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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. Where did the author attend college and help a friend with a studen film?

2. What is the name of Weston's mother?

3. How many miles are listed "to go" on the journey in the opening of Chapter 7?

4. For how long did the author work for his friend Jason's nonprofit company?

5. How long was the author's journey planned to take?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the author see and learn in Zitácuaro?

2. Where did the author work before he began his journey?

3. What paradox does the author describe in growing up in the Prologue?

4. What does the author remark about the TV show Will and Grace in Chapter 6?

5. How does the young brain differ from the adult brain, according to the author in the Prologue?

6. What prompted the author to take his journey across the Americas?

7. What language barriers did the author face on his journey?

8. Who inspired the author to take his journey? How?

9. How does the author describe his name and its history in the Prologue?

10. What does "xenophobia" mean and how is it illustrated in the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's completion of his journey. Where did his journey end? Why did he choose this ending site? What did he do to celebrate?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the dynamic between the author and Weston in To Shake the Sleeping Self. How are these individuals similar? How are they different? What does Weston contribute to the journey?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of white privilege and identity in To Shake the Sleeping Self. How are these themes manifested through action? How are they developed through setting? How are these themes seen symbolically in the narrative?

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