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Congo was named by Europeans. Congo’s dictator Mobuto later changed the name of the country and the river to Zaire with the objective of Africanising names of persons and spaces. However, the name Zaire was a Portuguese alteration of Nzadi o Nzere, a local African term meaning ‘River that swallows Rivers’. Zaire was the Portuguese name for the Congo river in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Q. Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the paragraph above?
  • a)
    Mobuto was not entirely successful in Africanising the name of his country
  • b)
    The term Nzadi o Nzere was of Portuguese origin
  • c)
    Mobuto’s desire to Africanise names was prevented by the Portuguese
  • d)
    As a dictator Mobuto ordered the Portuguese to alter the name of the river to Zaire
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Congo was named by Europeans. Congo’s dictator Mobuto later chan...
Is a country in Central Africa, officially known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It was indeed named by Europeans during the period of colonialism. The name "Congo" comes from the Kongo Kingdom, a pre-colonial kingdom that existed in the region. The Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão is credited with first using the name "Congo River" to refer to the river that runs through the country.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the region was divided into different colonial territories, including the French Congo, Belgian Congo, and Portuguese Congo. The name "Congo" was commonly used to refer to the entire area.

After gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, the country was named the Republic of the Congo. However, to distinguish it from its neighbor, the Republic of the Congo (formerly French Congo), it was later renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It is important to note that the name "Congo" has historical and cultural significance to the local communities in the region, even though it was initially given by Europeans.
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Congo was named by Europeans. Congo’s dictator Mobuto later chan...
The language of origin of the term 'Nzadi o Nzere' cannot be determined from the given paragraph and hence option 2 is incorrect.
As there is no hint of any Portuguese intervention in the paragraph, the statement in option 3 cannot be inferred and hence is incorrect.
It is given that Mobuto was a dictator of Congo and not Portuguese and hence the statement in option 4 cannot be inferred. 
Despite the change in name, the new name Zaire still has Portuguese origin and hence it can be inferred that Mobuto was not completely successful in his attempt to Africanise the name of his country.
Hence option A is the correct answer.
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Congo was named by Europeans. Congo’s dictator Mobuto later changed the name of the country and the river to Zaire with the objective of Africanising names of persons and spaces. However, the name Zaire was a Portuguese alteration ofNzadi o Nzere, a local African term meaning ‘River that swallows Rivers’. Zaire was the Portuguese name for the Congo river in the 16th and 17th centuries.Q. Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the paragraph above?a)Mobuto was not entirely successful in Africanising the name of his countryb)The termNzadi o Nzerewas of Portuguese originc)Mobuto’s desire to Africanise names was prevented by the Portuguesed)As a dictator Mobuto ordered the Portuguese to alter the name of the river to ZaireCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
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Congo was named by Europeans. Congo’s dictator Mobuto later changed the name of the country and the river to Zaire with the objective of Africanising names of persons and spaces. However, the name Zaire was a Portuguese alteration ofNzadi o Nzere, a local African term meaning ‘River that swallows Rivers’. Zaire was the Portuguese name for the Congo river in the 16th and 17th centuries.Q. Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the paragraph above?a)Mobuto was not entirely successful in Africanising the name of his countryb)The termNzadi o Nzerewas of Portuguese originc)Mobuto’s desire to Africanise names was prevented by the Portuguesed)As a dictator Mobuto ordered the Portuguese to alter the name of the river to ZaireCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for GATE 2025 is part of GATE preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GATE exam syllabus. Information about Congo was named by Europeans. Congo’s dictator Mobuto later changed the name of the country and the river to Zaire with the objective of Africanising names of persons and spaces. However, the name Zaire was a Portuguese alteration ofNzadi o Nzere, a local African term meaning ‘River that swallows Rivers’. Zaire was the Portuguese name for the Congo river in the 16th and 17th centuries.Q. Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the paragraph above?a)Mobuto was not entirely successful in Africanising the name of his countryb)The termNzadi o Nzerewas of Portuguese originc)Mobuto’s desire to Africanise names was prevented by the Portuguesed)As a dictator Mobuto ordered the Portuguese to alter the name of the river to ZaireCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GATE 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Congo was named by Europeans. Congo’s dictator Mobuto later changed the name of the country and the river to Zaire with the objective of Africanising names of persons and spaces. However, the name Zaire was a Portuguese alteration ofNzadi o Nzere, a local African term meaning ‘River that swallows Rivers’. Zaire was the Portuguese name for the Congo river in the 16th and 17th centuries.Q. Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the paragraph above?a)Mobuto was not entirely successful in Africanising the name of his countryb)The termNzadi o Nzerewas of Portuguese originc)Mobuto’s desire to Africanise names was prevented by the Portuguesed)As a dictator Mobuto ordered the Portuguese to alter the name of the river to ZaireCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
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