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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. How long did it take Irving to meet her goal of making friends less like herself?

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

3. Which object was involved in Irving's realizations about her own appearance?

4. What type of event did Irving attend that purported to be "by and for people of color" (141)?

5. For what type of broadcasting station did Irving begin working after college?

Short Essay Questions

1. Provide evidence for the conclusion that Irving wants to provide the reader of Waking Up White with practical advice.

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

3. 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?

4. What events led up to the experience with the mirror Irving describes in Chapter 33: Perception and Fear?

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

6. What proactive step did Irving take along with another mother at her daughter's preschool?

7. What did Irving learn from her experience with the mirror one year into her "waking-up process" (199)?

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

9. What major mistake does Irving consider herself to have made during her project meant to serve inner city youth?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What ultimate message is Irving sending about the mythical qualities of the United States?

Essay Topic 2

How does Irving employ the use or rejection of fallacy within Waking Up White and how does the inclusion of fallacy help Irving to prove particular points made within the text?

Essay Topic 3

What is Irving's message regarding the difference between awareness and activism and how does Irving get this message across to the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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