Censorship Around The World Quiz

Approved & Edited by ProProfs Editorial Team
The editorial team at ProProfs Quizzes consists of a select group of subject experts, trivia writers, and quiz masters who have authored over 10,000 quizzes taken by more than 100 million users. This team includes our in-house seasoned quiz moderators and subject matter experts. Our editorial experts, spread across the world, are rigorously trained using our comprehensive guidelines to ensure that you receive the highest quality quizzes.
Learn about Our Editorial Process
| By ConnellGuides
C
ConnellGuides
Community Contributor
Quizzes Created: 3 | Total Attempts: 562
Questions: 10 | Attempts: 337

SettingsSettingsSettings
Censorship Around The World Quiz - Quiz

Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Which writer, whose only novel was regarded as immoral and censored at the time, said: "There is no such thing as a moral book or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written. That is all." 

    • A.

      Walt Whitman

    • B.

      James Joyce

    • C.

      Oscar Wilde

    • D.

      Allen Ginsberg

    Correct Answer
    C. Oscar Wilde
    Explanation
    Oscar Wilde is the correct answer because he is known for his novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray," which was considered immoral and faced censorship at the time of its publication. The quote provided reflects Wilde's belief that the morality of a book lies in its quality of writing rather than its content. This aligns with his overall philosophy of art for art's sake, where artistic merit is valued above societal judgments of morality.

    Rate this question:

  • 2. 

    The publication of whose novel – banned in India, Thailand and Iran – led to the firebombing of bookshops and its Japanese translator being stabbed to death?

    • A.

      Martin Amis

    • B.

      Christopher Hitchens

    • C.

      Ian McEwan

    • D.

      Salman Rushdie

    Correct Answer
    D. Salman Rushdie
    Explanation
    Salman Rushdie's novel, "The Satanic Verses," is the one that was banned in India, Thailand, and Iran. The controversial nature of the book, which was perceived as blasphemous by some, led to extreme reactions, including the firebombing of bookshops and the murder of its Japanese translator.

    Rate this question:

  • 3. 

    Which novel takes place in a future world where the job of fireman is no longer to put out fires but to burn books?

    • A.

      Cat's Cradle

    • B.

      Fahrenheit 451

    • C.

      Darkness at NoonSnow

    • D.

      Auto-da-Fé

    Correct Answer
    B. Fahrenheit 451
    Explanation
    "Fahrenheit 451" is the correct answer because it is a novel that is set in a future world where the role of firemen has changed from putting out fires to burning books. The story follows Guy Montag, a fireman who starts questioning his job and the society he lives in, ultimately leading him to rebel against the suppression of knowledge and the burning of books. The novel explores themes of censorship, the power of information, and the importance of free thought.

    Rate this question:

  • 4. 

    Aristophanes's Lysistrata, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Defoe's Moll Flanders and The Arabian Nights had all been banned in which country at the turn of the 20th century?

    • A.

      USA

    • B.

      Great Britain

    • C.

      France

    • D.

      Germany

    Correct Answer
    A. USA
    Explanation
    During the turn of the 20th century, the United States banned several literary works including Aristophanes's Lysistrata, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Defoe's Moll Flanders, and The Arabian Nights. This was likely due to the perceived explicit content and themes of these works, which were considered inappropriate or offensive by the standards of the time. The banning of these books reflects the conservative social and moral values prevalent in the United States during that era, with authorities seeking to restrict access to literature they deemed objectionable.

    Rate this question:

  • 5. 

    In George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, which government department is dedicated to doctoring photographs, removing references to people ('unpersons') and exaggerating statistics?

    • A.

      Ministry of Justice

    • B.

      Ministry of Truth

    • C.

      The Treasury

    • D.

      The Home Office

    Correct Answer
    B. Ministry of Truth
    Explanation
    In George Orwell's dystopian novel, 1984, the government department dedicated to doctoring photographs, removing references to people ('unpersons') and exaggerating statistics is the Ministry of Truth. This ministry is responsible for rewriting history and manipulating information to control the narrative and maintain the Party's power. It serves as a propaganda machine, altering the past to fit the present narrative and ensuring the citizens are constantly deceived and kept in a state of ignorance.

    Rate this question:

  • 6. 

    Which work was banned by Rome's Emperor Caligula in 35 AD because he thought it inappropriately explored Greek ideals of freedom?  

    • A.

      Homer's The Odyssey

    • B.

      Ovid's The Art of Love

    • C.

      Virgil's Aeneid

    • D.

      Horace's The Art of Poetry

    Correct Answer
    A. Homer's The Odyssey
    Explanation
    Emperor Caligula banned Homer's The Odyssey in 35 AD because he believed that the epic poem inappropriately explored Greek ideals of freedom.

    Rate this question:

  • 7. 

    Who originally said, "Every burned book enlightens the world"? 

    • A.

      Walt Whitman

    • B.

      Ralph Waldo Emerson

    • C.

      Mark Twain

    • D.

      Herman Melville

    Correct Answer
    B. Ralph Waldo Emerson
    Explanation
    Ralph Waldo Emerson is attributed to the quote "Every burned book enlightens the world." This quote reflects Emerson's belief in the power of knowledge and the idea that even when books are destroyed, their ideas and messages continue to have an impact on society. Emerson was a prominent American essayist, philosopher, and poet, known for his transcendentalist views and his emphasis on individualism and self-reliance. This quote aligns with his belief in the importance of intellectual freedom and the pursuit of knowledge.

    Rate this question:

  • 8. 

    James Douglas, editor of the Sunday Express between 1920-1931, was a great supporter of censorship and called for a number of books to be banned. During one high-profile campaign he wrote: "I would rather give a healthy boy or a healthy girl a phial of prussic acid than this novel. Poison kills the body, but moral poison kills the soul."  What novel was he referring to?

    • A.

      The Grapes of Wrath

    • B.

      Tender is the Night

    • C.

      The Well of Loneliness

    • D.

      Brave New World

    Correct Answer
    C. The Well of Loneliness
    Explanation
    James Douglas, editor of the Sunday Express, expressed his support for censorship and advocated for the banning of certain books. In his statement, he compared a novel to a deadly poison, suggesting that it could harm the soul. Considering this context, it can be inferred that the novel he was referring to is "The Well of Loneliness." This novel, written by Radclyffe Hall, was highly controversial at the time for its portrayal of lesbian relationships, and it faced significant backlash and attempts at censorship.

    Rate this question:

  • 9. 

    In a moment of odd paranoia in 1955, the apartheid government in South Africa decided to ban what book?

    • A.

      Dracula

    • B.

      Black Beauty

    • C.

      Frankenstein

    • D.

      Gone with the Wind

    Correct Answer
    C. Frankenstein
    Explanation
    During the apartheid era in South Africa, the government implemented strict censorship policies to control the flow of information and ideas. In 1955, they banned the book "Frankenstein" due to its themes of creation, power, and the potential dangers of scientific advancements. The government may have perceived these themes as subversive and threatening to their ideology. This decision reflects the government's fear of any literature that could potentially challenge their authority or promote ideas of rebellion and independence.

    Rate this question:

  • 10. 

    Which book was banned by the Chinese government in 1931 on the grounds that, "animals should not use human language, and that it was disastrous to put animals and humans beings on the same level."?

    • A.

      Winnie the Pooh

    • B.

      Animal Farm

    • C.

      Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

    • D.

      The Wind in the Willows

    Correct Answer
    C. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
    Explanation
    The Chinese government banned "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" in 1931 because they believed that animals should not use human language and that it was problematic to equate animals and humans.

    Rate this question:

Quiz Review Timeline +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 22, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Feb 06, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    ConnellGuides
Back to Top Back to top
Advertisement