MCQ: Growing Up in Samoa in the 1920s


  1. What was the primary way children in Samoa learned skills in the 1920s?
    A) By attending formal schools
    B) By participating in observation and practical tasks
    C) By watching television programs
    D) By reading books in libraries
  2. At what age did Samoan children stop being cared for by their mothers or adults?
    A) As soon as they could walk
    B) At the age of 10
    C) When they reached 15 years old
    D) When they got married
  3. Who took care of young children in Samoan society?
    A) The government
    B) Parents until they became teenagers
    C) Older children, even as young as five years old
    D) Professional babysitters
  4. What type of work were boys expected to learn by the age of nine?
    A) Teaching in schools
    B) Fishing and planting coconuts
    C) Cooking and weaving baskets
    D) Playing sports
  5. Until when were girls expected to look after younger children or do errands for adults?
    A) Until they became teenagers
    B) Until they got married
    C) Only until they turned six
    D) They were never expected to do such work
  6. What activities did Samoan girls take part in after turning fourteen?
    A) Only household chores
    B) Fishing trips, plantation work, and basket weaving
    C) Running businesses
    D) Serving in military forces
  7. Who primarily did the cooking in Samoa in the 1920s?
    A) Only girls
    B) Only professional chefs
    C) Boys in special cooking houses, while girls helped with preparation
    D) Elders in the community
  8. What was a major factor in how Samoan children learned responsibilities?
    A) Formal classroom education
    B) Hands-on learning through practical experiences
    C) Strict punishment for mistakes
    D) Government training programs
  9. How was fishing viewed in Samoan society?
    A) As an occasional recreational activity
    B) As a central part of survival and economic activity
    C) As an activity meant only for tourists
    D) As a dangerous task avoided by young boys
  10. What does the study of Samoan childhood in the 1920s reveal about gender roles?
    A) Boys and girls had clearly defined but evolving roles as they grew older
    B) Boys and girls were treated equally in all aspects
    C) Only boys were responsible for household tasks
    D) Girls had more privileges than boys

Answers and Explanations

  1. B) By participating in observation and practical tasks
    Samoan children learned by watching and actively participating in daily tasks rather than formal schooling.
  2. A) As soon as they could walk
    Once children could walk, they were no longer under constant care from adults.
  3. C) Older children, even as young as five years old
    Older children were responsible for taking care of their younger siblings.
  4. B) Fishing and planting coconuts
    By the age of nine, boys joined older males in learning outdoor skills such as fishing and farming.
  5. A) Until they became teenagers
    Girls continued caring for younger children and doing errands until they became teenagers.
  6. B) Fishing trips, plantation work, and basket weaving
    As teenagers, girls participated in fishing, agricultural work, and crafts.
  7. C) Boys in special cooking houses, while girls helped with preparation
    Boys were primarily responsible for cooking, while girls assisted in preparations.
  8. B) Hands-on learning through practical experiences
    Samoan children learned through participation rather than structured schooling.
  9. B) As a central part of survival and economic activity
    Fishing was an essential activity in Samoa, crucial for food and livelihood.
  10. A) Boys and girls had clearly defined but evolving roles as they grew older
    Gender roles in Samoan society were distinct but changed as children grew up.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *