In the quiet village of Chitala, a giant baobab tree stood at the center. For generations, people had gathered under its shade for meetings, storytelling, and even to rest during farming days. The elders said it was the “tree of memory,” holding the wisdom of the ancestors.
One dry season, the government announced plans to build a new road that would pass straight through the village. The engineers explained that the road would bring jobs, easier transport, and better trade. But there was one problem—the road’s path went directly through the baobab tree.
Some villagers welcomed the idea. “This road will take our crops to the market faster,” they argued. Others were heartbroken. “If the baobab falls, our history will fall with it.”
The chief called for a meeting under the tree itself. For hours, people debated—progress or preservation? In the end, the villagers had to vote. The choice was difficult: keep the tree and risk being left behind, or cut it down and step into the future.
On the day of the vote, everyone stood silently, eyes on the baobab. It seemed the tree was listening.
The result of the vote shocked everyone—exactly half wanted the road, and half wanted the tree. The decision was handed back to the chief. He closed his eyes, touched the bark of the baobab, and said softly:
“The road will be built. But this tree will not fall.”
No one understood. But months later, when the road was complete, it curved gently around the baobab, leaving it untouched. Travelers who passed by slowed down, wondering why the road bent in such a strange way. The villagers smiled. They knew the road and the tree would now stand together—symbols of memory and progress side by side.
MCQs on The Last Baobab
1. Where was the baobab tree located?
a) At the edge of the forest
b) In the chief’s courtyard
c) At the center of the village
d) Near the market
2. Why was the baobab tree important to the villagers?
a) It gave them food
b) It was a place for gathering and memories
c) It was a source of medicine
d) It provided firewood
3. What new development was announced for the village?
a) A new school
b) A hospital
c) A road
d) A dam
4. What problem did the road project face?
a) It was too expensive
b) It would cut through the baobab tree
c) It required destroying the village
d) The villagers refused to work on it
5. Why did some villagers support building the road?
a) They wanted more trees
b) They believed it would help farming and trade
c) They disliked the baobab tree
d) They wanted to leave the village
6. Why did others want to keep the baobab tree?
a) It provided firewood
b) It was a sacred symbol of their history
c) It gave them water
d) It was used for building houses
7. Where did the chief call the meeting?
a) At the council hall
b) Under the baobab tree
c) In the school
d) At the marketplace
8. What decision-making method was used by the villagers?
a) The chief alone decided
b) They prayed for guidance
c) They held a vote
d) They asked the engineers
9. What was the outcome of the villagers’ vote?
a) Everyone chose the road
b) Everyone chose the tree
c) Half chose the road, half chose the tree
d) They decided to cancel the road
10. Who had the final decision after the tied vote?
a) The engineers
b) The government
c) The chief
d) The elders
11. What final decision did the chief announce?
a) The tree would be cut down for the road
b) The road would not be built
c) The road would be built but the tree would remain
d) The villagers would move elsewhere
12. How was the chief’s decision made possible?
a) The road curved around the tree
b) The engineers moved the village
c) The tree was cut but replanted
d) The villagers protested until the government agreed
13. How did travelers react to the strange curve in the road?
a) They ignored it
b) They slowed down and wondered why
c) They avoided the road
d) They cut down the tree secretly
14. What does the baobab tree symbolize in the story?
a) Power and wealth
b) Tradition and memory
c) Development and speed
d) Trade and farming
15. What lesson can be learned from the story?
a) Development must destroy traditions
b) Tradition is always more important than progress
c) Communities can balance progress and heritage
d) Roads are more useful than trees
