View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How much management experience did Irving have when she was hired by a broadcasting station after college?

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

3. In Chapter 29: Intent and Impact, Irving compares a swimming pool to which other body of water?

4. What punishment did Irving earn for challenging her mother about giving Diane permission to see A Patch of Blue?

5. Jared told Irving that he was stupid and that he would be going to jail by the time he had reached which age?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Irving first become familiar with the city of Cambridge and for how many years had she lived there at the time of her writing?

2. What requirements were in place at the preschool where Irving enrolled her eldest daughter and how did the requirements shape the school's population?

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

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

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

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

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

8. Before Irving learned about conflict resolution, how did she deal with uncomfortable feelings?

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

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

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

What is Irving's message about the relationship between race and class within the book Waking Up White?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 991 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample