Discover ‘Long Walk to Freedom Question Answer, Class X,’ a thorough manual containing all textual and crucial supplementary questions, designed in straightforward language to assist students in comprehension and exam readiness.
Table of Contents
Long Walk to Freedom Question Answer
English, Class X
Nelson Mandela
Long Walk to Freedom Question Answer
Textual Question Answer
Oral Comprehension Check-1
Q.1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Ans: The ceremonies took place in the sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
There are many public buildings built with sandstone in India. For example- The Red Fort, The Rashtrapati Bhawan, The Parliament House and so on.
Q.2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Ans: In South Africa10 May is regarded as an ‘autumn day’ because on that day there was the largest gathering of international leaders for the installation of South Africa’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: By the phrase ‘extraordinary human disaster’ Mandela wants to mean that the people of South Africa were the victims of racial discrimination since long. The white people predominated over the black-skinned people.
By the phrase ‘glorious achievement’ Mandela wants to mean that eventually, the racial discrimination came to an end in South Africa with the inauguration of a democratic, non-racial government headed by Nelson Mandela.
Q.4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Ans: On the inauguration day of the non-racial democratic government in South Africa headed by Nelson Mandela many leaders around the world went there to show their hounour for justice, democratic ideals and human dignity. So Nelson Mandela thanked the international leaders who were present on the inauguration day.
Q.5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans: Nelson Mandela with his political victory set out the ideals of democracy free from any racial discrimination, poverty, bondage and of a nation of peace, prosperity and human dignity.
Oral Comprehension Check-2
Q.1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans: The highest military generals of South Africa saluted Nelson Mandela and pledged their loyalty. At that time he reminded of the fact that only some years before he was arrested, not saluted, by the same military generals.
Their attitude was changed by the fact that a non-racial democratic government was going to be formed which would make an end to the agelong white dominance over the blacks.
Q.2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans: On the inauguration day of the democratic government formed by Nelson Mandela, two national anthems were sung- one by the whites and the other by the blacks. This symbolised the equality of the blacks and the whites.
Q.3. 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 white people established a system of racial discrimination against the native black people which was most inhuman.
In the final decade of the twentieth century, this system was overturned and replaced by the true democratic ideals headed by Nelson Mandela. This system recognised equal rights and justice to all regardless racism.
Q.4. What does ‘courage’ mean to Mandela?
Ans: By courage, Mandela means to triumph over fear. A brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers fear.
Q.5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans: Mandela thinks that love is natural as it comes naturally in human heart.
Oral Comprehension Check-3
Q.1. What ‘twin obligations’ does Mandela mention?
Ans: Mandela mentions twin obligations of a man, as:
The first obligation is to one’s family, parents, wife and children.
The second obligation is to one’s people, community and country.
Q.2. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy and as a student? How does he contrast these ‘transitory freedom’ with the basic and honourable freedom?
Ans: Mandela, during his boyhood, was free in every field. He could run to the field and swim in the stream after his desire. He was not troubled as long as he obeyed his parents. As a student, he wanted certain ‘transitory freedom’ only for himself such as being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he liked. But with the passing of time, he learnt that this freedom was an illusion. He contrasts between ‘transitory freedom’ and ‘the basic honourable freedom by saying that the transitory freedom was limited to him whereas homnourable freedom was to do more with his and his people’s position in the society.
Q.3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? why/ why not?
Ans: Mandela thinks that neither the oppressor nor the oppressed is free because he feels that both are similar as they robbed of their humanity.
Thinking About the Text
Q.1.Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Ans: Before Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa, it was under the control of the whites who governed the land with a law of racial discrimination. But with the victory of Mandela, this agelong injustice came to an end. So to hounour the democratic ideals, justice, peace and human dignity many international leaders attended the inauguration.
It signifies the triumph of justice, peace, equality and human dignity over injustice, oppressor and inhumanity.
Q.2.What does Mandela mean when he says he is ‘simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him?
Ans: When Mandela says that he was ‘simply the sum of all African patriots’, he means that he identifies himself with all the people who had sacrificed their lives in the struggle for acquiring freedom from the apartheid system of governance. He was sorry that he could not thank them nor they could see what their sacrifices had gained.
Q.3. Would you agree that the ‘depths of oppression’ create ‘heights of character’? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
Ans: Yes, ‘the depths of oppression’ create ‘heights of character’. Many people had suffered a lot from oppression during their struggle against injustice and inhumanity run by the whites and resultantly Africa gave birth to many patriots with unimaginable heights of character. Nelson Mandela thus felt that the greatest wealth of a nation is its people.
We can add our own example by mentioning the name of Laxmibhai, Bhagat Singh, Maniram Dewan who suffered for the cause of India’s Freedom.
Q.4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Ans: Nelson Mandela’s understanding of freedom changed with his age and experience. As a boy, Mandela was free in every field and he could run to the field and swim in the stream as he liked. He was not troubled as long as he obeyed his parents. As a student, he wanted certain ‘transitory freedom’ only for himself such as being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he liked. But with the passing of time, he learnt that this freedom was an illusion. He contrasts between ‘transitory freedom’ and ‘the basic honourable freedom’ by saying that the transitory freedom was limited to him whereas ‘homnourable freedom’ was to do more with his and his people’s position in society.
Q.5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
or
When did Mandela begin to hunger for freedom? HSLC ’20
Ans: Mandela, in his youth, came to realise that the system of the country did not only curtail his freedom but also of all the black people. After this realisation, he developed a hunger for the freedom of his people.
Thinking About Language
- Make a list of pairs of nouns and verbs from the text.
Ans:
Nouns Verbs
Constitution Constitute
Deprivation Deprive
Discrimination Discriminate
Formation Form
Obligation Oblige
Oppression Oppress
Rebellion Rebel
- Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks with the noun forms of the verbs in brackets.
Martin Luther King’s ———— (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the ——— (assist) of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean ———- (subjugate) and ——— (humiliate) by the police and the legal system. Beatings ———- (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied the system. Maritn Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent ——— (resist ) to racial injustice.
Ans: Martin Luther King’s contribution to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the assistance of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days American blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean subjugation and humiliation by the police and the legal system. Beatings imprisonment and sometimes death awaited those who defied the system. Maritn Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance to racial injustice.
III. Idiomatic Expression
Match the italicised phrases in column A with the phrase nearest in meaning in column B. (see the columns in your text)
Ans:
- I was not unmindful of the fact. – (i) had not forgotten: was aware of the fact.
- When my comrades and I were pushed to our limits. – (iii) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer.
- to reassure me and keep me going.- (ii) help me continue to live in hope this very difficult situation.
- the basic and honourable freedoms of ….. earning my keep…. – (i) earning enough money to live on.
Writing
- Use the following phrases to complete the sentence given below:
(i) they can be taught to love.
(ii) I was born free.
(iii) but the triumph over it.
(iv) but he who conquers that fear.
(v) to create such heights of character.
Ans:
(1) It requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character.
(2) Courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
(3) The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear.
(4) If people can learn to hate they can be taught to love.
(5) I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free.
Long Walk to Freedom Question Answer
Additional Question Solutions
Q.1. What do you mean by ANC?
Ans: ANC means African National Congress.
Q.2. What is an amphitheatre?
Ans: ‘Amphitheatre’ is a building without a roof, with many rows of seats rising in steps (typical of ancient Greece and Rome).
Q.3. Who was Nelson Mandela?
Ans: Nelson Mandela was the first black President of South Africa.
Q.4. Who accompanied Nelson Mandela to the oath-taking ceremony?
Ans: Zenani, the daughter of Nelson Mandela accompanied him to the oath-taking ceremony.
Q.5. Where did the ceremony take place?
Ans: The ceremony took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
Q.6. What hope did Mandela express for his country in his speech?
Ans: Nelson Mandela was very optimistic for the future of his country. He hoped that this beautiful land would never again experience the oppression of one by another. He pledged to liberate all the people from poverty, deprivation, sufferings, gender and other discrimination. He also hoped that freedom would reign his country forever.
Q.7. What was Nelson Mandela’s opinion about his people?
Ans: Nelson Mandela’s opinion about his people was very high. According to him, the people of Africa were the highest wealth. They were fine and truer than the purest diamond.
Q.8. Why did Mandela address freedom as ‘newborn’ liberty?
Ans: Nelson Mandela addresses the freedom as ‘newborn liberty’ because South African people had to suffer a terrible disaster of racial discrimination. This disaster lasted for a long time and it took the lives of many Africans. With the inauguration of the government formed by the blacks headed by Mandela, the people of Africa became free from all such disasters. So Mandela calls this liberty as a ‘newborn liberty’.
Q.9. State whether the following are true or false:
(a) Nelson Mandela spent twenty years in prison.
Ans: False
(b) On the day of the inauguration, Mandela was accompanied by his daughter Zenari. HSLC’16
Ans: False
(c) On the day of Inauguration, two national anthems were sung.
Ans: True
(d) The policy of apartheid created lasting peace in Mandela’s country.
Ans: False
(e) On the day of the inauguration, Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history.
Ans: True
(f) Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as the second Deputy President.
Ans: False
(g) On the day of the inauguration, Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of freedom.
Ans: False
Q.10. 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.
(light and vain/ abnormal/ deep and strong)
Ans: deep and strong.
Q.11. State whether the following statements are True or False (Ref: Nelson Mandela’Long Walk to Freedom’)
(a) On the Podium, Mr de Klerk was first sworn in as first Deputy President.
(b) Then Tabo Mbeki was sworn in as second Deputy President.
Ans: (a) False (b) False.
Q.12. Choose the correct answer from among the alternatives given and complete the sentence:
(a) In life every man has ………..
(i) three obligations
(ii) twin obligations
(iii) many obligations
Ans: twin obligations.
(b) Mandela’s country is rich ……………… .
(i) in forests and lakes
(ii) in minerals and gems
(iii) in agriculture.
Ans:(ii) in minerals and gems.
Q.12. According to Mandela, between love and hate which comes more naturally to human heart?
Ans: According to Mandela, love comes more naturally to human heart.
Q.13. What mission would Mandela like to achieve for the future ofSouth Africa and her people on securing the political emancipation?
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.14. The oppressed and the oppressors alike are robbed of their humanity.” What makes Mandela say this?
Ans: Nelson Mandela realised that when a man takes away the freedom of someone 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.15. Q. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
In life every man has twin obligations: obligation to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and humane society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities. But in a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil those obligations. In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated. In South Africa, a man who tried to fulfil his duty to his people was inevitably ripped from his family and home and was forced to live a life apart, a twilight existence of secrecy and rebellion. I did not, in the beginning, choose to place my people above my family, but in attempting to serve my people, I found that I was prevented from fulfilling my obligations as a son, a brother, 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? 1
(ii) What are the twin obligations that every man has in life? 2
(iii) What did the speaker find when he attempted to serve his people? 2
Ans: (i) A man of colour in South Africa who attempted to live as a human being was punished and isolated.
(ii) The twin obligations 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.16. What did Mandela say about the wealth of his country?
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.17. Who was sworn as the second Deputy President?
Ans: Mr De Klerk was sworn as the second Deputy President of South Africa.
Q.18. What was the full name of Nelson Mandela?
Ans: The full name of Nelson Mandela was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Q.19. Who was the first Deputy President?
Ans: Thabo Mbeki was the first Deputy President.
Q.20. How many years did Nelson Mandela spend in prison?
Ans: Nelson Mandela spent twenty-seven years in prison.
Q.21. When did Mandela die?
Ans: Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013.
Q.21. What is the name of the autobiography of Nelson Mandela?
Ans: The name of the autobiography written by Nelson Mandela is ”Long Walk to Freedom’.
Q.14. Name the daughter of Nelson Mandela?
Ans: The name of the daughter of Nelson Mandela was Zenani. 0 0 0.
N.B. Dear readers, if you find ‘Long Walk to Freedom Question Answer, Class X’ helpful, we kindly encourage you to share your thoughts. Your feedback, both formative and suggestive, is greatly appreciated and valued.
Long Walk to Freedom Question Answer
About the Author: Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, born on July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa, was a pivotal figure in the fight against apartheid and a global symbol of resistance against injustice. Here’s a detailed biography of his life:
Early Life and Education:
Nelson Mandela was born to the Thembu royal family in the village of Mvezo in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. He was given the name Rolihlahla Mandela, which colloquially means “troublemaker.” His father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a local chief, and Mandela was given the name Nelson by his primary school teacher.
Mandela began his education at a local mission school and later attended Clarkebury Boarding Institute and Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school where he excelled in academics and boxing. In 1939, he enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, the only residential higher learning institution for black South Africans at the time. However, he was expelled for joining a student protest.
Activism and Political Career:
Mandela moved to Johannesburg in 1941 and completed his BA through correspondence while working as a law clerk. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and became actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement. Mandela helped form the ANC Youth League in 1944, advocating for more radical tactics against apartheid.
In 1952, Mandela and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, providing affordable legal counsel to many black South Africans facing discrimination. Mandela’s activism escalated in the 1950s, leading peaceful protests and civil disobedience campaigns against apartheid laws.
Imprisonment:
In 1962, Mandela was arrested and charged with sabotage and other charges related to his anti-apartheid activities. In 1964, he was sentenced to life imprisonment during the Rivonia Trial, where he famously stated, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society.”
Mandela spent 27 years in prison, most of it on Robben Island. Despite harsh conditions, he became a symbol of resistance and continued to advocate for justice and equality.
Release and Presidency:
In 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison amid growing international pressure and internal reform in South Africa. He immediately began negotiations with President F.W. de Klerk to dismantle apartheid and establish multiracial elections. In 1993, Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.
In 1994, Mandela won South Africa’s first multiracial elections and became the country’s first black president. He focused on reconciliation and nation-building, establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address apartheid-era crimes. Mandela served as president until 1999, overseeing significant social and economic reforms.
Later Years and Legacy:
After leaving office, Mandela continued to advocate for peace, human rights, and HIV/AIDS awareness. He founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation and remained active in various humanitarian causes. His birthday, July 18, is celebrated globally as Mandela Day, a day of service in his honor.
Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013, at the age of 95. He is remembered as a moral leader, statesman, and symbol of the struggle for freedom and equality worldwide. His life and legacy continue to inspire generations to fight against oppression and injustice.
This biography highlights Mandela’s remarkable journey from a young activist in apartheid South Africa to an international icon of peace and reconciliation. His commitment to justice and his resilience in the face of adversity make him a towering figure in modern history. 0 0 0.
Our Ready Guides for H S Students:
Additional Searches:
Suggestive Readings:
- nelson mandela long walk to freedom question answer,
- long walk to freedom question answer,
- class 10 english nelson mandela long walk to freedom question answer,
- chapter 2 nelson mandela long walk to freedom question answer,
- chapter 2 nelson mandela long walk to freedom question answer
