Born a Crime, Ch. 1-2 Quiz

What was the significance of Trevor Noah’s birth in the context of apartheid South Africa?

• It was illegal for a child to have both white and black parents under apartheid laws.

• Trevor was born into a wealthy, influential family.

• His birth was a symbol of the end of apartheid.

• Trevor’s parents were both black, which was uncommon during apartheid.

How did Patricia, Trevor’s mother, view the apartheid laws?

• She fully supported them because of the safety they provided.

• She ignored them and lived life on her own terms, often breaking the law.

• She believed in gradual reform and obeyed most of the laws.

• She didn’t know much about the laws because she lived in a rural area.

What kind of relationship did Trevor have with his father during the first two chapters?

• They were very close and spent a lot of time together.

• They lived together, but didn’t communicate much.

• His father had to keep a distance to avoid getting caught for breaking apartheid laws.

• Trevor never knew his father existed.

Why did Trevor’s mother throw him out of a moving vehicle in Chapter 2?

• She was angry with him for misbehaving.

• It was a game they played to pass the time.

• She was trying to save him from a potentially dangerous situation with the minibus driver.

• He was begging to jump out because he thought it would be fun.

In Chapter 1, how does Trevor describe his mother’s faith and religious practices?

• She was a casual believer who rarely attended church.

• She was deeply religious, and attending church was a core part of their lives.

• She didn’t believe in organized religion and encouraged Trevor to follow the same path.

• She only attended church on special occasions like Christmas or Easter.

What does Trevor’s experience with being “colored” (mixed race) illustrate about the racial categories in apartheid South Africa?

• Mixed-race people had more privileges than black people.  

     

     

• Being mixed race meant that Trevor didn’t fully belong to any racial group.  

• The government considered all non-white people as equals, regardless of their heritage.

• Trevor was able to choose his racial identity depending on the situation.

What lesson does Trevor’s mother hope to teach him by putting him in dangerous or challenging situations?

• To be scared of authority and never question the law.

• To understand that life under apartheid would always be easy for him.

• To prepare him for the hardships he might face in life and encourage independence.

• To rely on others for help when things become difficult.

Why was Trevor Noah often kept indoors as a child?

• He was homeschooled and had a lot of indoor homework.

• His parents were overly protective and worried about his safety.

• His mother didn’t want him to be seen by the authorities because his existence was technically illegal.

• He had many health issues that required him to stay inside.

What does Trevor's mother believe about education and its role in his future?

• She believes it is unnecessary because the world is too unjust.

• She believes education is the key to overcoming the limitations placed on him by apartheid.

• She thinks education is only important for finding a job.

• She believes Trevor’s intelligence will allow him to succeed without formal schooling.

How does Trevor describe his early experiences with language?

• He finds learning new languages frustrating and unnecessary.

• He realizes that speaking multiple languages helps him connect with different people and navigate diverse situations.

• He avoids learning new languages because he only wants to speak English.

• His mother discourages him from learning other languages besides their native tongue.