The correct answers are A) development of own language and D) religious beliefs that predate Egypt.
The reasons why Kush was its own distinct culture included: development of own language and religious beliefs that predate Egypt.
One of the oldest civilizations in Africa that had some similarities with Egypt was the Kingdom of Kush, located in the region of Nubia, south Egypt. Today, that region belongs to Sudan. Archeologists agree that the Kingdom of Kush was established around 1070 BCE and ended around the 300s CE. Kush and Egypt had some similarities such as the way they constructed their pyramids, their buildings, and the kind of gods they worshiped.