The French policy of assimilation was based on the assumption that African culture was

Analyze the question: It asks about the assumption behind France's colonial policy of assimilation. In other words, what did the French believe about African culture?

Explain the concept: Assimilation was the French colonial policy in West Africa (for example Senegal's Four Communes: Dakar, Saint-Louis, Gorée and Rufisque). It aimed to turn Africans into "Frenchmen" by teaching them the French language, religion, laws, education and way of life. The French believed their culture was civilised and universal, and that African culture was backward and needed to be replaced. This idea was part of the "civilising mission."

Step-by-step solution:

1. Assimilation means making colonial subjects adopt French culture.
2. Such a policy only makes sense if the colonisers think their own culture is better and the African one is lacking.
3. Check the options: • A. Expensive: cost has nothing to do with the cultural assumption. • B. Inferior (spelled "inferror" in the question): matches the French belief that African culture was lower and needed replacing. • C. Unpopular: popularity was not the basis of the policy. • D. Superior: this is the opposite of the French assumption. If African culture were superior, there would be no reason to assimilate Africans into French culture.

Answer: The French assumed African culture was inferior, which is option B (the question's spelling "inferror" is a typo).

Exam tip: In Government, link each colonial policy to its underlying idea:

• French assimilation: African culture is inferior, so Africans should become French.
• British indirect rule: Use local chiefs to rule cheaply.

Also, when a policy tries to change a people to match yours, the assumption is nearly always that their way is inferior.