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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. Irving states that the theory of colorblindness maintains all but which of the following within American society?

2. Which word does Irving define as "a collective character that describes a set of beliefs and behaviors that identify the group" (79)?

3. Irving points out in Chapter 16: Logos and Stereotypes that humans are the only creatures on earth who use which objects to make sense of their world?

4. The sight of which objects put Irving at ease while she was in the care of a black professional in her early 20s?

5. For what period of time did "the zap factor" (92) shape Irving's behavior?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which movement within history does Irving wish her parents had discussed with her?

2. Which characteristic did Irving's father stress above all others and why is this fact ironic?

3. What is Irving's purpose for including a lengthy explanation of her mother's overall kindness in Chapter 1: What Wasn't Said?

4. Irving asserts that when which three elements are added together, they equal systemic racism?

5. What was the Carlisle School and what effect did it have on the rest of the country?

6. What is the significance of Jean Elliott's experimentation in 1968?

7. What is the motivation for the dominant culture's stance regarding America as either a melting pot or a mosaic?

8. For what purpose does Irving include an allusion to Norman Rockwell in Chapter 2: Family Values?

9. What solution does Irving offer for creating a more complete picture of American history?

10. What major myth propagated within the population of Baby Boomers does Irving discuss in Chapter 4: Optimism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that discusses the symbolism of the cover art chosen for Waking Up White.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Irving’s messages concerning the nature of optimism. Does the text indicate that it is dangerous or crucial? Choose one adjective and prove its validity using concrete details from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay examining how the text portrays the American Dream. Is there one American Dream or are there many different ones, according to Irving? What is the text saying about the American dream in the 21st century?

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