the other artist's work would sell better if the public saw him "struggling."
(b) He found the other artist's work too controversial.
(c) He was jealous of the other artist's possible success.
(d) He thought that having a secure income would ruin the other artist's work.

4. According to Morrison, identifying the race of a subject can have what unintended consequence?
(a) Perpetuating stereotypes and marginalizing minorities.
(b) Inaccurately depicting race as "real" instead of as a "construct."
(c) Better representation of marginalized communities.
(d) Shaping public perception of whiteness.

5. In "The Future of Time," Morrison worries that we increasingly turn to the past for what?
(a) Evidence to confirm our biases.
(b) Visions of what our future could be.
(c) Philosophical wisdom.
(d) Answers to current problems.

6. The ending of The Radiance of the King, according to Morrison, indicates that Clarence has undergone what kind of transformation?
(a) He fully inhabits Western ideals of masculinity.
(b) He is now worthy of being a king.
(c) He learns to fear becoming like native Africans.
(d) He opens himself to the African gaze.

7. In "Cinderella's Stepsisters," Morrison points out that in the original Grimm's version, the stepsisters were what?
(a) Desperate for their mother's love.
(b) Beautiful, powerful women.
(c) The instigators of Cinderella's torment.
(d) Oppressed just like Cinderella.

8. In "Moral Inhabitants," what is the list of American leaders meant to demonstrate?
(a) Great leaders are "ahead of their time."
(b) Slavery was a violent and degrading institution.
(c) Great leaders are born, not made.
(d) History only shows us one side of these leaders.

9. In "Cinderella's Stepsisters," Morrison says that we must use freedom to do what?
(a) Free others.
(b) Overthrow corrupt institutions.
(c) Educate ourselves.
(d) Create art.

10. What form of literature does Morrison discuss at length in "Black Matter(s)"?
(a) Religious sermons.
(b) Art criticism.
(c) Literary memoirs.
(d) Slave narratives.

11. What is one of the consequences that Morrison blames on minstrelsy?
(a) The debasement of language.
(b) The centering of African American culture.
(c) Class warfare.
(d) Racism.

12. In her "Sarah Lawrence Commencement Address," what irony is Morrison's discussion of "Feed the Children" campaigns intended to illustrate?
(a) Creative imagination being limited by our own wealth and power.
(b) The desire of wealthy Americans to spread a culture that other nations cannot afford.
(c) The easy manipulation of well-educated people by supposedly uneducated people.
(d) Generosity towards the vulnerable turning to violence as soon as the vulnerable try to advocate for themselves.

13. In "Race Matters," Morrison says that when she was younger she found something in writing that she could not find in life itself--what was it?
(a) Love.
(b) Sovereignty.
(c) Justice.
(d) Immortality.

14. According to Morrison's "Black Matter(s)," the slave population became the focus of what fundamental feeling of the colonists?
(a) The "Romantic yearning for freedom."
(b) The "immigrant's hope."
(c) The "outcast's terror."
(d) The "Pilgrim's awe and piety."

15. In "Cinderella's Stepsisters," Morrison's central claim is that women should not do what?
(a) Risk the gains women have made by trying to move forward too quickly.
(b) Oppress other women.
(c) Undermine feminism by being too nurturing.
(d) Participate in corrupt institutions.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Black Matter(s)," Morrison says that immigration from the Old World to the New World is usually seen as what?

2. What does Morrison say is a key reason for Western projections onto Africa?

3. In "Moral Inhabitants," Morrison says that the ability to make fine distinctions shows what?

4. In "Literature and Public Life," Morrison says that we live in the age of what?

5. "The War on Error" is a speech given to what group?

(see the answer keys)

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