Question

1. trevor often struggled with

a. his relationship with his mother
b. his love for his stepfather
c. his identity and belonging
d. his ability to communicate

1. what point of view is born a crime written in?

a. 1st point of view from trevor noah
b. 2nd point of view from trevor noah
c. 3rd point of view from trevor and patricia
d. 4th point of view from the reader

1. which is not a way his mom improved his life?

a. she spoke to him like an adult at home
b. she encouraged him to read books
c. she encouraged him to join the church choir
d. she took him to parks in different areas

1. trevor contrasts his perspectives with his mom’s to

a. show the benefits of hearing from multiple speakers
b. make the memoir feel objective and sentimental
c. show their different experiences
d. highlight his mom’s views on apartheid

1. why does trevor often use humor when talking about difficult events?

a. it encourages the reader to analyze his relationship with his mother.
b. it helps the reader not feel overwhelmed when discussing serious topics.
c. it highlights the truth about the effects of apartheid in soweto.
d. it creates a sarcastic and bitter tone when discussing injustices.

1. how does the author use dialogue in this memoir?

a. to introduce new characters without descriptions
b. to provide statistics and facts about apartheid
c. to recreate interactions and add authenticity
d. to confuse the reader with different languages

1. which quote best supports the claim that trevor’s humor helped him move between spaces?

a. “okay, so there were two strange things about the call. first, why would he ask me if i was busy? lets start there.”
b. “i was angry with my mom. i hated him, but i blamed her. i saw abel as a choice shed made, a choice she was continuing to make.”
c. “id drop in, pass out the snacks, tell a few jokes. id perform for them. id catch a bit of their conversation, learn more about their group, and then leave.”
d. “you could be a linebacker in the nfl. didnt matter. that pastor was taking you down.”

1. which option provides the strongest context to introduce the quote?

claim: in the last chapter, noah uses humor to cope with fear and worry.
context: ???
evidence: noah explains, “i’m not going to lie to you: i paused. i paused hard…i started to think, well…what is she, fifty?…she’s lived a good life” (279).
a. trevor explains his thought process for taking care of his mom.
b. trevor jokes about hesitating to pay his mom’s medical bill after she got shot.
c. after she is shot, trevor has a decision to make.
d. trevor says something funny about patricia being shot.

Explanation:

These questions are about Trevor Noah's memoir Born a Crime. Answers are based on key details, themes, and narrative techniques from the book:

1. Q30: Trevor, a mixed-race child under apartheid, struggled with fitting in and finding his place.
2. Q31: The memoir is narrated directly by Trevor using first-person pronouns.
3. Q32: Trevor's mother focused on education, treating him as an equal, and exposing him to diverse spaces; church choir is not cited as her action.
4. Q33: Contrasting his modern, mixed-race perspective with his mother's apartheid-era Black experience highlights their differing life journeys.
5. Q34: Trevor uses humor to soften heavy, traumatic topics related to apartheid and hardship, making them accessible.
6. Q35: Dialogue in the memoir recreates real conversations, making the story feel genuine and true to life.
7. Q36: The quote about using jokes to engage with different groups shows humor helping him navigate social spaces.
8. Q37: The quote reflects Trevor's dark, anxious humor while processing his mother being shot, so the context must tie to that event.

Answer:

1. C. his identity and belonging
2. A. 1st point of view from Trevor Noah
3. C. She encouraged him to join the church choir
4. C. show their different experiences
5. B. It helps the reader not feel overwhelmed when discussing serious topics.
6. C. To recreate interactions and add authenticity
7. C. "I'd drop in, pass out the snacks, tell a few jokes. I'd perform for them. I'd catch a bit of their conversation, learn more about their group, and then leave."
8. D. Trevor says something funny about Patricia being shot.