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Quiz about The River by Punyakante Wijenaike

'The River' by Punyakante Wijenaike Quiz

'The River' is a beautiful story by the noted writer Punyakante Wijenaike (1930- ). The story narrates the courageous fight and ultimate death of a lone woman named Lansina Nona. Her indomitable courage and boldness are exemplary.

A multiple-choice quiz by indranil49. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
indranil49

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
343,666

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
89

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Punyakante Wijaeaike(1933- )is a noted Commonwealth novelist and short story writer. Now, the question is: in which country was she born? Hint

India

Canada

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

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Question 2 of 10

2. Punyakante Wijenaike (1930- ) has written a number of excellent novels so far. Now, your question is: which of the following novels is NOT written by her? Hint

Giraya

An Enemy Within

The Rebel

The Shadow Line

3. Punyakante Wijenaike has been honoured by several national and international authorities. She won the 'Women of Achievement' Award in 1985 and the 'Kalasuri Class 1 rank' by the Govt. of Srilanka in 1988. This time the question is: in which year did she win the Commonwealth short story competition for radio? Hint

1999

2010

2001

1996

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Question 4 of 10

4. In the story 'The River', the author narrated the courageous fight of a lone woman against the wild forces of nature. Now, you have to answer: what was the name of that 'lone woman'? Hint

Aiya

Lansina Nona

Lansina

Nona

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the story 'The River', we find a woman named 'Lansina Nona'. Now, the question is: what is the meaning of the term 'Lansina Nona'? Hint

Angry lady

Adament lady

Half- white

Bold woman

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Question 6 of 10

6. The fury of the river went on increasing year after year. The villagers lost all hope after the damages in the second flood. This time the question for you is: what was the final decision taken by the villagers? Hint

They decided to make a barrage

They decided to leave the village en masse

They started worshiping the river to pacify its destructive fury.

They decided to complain the minister

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In the story, the author mentioned the name of a tree called 'BO-tree. Now, your question is: what purpose did the BO-Tree serve in the story 'The River'? Hint

A source of natural fruits

A place of worship.

Herbal medicine

An abode of ghosts

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In the story the author has mentioned a term 'Bana'. This time your question is: what is the meaning of the term 'Bana'? Hint

Divine curse

Sermon by an Islamic prophet

Sermon by a Buddhist monk

Sermon by a Hindu priest

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Question 9 of 10

9. The struggle, suffering and misfortunes of Lansina Nona are sometimes compared with that of an immortal character created by Earnest Hemingway in 'The Old Man and the Sea'. Now, your question is: what is the name of that character? Hint

Solomon

Santiago

Scott-jems

Henry

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Question 10 of 10

10. 'Here I was born and here I will die when the time comes'. Now, your question is: when did Lansina Nona utter this sentence? Hint

When the villagers requested her to leave the village with them

When Lansina Nona was praying under the shade of the BO-tree

When Lansina was in front of the leopard

When she saw a leopard in the bush

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Punyakante Wijaeaike(1933- )is a noted Commonwealth novelist and short story writer. Now, the question is: in which country was she born?

Answer: Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka born Commonwealth writer Punyakante Wijenaike is a progressive writer of the present time. She was born in 1933 in the city of Colombo. Most of her literary activity took place in her home town. Her mother inspired her to write about the problems of women in Sri Lankan society.

2. Punyakante Wijenaike (1930- ) has written a number of excellent novels so far. Now, your question is: which of the following novels is NOT written by her?

Answer: The Shadow Line

Punyakante Wijenaike(1930- ) has written six excellent novels and four collections of short stories as of 2011. Her novels are 'The Waiting Earth' (1966),'Giraya' (1971), 'The Betel Vine' (1972), 'The Rebel' (1973), 'A Way of Life' (1987) and 'An Enemy Within' (1988).

Answer: 1996

Punyakante Wijenaike has been honoured by several national and international authorities so far. Her stories have been published in journals and anthologies both locally and internationally. Moreover, both Sri Lankan Radio and the BBC honoured her by broadcasting those stories in their prime time.

4. In the story 'The River', the author narrated the courageous fight of a lone woman against the wild forces of nature. Now, you have to answer: what was the name of that 'lone woman'?

Answer: Lansina Nona

The story 'The River' presents the indomitable spirit and courage of Lansina Nona, a lonely woman in a flood-prone village. The recurrence of the disastrous flood made her adamant and she vowed to defeat the river. As a result, she refused to leave the village along with others and fought bravely up to her last breath.

5. In the story 'The River', we find a woman named 'Lansina Nona'. Now, the question is: what is the meaning of the term 'Lansina Nona'?

Answer: Half- white

Lansina Nona was not like other women of the locality. There was something cherry and defatigable in her round plump face. Her eyes were the same colour as smoke from a woodfire and her skin was light in colour. It was not the golden fairness of the hill country women, but a strange pale colour like milk which had been treated with water.

She told the villagers that her father had been a white man who had passed through the village long ago. That was why her mother had named her Lansina Nona, meaning half-white.

Answer: They decided to leave the village en masse

When the flood water washed away everything of the villagers, they became demoralized and decided to leave the village and set up a new village in a fertile high place on the opposite bank of the river. They thought it suicidal to remain in that village any more.

7. In the story, the author mentioned the name of a tree called 'BO-tree. Now, your question is: what purpose did the BO-Tree serve in the story 'The River'?

Answer: A place of worship.

Lansina Nona was never one of those women who spend their life worshipping at some shrine or other; still she was scrupulous and methodical about her daily devotions. In the lonely flood-ravaged village she saw an old BO-tree which withstood the flood like her. She made it as the worshpping place.

8. In the story the author has mentioned a term 'Bana'. This time your question is: what is the meaning of the term 'Bana'?

Answer: Sermon by a Buddhist monk

'Bana' means religious preaching or sermonizing by a Buddhist monk. There is a book of sermons in Buddhism called 'Bana Poth'.

Answer: Santiago

Santiago, in the famous novel 'The Old Man and the Sea' by Hemingway, resembles Lansina Nona to a great extent. Like Santiago , Lansina Nona fought alone against the fury of nature as well as ill luck . Like Santiago, she also taught the lesson 'Man may be destroyed but not defeated'. She is really the counter part of Santiago.

10. 'Here I was born and here I will die when the time comes'. Now, your question is: when did Lansina Nona utter this sentence?

Answer: When the villagers requested her to leave the village with them

The villagers loved Lansina Nona. They felt sorry when Lansina Nona decided to live in the village alone. They knew that it was nothing but suicidal on her part and as such requested her to go with them. In reply to their request, Lansina Nona adamantly uttered the quoted words.

Source: Author indranil49

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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