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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. Five people of color and how many white men approached Irving to explain the difference between intent and effect?

2. What event does Irving use as a means of illustrating the lack of a level playing field in America?

3. At the time of Irving's writing of Waking Up White, she had lived in a particular city for how many years?

4. To whom does Irving attribute the quote, "Get over yourself!" (196)?

5. Irving states that race has been a problem in America for how many years?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. How did Irving first come to work within the public school system?

6. Who came to assist Irving after the conflict at the conference by and for people of color and how did they help?

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

8. 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?

9. What does Irving mean in Chapter 36: The Dominant White Culture when she writes, "I never felt white; I just felt like Debby" (212)?

10. What major goal discussed in Chapter 22: did it take Irving years to accomplish?

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

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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