Literacy and power MCQs 50 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50 Subscribe 1. In linguistic anthropology, “literacy” refers to: (A) The ability to memorize oral traditions (B) The ability to read and write in a language (C) The ability to speak fluently only (D) The ability to create new words 2. Literacy is often linked to power because: (A) It replaces oral language (B) It grants access to education, resources, and influence (C) It removes cultural identity (D) It stops language change 3. Which of the following best represents the connection between literacy and social control? (A) Literacy weakens state institutions (B) Literacy is neutral and has no social effect (C) Literacy can be used to reinforce authority and bureaucracy (D) Literacy only affects personal hobbies 4. In colonial contexts, literacy was often used to: (A) Encourage local autonomy (B) Maintain indigenous traditions (C) Control and assimilate colonized populations (D) Remove formal education systems 5. Paulo Freire’s concept of “critical literacy” emphasizes: (A) Memorization of texts (B) Reading and writing without questioning (C) Analyzing and challenging social power structures through literacy (D) Only oral storytelling 6. Literacy can reinforce inequality when: (A) It is universally accessible (B) It is restricted to elite groups (C) It is taught in multiple languages (D) It supports cultural diversity 7. Which group often controlled literacy in medieval Europe? (A) Farmers (B) Religious institutions (clergy) (C) Peasants (D) Hunters and gatherers 8. Literacy can serve as cultural capital because: (A) It has no role in social mobility (B) It allows individuals to participate in elite cultural practices (C) It discourages social change (D) It promotes illiteracy 9. The term “functional literacy” means: (A) Reading literature only (B) Basic reading and writing skills for everyday tasks (C) Advanced academic reading (D) Memorizing religious texts 10. Literacy campaigns are often associated with: (A) Reducing written culture (B) Enhancing public participation and democracy (C) Eliminating language diversity (D) Supporting only elite education 11. Which is an example of how literacy can empower marginalized groups? (A) Denying access to newspapers (B) Restricting access to education (C) Providing bilingual education programs (D) Erasing minority languages 12. In many societies, which gender historically had greater access to literacy? (A) Equal access for all (B) Men (C) Women (D) Neither 13. Literacy and power are linked because literacy can: (A) Limit the spread of knowledge (B) Create dependency on oral culture (C) Enable access to laws, rights, and governance (D) Remove social hierarchies 14. In Foucault’s perspective, literacy is a tool for: (A) Neutral communication (B) Disciplining and regulating populations (C) Oral tradition (D) Eliminating education 15. The printing press revolutionized literacy by: (A) Limiting book production (B) Making texts more widely available (C) Destroying oral culture (D) Ending language diversity 16. The term “illiteracy” is often used in policy to: (A) Justify educational reforms (B) Encourage traditional oral practices (C) Reject modern education (D) Promote multilingualism only 17. Literacy can become a gatekeeping mechanism when: (A) Everyone has equal access (B) It is used as a requirement for participation in social, legal, or economic systems (C) It promotes multilingual policies (D) It encourages creativity 18. What is an example of “literacy as domination”? (A) Teaching people to read in their native language (B) Forcing indigenous populations to adopt colonial scripts (C) Providing free public libraries (D) Encouraging diverse storytelling traditions 19. Literacy rates are often indicators of: (A) Economic inequality and access to education (B) Population density (C) Birth rates only (D) Traditional belief systems 20. UNESCO promotes literacy because it is linked to: (A) Oppression only (B) Human development, empowerment, and equality (C) Linguistic homogenization (D) Oral storytelling traditions 21. The concept of “hidden curriculum” in schools refers to: (A) Overt lessons about reading and writing (B) Unspoken social norms and power structures reinforced through literacy education (C) Secret language teaching (D) Only formal literacy tests 22. In many colonized regions, which script was imposed to assert power? (A) Indigenous scripts (B) Colonial scripts (e.g., Latin, Cyrillic) (C) Syllabaries only (D) None of the above 23. Which is a modern form of literacy that influences power dynamics? (A) Only handwriting (B) Digital literacy (C) Oral poetry (D) Traditional folk songs 24. Literacy can be a double-edged sword because: (A) It has only positive effects (B) It can empower or marginalize depending on access and control (C) It removes spoken language (D) It leads to the decline of technology 25. What is the relationship between literacy and legal systems? (A) No connection exists (B) Written laws require literacy for understanding rights and obligations (C) Oral traditions always override written laws (D) Literacy replaces governance 26. Freire’s “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” advocates for: (A) Passive learning (B) Literacy as a tool for critical consciousness (C) Restricting education to elites (D) Oral-only education 27. Which is a form of symbolic power related to literacy? (A) Ability to translate texts (B) Ability to write in an official or prestigious language (C) Ability to speak only dialects (D) Memorizing oral songs 28. Literacy practices that favor a dominant language over minority languages contribute to: (A) Linguistic justice (B) Language shift and marginalization (C) Cultural preservation (D) Equal opportunities 29. Critical discourse analysis examines how literacy: (A) Exists outside power relations (B) Shapes and is shaped by social power (C) Removes hierarchies (D) Only affects children 30. Literacy tests were historically used in some countries to: (A) Promote equal voting rights (B) Disenfranchise certain groups from voting (C) Encourage multilingual participation (D) Improve cultural exchange 31. Which form of literacy focuses on interpreting media and digital platforms? (A) Functional literacy (B) Media literacy (C) Religious literacy (D) Cultural literacy 32. Literacy and globalization are connected because: (A) Global trade depends on shared writing systems (B) Oral tradition has replaced literacy (C) Literacy now applies only to rural areas (D) Written language is becoming obsolete 33. In some societies, literacy is viewed as a status symbol because: (A) It indicates wealth and access to education (B) It eliminates oral culture (C) It is universally distributed (D) It has no social meaning 34. Which concept argues that literacy is not neutral but shaped by social forces? (A) Autonomous model of literacy (B) Ideological model of literacy (C) Cognitive model of literacy (D) None of the above 35. Literacy campaigns often fail when: (A) They consider local language and culture (B) They ignore local languages and impose foreign scripts (C) They use participatory methods (D) They involve community educators 36. Literacy can change power relations within families by: (A) Having no impact (B) Giving younger or educated members more decision-making power (C) Eliminating generational ties (D) Removing cultural heritage 37. What is the role of literacy in bureaucracy? (A) It is irrelevant (B) It allows record-keeping, control, and governance (C) It reduces administration (D) It replaces spoken agreements only 38. Literacy can create cultural homogenization when: (A) Multiple writing systems coexist (B) A dominant script and language replace others (C) Communities are multilingual (D) Digital tools are used inclusively 39. In what way is literacy tied to economic power? (A) Literate individuals often have better employment opportunities (B) Literacy prevents trade (C) Illiteracy is encouraged in business (D) Literacy eliminates entrepreneurship 40. The spread of literacy through missionary schools often led to: (A) Strengthening indigenous religions (B) Religious conversion and cultural change (C) Oral-only education systems (D) Decline in political interest 41. Which is an example of symbolic violence related to literacy? (A) Using a dominant language as the only medium of instruction (B) Promoting local literature (C) Translating official documents into many languages (D) Encouraging oral storytelling 42. Literacy narratives often portray literacy as: (A) A single, neutral skill (B) A transformative and empowering process (C) Always oppressive (D) Unnecessary for modern life 43. The term “digital divide” refers to: (A) The gap between oral and written societies (B) Unequal access to digital literacy and technologies (C) A new type of handwriting (D) Difference between rural storytelling styles 44. Literacy and nationalism are connected because: (A) Literacy standardizes language and creates shared identity (B) Literacy eliminates patriotism (C) Illiteracy promotes nationalism (D) Writing systems always cause conflict 45. Which is a key component of empowerment through literacy? (A) Critical thinking and access to information (B) Memorization of elite texts only (C) Limiting education to formal schools (D) Avoiding digital platforms 46. How does literacy influence gender roles in some cultures? (A) It has no impact (B) It may challenge traditional gender hierarchies (C) It reinforces male dominance only (D) It eliminates language diversity 47. Literacy can sustain oppression when: (A) It is democratized (B) It is monopolized by powerful elites (C) It is accessible in multiple languages (D) It is taught critically 48. Which of the following is a form of “new literacy”? (A) Digital literacy and social media fluency (B) Stone inscriptions (C) Oral folktales only (D) Hieroglyphic literacy 49. Literacy campaigns promoting only one national language may lead to: (A) Linguistic inclusion (B) Minority language erosion (C) Equal language rights (D) Greater multilingualism 50. Literacy is most empowering when: (A) It is controlled by few elites (B) It is accessible, multilingual, and tied to critical education (C) It eliminates spoken traditions (D) It focuses only on economic use 1. Foundations of Linguistic Anthropology MCQsDefinition, scope, and history MCQsLanguage vs. communication MCQsHuman language vs. animal communication MCQsKey figures in linguistic anthropology MCQs2. Language Structure MCQsPhonetics and Phonology MCQsMorphology MCQsSyntax MCQsSemantics MCQsPragmatics MCQs3. Language Acquisition and Socialization MCQsFirst language acquisition MCQsSecond language acquisition MCQsLanguage learning in cultural context MCQsEnculturation through language MCQs4. Language, Culture, and Thought MCQsSapir–Whorf hypothesis (linguistic relativity) MCQsLanguage and worldview MCQsEthnosemantics and ethnoscience MCQsMetaphor and cognition MCQs5. 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