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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. The preschool Irving chose for her children required parents to pay how many dollars per year?

2. Irving describes noticing that most children of color at her workplace used which method of getting to school?

3. Irving reports that she finally came to undersand the adage, "You can only change" (208) what?

4. In which publication did an article about the shaping of the mind appear, according to Irving?

5. Which city does Irving use as an example of relative diversity in Chapter 21: Straddling Two Worlds?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does the theme of isolation arise within Chapter 25: Belonging?

2. How did the magic step activity change Gerrard's behavior and why?

3. What is the symbolism of the calabash fruit, as discussed in Chapter 33: Perception and Fear?

4. For how many years had Irving been associated with the preschool when she took a proactive step to address inequity? Why is this fact significant?

5. What alternative to the superior/inferior paradigm does Irving suggest in Chapter 35: If Only You'd Be More Like Me?

6. How does Irving go about outlining the privilege inherent in her own life?

7. What conclusions did Irving draw after seeing the results of the Magic Step activity?

8. How does Irving describe the experience of letting go of her self-image in Chapter 32: Getting Over Myself?

9. What purpose does Irving have in mind when she shares the family story about A Patch of Blue?

10. In what way does Irving indicate in Chapter 28: I Am the Elephant that growth can be painful?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Irving's treatment of truth, lies, and hypocrisy within the text of Waking Up White.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Irving's choice to construct the text of Waking Up White using events from her own life as catalysts for discussion. What elements of the book's themes lend themselves to this choice and what are Irving’s intended effects on the reader?

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