French is the language of government and academia.

True

Timbuktu is the capital of Mali.

False

Mali gained independence from France after a long insurgency.

False

The Malian economy relies heavily on mining.

True

The tourism industry of Mali revolves around safari tourism.

False

The constitution of Mali defines the country as a secular state.

True

The Great Mosque of Djenne is susceptible to the elements.

True

Beliefs in supernatural powers are considered heresy and evil by most Malians.

False

Tuareg rebels and allied militants protected Sufi Islamic shrines and tombs during the 2012-2013 conflict in Northern Mali.

False

The Family Code passed in 2011 by the Malian legislature made advances in securing and protecting women's rights.

False

Touching the right elbow with the fingertips is an offensive social gesture in Mali.

False

Malian women's possibilities to be on equal footing with men remain limited.

True

Domestic violence is a rare phenomenon in Mali.

False

Kola nuts play an important role in Malian hospitality customs.

True

Meat is affordable in Mali, and Malians eat it on a regular basis.

False

Poverty and conflict have driven rural migrants to Mali's cities in search of security and employment.

True

Mali stopped practicing slavery by the mid-20th century.

False

Traditional healers provide an alternative to the health care system.

True

With the help of international aid, Mali has established a successful country-wide public education system.

False

Quality restaurants and nightlife are concentrated in Bamako.

True

Drought, political instability, and climate change have all contributed to a historic low in Malian cereal production.

False

The Malian government relies on foreign mining companies to mine the country's vast deposits of gold.

False

The Ebola virus reached Mali during the 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak and claimed several victims.

True

In rural Mali, a gathering crowd at the scene of a vehicle accident can create a dangerous situation.

True

The Malian government continues to lay minefields along the border to stop the infiltration of al Qaeda and ISIS fighters.

False

Muslim women in Mali do not veil.

True

Malian law prohibits domestic violence.

False

Although religious and civil marriages are both practiced, only civil marriage are given legal recognition and protection under the law

False

Economically disadvantaged Malian parents often send their children to earn money in order to improve the family's financial standing.

True

Underage marriage is still practiced, even though the practice is prohibited by Malian law.

True

A griot is a Malian magistrate judge, who presides over a civil marriage.

False

In Mali, women do not have maternity leave.

False

Polygamy is prevalent across Mali.

True

Mali has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world.

True

In 2012, the Malian government passed a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM

False

Due to Mali's size and the condition of most rural roads, domestic flights are the preferred method of cross-country travel for Malians.

False

The University of Timbuktu is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the world.

True

The Malian government has started funding Islamic schools, or madrassas, to provide students with basic religious education.

False

Mali does not have a rail service.

False

International aid and education reforms ended illiteracy in Mali.

False

Bamako's main market is called the Mercato.

False

Mali is the leading producer of beef in West Africa

True

ATMs throughout Bamako typically accept Visa and MasterCard.

False

Visitors to Mali can rent cars with or without drivers.

True

Due to Mali's generally flat landscape, automobile and motorcycle use is widespread throughout the country.

False

Peanuts are an important part of Malian cuisine.

True

Owing to the country's French colonial past, Malians use Western-style utensils when eating meals.

False

Malian men and women throughout the country often wear a long, flowing, wide-sleeved robe.

True

Mali was one of the last African nations to gain independence from France, in the mid-1970s.

False

The left hand is considered unclean in Mali.

True

Islamic extremist groups based in Northern Mali have become a security concern.

True

The majority of Malians are in favor of a secular government.

False

Beliefs and practices of traditional African religions are part of Christian and Muslim worship practices.

True

The Muslim majority of Mail are intolerant toward religious minorities.

False

Tabaski, also known as Eid al-Adha, is one of the most important religious holidays in Mali.

True

The Islamic High Council controls all branches of government.

False

The Tuareg are a people of Berber decent, distinguished by their bold blue clothing.

True

Mali is an arid country covered entirely by the Sahara Desert.

False

The majority of the population is concentrated in northern Mali

False

There are more cell phone subscriptions than people in Mali.

True