1. In many West African societies where written records were not common, how was knowledge of the past mainly passed from one generation to the next?
- A. Through spoken stories, songs, and remembered histories.
- B. By carving symbols and pictures onto large stone monuments.
- C. By sending official documents and letters between villages.
- D. Through yearly plays performed only in the capital city.
2. What was the most important function of the oral tradition maintained by griots?
- A. To create a secret code for leaders.
- B. To connect the past to the present.
- C. To decide legal disputes between families.
- D. To map out routes for long-distance trade.
3. What was the main responsibility of a person known as a griot in West Africa?
- A. To lead the army in battles
- B. To serve as a professional storyteller and historian
- C. To trade goods along caravan routes
- D. To manage the empire's farms
4. Why were griots considered such highly respected members of their communities?
- A. They were the wealthiest traders in the empire.
- B. They held the community's entire history and culture in their memory, advising leaders and educating the people.
- C. They controlled the farming and distribution of all food resources.
- D. They were the only members of society who were allowed to travel.
5. Besides recounting the stories of great leaders and major events, what other important information did griots memorize?
- A. The locations of distant gold mines.
- B. The family lines of the people and epic poems.
- C. The daily records of market sales.
- D. The architectural plans for new buildings.
6. West African artists were known for creating detailed sculptures and masks out of which group of materials?
- A. Silk, paper, and ink
- B. Wood, ivory, and metal
- C. Glass, stone, and clay only
- D. Woven fabrics and dyed cloth
7. In West African societies, what was the primary role of artistic expression like music, dance, and sculpture?
- A. It was mainly created for sale to merchants from other lands.
- B. It was primarily a form of entertainment reserved for the emperor's court.
- C. It was a vital part of community life, used for ceremonies and preserving beliefs.
- D. It was used only to decorate the homes of wealthy nobles and traders.
8. What is the defining characteristic of the polyrhythmic drumming found in West Africa?
- A. A single, slow rhythm played during funerals.
- B. The combination of two or more different rhythms played simultaneously.
- C. The use of drums as the only instrument in all musical performances.
- D. A style of music that did not involve any dancers.
9. What was a key function of the detailed masks carved by West African artists?
- A. To serve as portraits of living kings and queens.
- B. To be used as currency in local markets.
- C. To represent spirits or ancestors during important rituals.
- D. To be worn simply for personal decoration in daily life.
10. How did some West African art forms, such as the metal plaques of Benin, serve as a 'visual library'?
- A. They were used to teach the Arabic language to children.
- B. They recorded important historical events and significant people.
- C. They contained maps of caravan routes for traders.
- D. They were beautiful objects with no specific meaning.