Question

Timbuktu is:

• A. A city in China
• B. A fictional city
• C. A form of expression
• D. A city in Mongolia
• E. A city in Mali

Hint:

Timbuktu is often metaphorically used in English to mean a faraway place, but in reality, it is a historic cultural and trade hub in Mali.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

Timbuktu is a real, historic city located in the West African country of Mali. It is famous for being a center of Islamic scholarship during the 14th–16th centuries and for its ancient manuscripts, universities, and trade significance on the trans-Saharan caravan routes. The other options are incorrect:
- (A) It is not in China.
- (B) It is not fictional.
- (C) It is not a form of expression.
- (D) It is not in Mongolia.
\fbox{\parbox{0.97\linewidth}{ \centering Timbuktu is correctly identified as $\boxed{\text{a city in Mali}}$. }}