The Danger of a Single Story

What was a common characteristic of the characters in the books the speaker read and wrote as a child?

• They were mostly Nigerian.

• They were often depicted as poor.

• They were white and blue-eyed.

• They lived in tropical climates.

How did discovering African books change the speaker's perception of literature?

• She realized that books could only feature foreign characters.

• She understood that books were meant to be about things she couldn't personally identify with.

• She learned that people like her could exist as characters in literature.

• She stopped enjoying British and American children's books.

What was the "single story" the speaker initially had about Fide's family?

• They were skilled artisans.

• They were extremely poor.

• They lived in a rural village.

• They were domestic helpers.

What was the American roommate's "single story" about Africa?

• Africa was a place of diverse cultures and languages.

• Africa was a continent of advanced technological development.

• Africa was a place of catastrophe and pity.

• Africa was known for its vibrant music scene.

What does the Igbo word "nkali" signify in the context of storytelling?

• The ability to tell many stories about a single person.

• The principle of being greater than another, which defines stories.

• The act of dispossessing a people by telling their story from a specific starting point.

• The cultural and economic power of a nation.

Why did the speaker not have a "single story" of America, unlike her American roommate's single story of Africa?

• She had read many diverse American authors like Updike and Steinbeck.

• America's cultural and economic power allowed for multiple narratives.

• She had personally visited America and experienced its diversity.

• Both A and B.

What is the main problem with stereotypes?

• They are completely false.

• They are incomplete.

• They are always negative.

• They prevent people from traveling.

What is a consequence of relying on a single story about a group of people?

• It encourages global cooperation.

• It promotes understanding of diverse cultures.

• It emphasizes differences rather than similarities.

• It leads to more accurate perceptions.