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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 1 (Parts VI-IX): "The Language of African Literature" .

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The author states in his Introduction that he will look at the African realities as affected by the great struggle between two opposed forces in Africa today. These are an imperialist tradition and what?
(a) A resistance tradition.
(b) A socialist tradition.
(c) A realist tradition.
(d) An arbitrarary tradition.

2. What does the author describe as the second aspect of language as culture in Chapter 1, Part IV?
(a) An image-forming agent in the mind of a child.
(b) Language in the form of written signs.
(c) Culture as a reflection of history.
(d) Language as a means for production.

3. What language did Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o speak growing up?
(a) Gĩkũyũ.
(b) Bantu.
(c) Hausa.
(d) Ashanti.

4. The author notes in his Introduction that the study of African realities has been seen for too long in terms of what?
(a) War.
(b) Illiteracy.
(c) Tribes.
(d) Poverty.

5. In his Introduction, the author states that the theme of this book is taken from a poem by what Guyanese poet?
(a) Martin Carter.
(b) Alan Paton.
(c) Wole Soyinka.
(d) Gakaara wa Wanjaũ.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many years of involvement had Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o spent writing literature in Englis when the author began writing in Gĩkũyũ?

2. In Chapter 1, Part I, the author asserts, "The choice of language and the use to which language is put is central to" what (4)?

3. What was the elitist institution for Africans in colonial Kenya where Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o attended high school?

4. Where did David Diop get his primary education?

5. The author poses the question in Chapter 1, Part VIII, "What is the difference between a politician who says Africa cannot do without imperialism and the writer who says Africa cannot do without" what (26)?

(see the answer key)

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