Class 10 English Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Chapter 2 Solutions
Selected Question Answers
Q.1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public building in India that are made of sandtone?
Ans: The ceremonies were held in the sandstone amphitheater formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. In India, several public buildings are made of sandstone, such as the Red Fort, Rashtrapati Bhawan, and the Parliament House.
Q.2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Ans: In South Africa, 10 May is called an ‘autumn day’ because it marked the largest gathering of world leaders for the installation of the country’s first non-racial government.
Q.3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions, ‘an extraordinary human disaster’. What does he mean by this? What is the ‘glorious… human achievement’ he speaks of at the end?
Ans: Mandela uses the term ‘extraordinary human disaster’ to refer to the long period of racial discrimination in South Africa, where white people dominated black people. The ‘glorious achievement’ refers to the end of racial discrimination and the start of a non-racial, democratic government led by Nelson Mandela.
Q.4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans: Mandela thanked the international leaders who attended the inauguration of South Africa’s first non-racial democratic government. Their presence honored justice, democratic values, and human dignity.
Q.5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans: Mandela envisioned a South Africa where democracy thrived without racial discrimination, poverty, or oppression. He hoped for peace, prosperity, and respect for human dignity.
Q.6. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans: South Africa’s top military generals saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty. Mandela remembered that, years earlier, these same generals had arrested him. Their attitude changed because a non-racial democratic government was being formed, ending white dominance over black people.
Q.7. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans: On the inauguration day, two national anthems were sung—one for the whites and one for the blacks. This symbolized equality between the two groups.
Q.8. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade and (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
Ans: In the first decade of the twentieth century, the government implemented a system of racial discrimination against black people, which was cruel and inhuman. In the final decade, this system was replaced with a democratic government led by Mandela, promoting justice and equality for all.
Q.9. What does ‘courage’ mean to Mandela? HSLC’ 17, ’23
Ans: For Mandela, courage means overcoming fear. He believed a brave person is not someone who feels no fear but someone who conquers it.
Q.10. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans: Mandela believes that love is natural because it arises naturally in the human heart.
Q.11. What ‘twin obligations’ does Mandela mention?
Ans: Mandela mentions two main obligations:
(i)To one’s family, including parents, spouse, and children.
(ii) To one’s community and country.
Q.12. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? why/ why not?
Ans: Mandela believes neither the oppressor nor the oppressed is free because both lose their humanity in the process.
Q.13.Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Ans: International leaders attended the inauguration to honor the ideals of democracy, justice, and human dignity after the end of racial discrimination in South Africa. This event symbolized the triumph of equality and justice over oppression and injustice.
Q.14.What does Mandela mean when he says he is ‘simply the sum of all those African patriots’ who had gone before him?
Ans: Mandela means he represents the sacrifices of countless African patriots who fought against apartheid. He regrets that they could not see the fruits of their struggle.
Q.15. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life? or When did Mandela begin to hunger for freedom? HSLC ’20
Ans: In his youth, Mandela realized that the system of the country denied freedom not just to him but to all black people. This realization fueled his desire to fight for their freedom.
Q.16. What do you mean by ANC?
Ans: ANC means African National Congress.
Q.17. What is amphitheatre?
Ans: An amphitheater is an open building with no roof, having rows of seats arranged in steps, typical of ancient Greece and Rome.
Q.18. Who was Nelson Mandela?
Ans: Nelson Mandela was the first black President of South Africa.
Q.19. Who accompanied Nelson Mandela to the oath taking ceremony?
Ans: Zenani, the daughter of Nelson Mandela accompanied him to the oath-taking ceremony.
Q.20. What was Nelson Mandela’s opinion about his people?
Ans: Mandela held his people in high regard. He believed the people of Africa were more valuable than the purest diamonds.
Q.21. Sate whether the following are true or false: (a) Nelson Mandela spent twenty years in prison. HSLC’15
Ans: False
(b) On the day of inauguration Mandela was accompained by his daughter Zenari. HSLC’16
Ans: False
(c) On the day of Inauguration, two national anthems were sung. HSLC’15
Ans: True
(d) The policy of apartheid created lasting peace in Mandela’s country. HSLC’17
Ans: False
(e) On the day of inauguration, Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history. HSLC’17, ’20
Ans: True
(f) Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as the second Deputy President. HSLC’16
Ans: False
(g) On the day of inauguration, Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of freedom. HSLC ’20
Ans: False
Q.22. Choose the meaning of the underlined words in the following sentences from among the alternatives given in brackets: HSLC’19
- (a)I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone ….. (enhanced/ reduced/ withheld)
- Ans: reduced
(b) All of us will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. HSLC ’20
- (light and vain/ abnormal/ deep and strong)
- Ans: deep and strong.
Q.23. State whether the following statements are True or False (Ref: Nelson Mandela’Long Walk to Freedom’) HSLC ’19
- (a) On the Podium, Mr de Klerk was first sworn in as first Deputy President.
- (b) Then Tabo Mbeki was sworn in as the second Deputy President.
- Ans: (a) False (b) False.
Q.24. Choose the correct answer from among the alternatives given and complete the sentence: HSLC’17
- (a) In life every man has ………..
- (i) three obligations
- (ii) twin obligations
- (iii) many obligations
- Ans: twin obligations.
(b) Mandela’s country is rich ………………. HSLC ’20
- (i) in forests and lakes
- (ii) in minerals and gems
- (iii) in agriculture.
- Ans:(ii) in minerals and gems.
Q.25. According to Mandela, between love and hate which comes more naturally to the human heart? HSLC ’16
Ans: According to Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart.
Q.26. What mission would Mandela like to achieve for the future of South Africa and her people on securing political emancipation? HSLC ’18
Ans: Nelson Mandela, on securing political emancipation, would like to liberate all the people of South Africa from bondage, deprivation, suffering, and caste discrimination.
Q.27. The oppressed and the oppressors alike are robbed of their humanity.” What makes Mandela say this? HSLC ’18
Ans: Nelson Mandela realised that when a man takes away the freedom of soemone else then he becomes a prisoner of hatred. He is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He is not truly free though he is taking away someone else’s freedom, just as surely he is not free when his freedom is taken away from him. This made Mandela say this.
Q.28. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: HSLC ’17
Ans: ”In life, every man has twin obligations: obligation to his family, to his parents,……………….. a father and a husband.” Questions:
(i) What was done to a man of clour in South Africa who attempted to live as a human being?
(ii) What are the twin obligations that every man has in life?
(iii) What did the speaker find when he attempted to serve his people?
Ans: (i) A man of colour in South Africa who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated.
(ii) The twin oblisgations that every man has in life are: first, obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children and secondly, obligations to his people, to his community, and to his country.
(iii) When the speaker attempted to serve his people he found that he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a son, a brother, a father, and a husband.
Q.29. What did Mandela say about the wealth of his country? HSLC’19
Ans: Nelson Mandela, about the wealth of his country, says that his country is rich in natural resources that lie beneath its soil, but the greatest wealth of his country is its people. They are finer and truer than the purest diamond.
Q.30. Name the daughter of Nelson Mandela?
Ans: The name of the daughter of Nelson Mandela was Zenani.
Q.31. Name the names of two patriots before Mandela? HSLC ’22
Ans: The two patriots before Mandela were Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.
Q.32. ‘Freedom is indivisible.’ How does Mandela explain this observation of his? HSLC ’22
Ans: Mandela said that he could not enjoy the limited freedom that he was allowed to enjoy. Because he knew that his people were not free. His people were chaind everywhere. He could not enjoy freedom when his own brothers and sisters were kept suppressed by the whites. This how mandela expained his observatoion that freedom was indivisible.
Multiple Choice Questions
Choose the correct answer from the options given below each question
1. According to Mandela which flame can be hidden but not extinguished?
- (A) Goodness
- (B) Kindness
- (C) Humanity
- (D) Mankind
- Ans: (A)
2. Depths of oppression create —-.
- (A) Poverty
- (B) Heights of character
- (C) Freedom
- (D) Revolution
- Ans: (B)
3. In his long speech, what does Nelson Mandela said about decades of old brutality on blacks of Africa?
- (A) Created supernatural courage, wisdom & generosity
- (B) Came closer to starvation
- (C) Flame of revolution rose
- (D) Isolated Africa from West
- Ans: (A)
4. What brought international leaders to South Africa?
- (A) End of Apartheid (B) Trade
- (C) Understanding (D) Racism Ans: (A)
- 5. Choose the name who fought with Mandela against Racism?
- (A) Bram Fischer
- (B) Chief Luthuli
- (C) Robert Sobukwe
- (D) All of the above
- Ans: (D)
6. Why other Nations discontinued relations with South Africa before Nelson struggle for apartheid?
- (A) Racial discrimination
- (B) War
- (C) Political instability
- (D) Colonial Rule
- Ans: (A)
7. The name of the Mandela’s party was ………………..?
- (A) African People’s Party
- (B) US National Congress
- (C) Indian National Congress
- (D) African National Congress
- Ans: (D)
8. Where did ceremonies take place?
- (A) Sandstone amphitheater
- (B) Gold mine amphitheater
- (C) Opera house
- (D) None of the above
- Ans: (A)
9. Why Mandela put freedom for the country before freedom for the family?
- (A) Felt pain of his citizens
- (B) Impact of apartheid
- (C) Western thought
- (D) Hatred
- Ans: (A)
10. How many National Song(s) were sung during oath ceremony?
- (A) One(B) Two
- (C) Three
- (D) Four
- Ans: (B)
11. What diplomatic things did Mandela say in his speech on the Western Countries?
- (A) Keeping South African people away from their democratic rights
- (B) Physical harassment by white people in entire Africa
- (C) Racial policies framed by white people on dark skinned people
- (D) All of the above
- Ans: (E)
12. To whom Nelson Mandela wanted to say ‘Special thanks’ in his speech but could not do?
- (A) African Army
- (B) African Patriots
- (C) African Politicians
- (D) Western Nations
- Ans: (B)
13. The desire for freedom of the people transformed ————.
- (A) a frightened young man into a bold one
- (B) a frightened leader into a minister
- (C) an animal into a man
- (D) a man into a woman
- Ans: (A)
14. According to Mandela, what is the greatest wealth of a nation?
- (A) minerals (B) gems
- (C) People (D) Gold mines
- Ans: (C)
15. The word ‘curtailed’ means……..
- (A) increased (B) opposed
- (C) decreased (D) emboldened
- Ans: (C)
16. What comes more naturally to the heart according to Mandela?
- (A) hatred (B) love
- (C) sympathy
- (D) racial discrimination
- Ans: (B)
17. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is
- (A) White
- (B) a prisoner of hatred
- (C) criminal
- (D) rude
- Ans: (B)
18. Number of deputy presidents elected were …………….
- (A) Four (B) Five
- (C) One(D) Two
- Ans: (A)
19. What does the word ‘Apartheid’ mean?
- (A) Racial discrimination in political system
- (B) Freedom movement in S. Africa
- (C) Oath ceremony of Nelson Mandela
- (D) None of the above.
- Ans: (A)
20. Apartheid is a political system that separates people according to their ………………….. HSLC ’23
- (A) religion(B) language
- (C) race (D) gender
- Ans: (C)
- (A) Three obligation
- (B) Twin obligation
- (C) Many obligation
- (D) None of the above.
- Ans: (B)
- (A) forest and lakes
- (B) agriculture
- (C) gems and minerals
- (D) hills and rivers.
- Ans: (C)
- (a) aunt
- (b) mother
- (c) wife
- (d) daughter
- Ans:(d)
