Kerala SSLC · English · Class 10
The Danger of a Single Story: Important Questions with Answers
These are 10 important multiple-choice questions from the Kerala SSLC English chapter “The Danger of a Single Story” (Kerala SCERT syllabus). Each one shows the correct answer and a short explanation of why it is right. Try answering before you read the answer. ExamSummary has 10 practice questions on this chapter in total.
Q1.What is the primary message conveyed by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in 'The Danger of a Single Story'?
- A)All stories are equally true and important.
- B)Reducing people to a single narrative creates stereotypes and misunderstandings.
- C)Only Western literature deserves attention in global education.
- D)African countries do not have any complex cultures worth studying.
Answer: B) Reducing people to a single narrative creates stereotypes and misunderstandings.
The author argues that telling only one story about a person or place flattens their identity and leads to fixed stereotypes, ignoring the complexity of their reality.
Q2.How did Adichie's childhood reading habits influence her initial view of writing?
- A)She wanted to write about British royalty because she loved their clothes.
- B)She realized that books could only feature characters who looked like her.
- C)She decided to stop reading fiction entirely because it was too boring.
- D)She preferred reading non-fiction books over novels during her school days.
Answer: A) She wanted to write about British royalty because she loved their clothes.
Adichie mentions that she wrote stories where characters were white and blue-eyed, reflecting the limited representation she saw in the books she consumed at home.
Q3.According to the text, what happens when a culture is represented by only one story?
- A)It becomes richer and more diverse through external interest.
- B)It gains international recognition without any loss of identity.
- C)It risks being reduced to a stereotype that defines the entire group.
- D)It encourages people to travel and see the country for themselves.
Answer: C) It risks being reduced to a stereotype that defines the entire group.
The text explains that when a single narrative dominates, it becomes the definitive truth, causing the audience to miss out on the nuances and diversity of that culture.
Q4.What realization did Adichie have after visiting Mexico and meeting Mexican writers?
- A)They refused to speak English and insisted on speaking Spanish only.
- B)They had a complex culture that contradicted the single story she held.
- C)They were not interested in discussing their history or traditions.
- D)They agreed that the American perspective on Mexico was completely accurate.
Answer: B) They had a complex culture that contradicted the single story she held.
Meeting the writers revealed the depth and variety of Mexican society, challenging the simplistic or negative narratives she had previously accepted as truth.
Q5.Which statement best describes the relationship between power and storytelling according to Adichie?
- A)Power determines who gets to tell the story and how it is received.
- B)Stories are always told by people with the least amount of political power.
- C)Power has no influence on whether a story is believed or ignored.
- D)The storyteller must always be from the same country as the subject.
Answer: A) Power determines who gets to tell the story and how it is received.
Adichie emphasizes that those with power can control the narrative, making others appear inferior or monolithic, while marginalized voices are often silenced.
Q6.Complete the sentence based on the author's famous quote: Show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they _______.
- A)forget
- B)become
- C)reject
- D)create
Answer: B) become
This key quote highlights how repetition of a singular narrative shapes public perception and ultimately defines how a group is viewed by society.
Q7.Why did Adichie feel ashamed when she discovered she was reading Mexican literature?
- A)Because the books were written in a language she could not understand.
- B)Because she realized she had never seen herself represented in the stories she enjoyed.
- C)Because she felt that Mexican literature was inferior to Nigerian literature.
- D)Because she was forced to read these books by her strict parents.
Answer: B) Because she realized she had never seen herself represented in the stories she enjoyed.
The shame came from realizing her own identity was absent from the literary world she admired, reinforcing the idea that she needed to find her own representation.
Q8.What solution does Adichie propose to overcome the danger of a single story?
- A)Ban all foreign literature from local schools immediately.
- B)Rely solely on government-approved textbooks for historical facts.
- C)Recognize our shared humanity and embrace multiple stories about every person.
- D)Focus only on scientific facts rather than cultural narratives.
Answer: C) Recognize our shared humanity and embrace multiple stories about every person.
The author advocates for balancing the single story by acknowledging that there are many sides to every individual and culture, fostering empathy and understanding.
Q9.In the context of the essay, what does the term 'stereotype' refer to?
- A)A detailed biography of a famous historical figure.
- B)A simplified and fixed image used to represent a whole group of people.
- C)A legal document that protects cultural heritage.
- D)A method of teaching languages to young children.
Answer: B) A simplified and fixed image used to represent a whole group of people.
Within the essay, a stereotype is defined as an incomplete or biased generalization that prevents people from seeing the full complexity of another culture or individual.
Q10.How does the story of the author's roommate illustrate the danger of a single story?
- A)The roommate believed all Africans were poor and unable to use technology.
- B)The roommate was afraid of traveling to Nigeria for safety reasons.
- C)The roommate claimed that Nigerian food was delicious and healthy.
- D)The roommate knew everything about African politics from news channels.
Answer: A) The roommate believed all Africans were poor and unable to use technology.
The roommate's surprise that the author spoke English and listened to music showed her preconceived notion that all Africans fit a narrow, impoverished stereotype.