The Danger of a Single Story Quiz

What is the central idea of The Danger of a Single Story?

• Stories should only be written by those who have experienced them firsthand.

• Exposure to only one perspective about a group of people leads to stereotypes and misunderstandings.

• Fiction is more important than nonfiction in shaping cultural identity.

• Personal stories are the most accurate way to understand the world.

In The Danger of a Single Story, why does Adichie discuss her childhood experiences with British literature?

• To show how all children learn to write by copying what they read.

• To emphasize that British literature is superior to Nigerian literature.

• To illustrate how a limited perspective in storytelling can shape one’s understanding of identity.

• To suggest that reading fiction has little impact on cultural perception.

How does Adichie develop the central idea throughout her speech?

• By listing facts and statistics about stereotypes.

• By sharing personal anecdotes and examples of single stories shaping perspectives.

• By interviewing multiple people who have been affected by stereotypes.

• By using rhetorical questions to challenge the audience.

What does Adichie mean when she states that power is the ability “not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person”?

• Those in positions of power control which narratives are widely accepted.

• Everyone has the right to tell their own story.

• People with different perspectives always tell the same story.

• Writers have no responsibility in shaping public perception.

Which statement best explains the connection between Adichie’s experiences in the United States and her central argument?

• Her experiences show that cultural misunderstandings are inevitable when traveling to a new country.

• Her experiences demonstrate how single stories shape the way people perceive those from different backgrounds.

• Her experiences suggest that education is the key to eliminating stereotypes.

• Her experiences prove that storytelling has little impact on real-world issues.

How does Adichie’s discussion of African literature strengthen her argument?

• It proves that African literature is just as valuable as Western literature.

• It highlights the role of diverse storytelling in challenging stereotypes.

• It suggests that only African writers can tell African stories accurately.

• It implies that literature is more powerful than personal experience.

If Adichie had omitted her personal anecdote about her college roommate’s assumptions about Nigeria, how would that impact her argument?

• It would weaken her argument because it removes a real-life example of the effects of a single story.

• It would strengthen her argument because it focuses more on general ideas rather than personal experiences.

• It would make her argument clearer by avoiding subjective examples.

• It would have no impact since she uses many other examples.

Which of the following best evaluates the effectiveness of Adichie’s use of personal narrative as evidence in her speech?

• It weakens her credibility because personal stories lack factual support.

• It strengthens her argument by making abstract concepts more relatable and tangible.

• It makes her argument less persuasive because she only presents one perspective.

• It distracts from the main point by focusing too much on individual experiences.