X-ENGLISH- First Flight,

Class X  Question Bank

First Flight

Lesson 2     Nelson Mandela – A Long Walk to Frreedom

                                                    *******************

1. Who was Nelson Mandela? For how many years did he spend in prison?

Ans:       Nelson Mandela was a freedom fighter of South Africa and its first black President. He spent 27 years in prison.

2. What took place on 10^th May, 1994?

Ans:       The inauguration ceremony for the installation of South Africa’s democracy took place on 10^th May, 1994.

3. Where did the ‘ceremonies’ take place? Why were the ceremonies so important?

Ans:       The ‘ceremonies’ took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre in Pretoria in South Africa. The ceremonies were so important because these were meant for the celebration of victory of the South African natives over the ruling whites and for the installation of South Africa’s first ever democracy.

4. Who were other persons who took oath along with Nelson Mandela?

Ans:       The persons who took oath along with Nelson Mandela were Mr de Klerk and Thabo Mbeki

.

5. What did Mandela mean when he mentioned ‘an extraordinary human disaster’?

Ans:       Mandela meant the indescribable sufferings of the South African people under the rule of the whites when he mentioned ‘an extraordinary human disaster’.

6. Why did Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Ans:       Mandela thanked the international leaders for having come to take part in the common victory for justice, peace and human dignity on the South African soil.

7. What ideals does Mandela set out for the future of South Africa?

Ans:      Mandela sets out the ideals of courage, generosity and wisdom for the future of South Africa.

8. What spectacular show was displayed by the South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers on this important ceremony?

Ans:       South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings in Pretoria. A chevron of Impala jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.

9. What did the military generals do?

Ans:       The Military Generals saluted and pledged their loyalty to Nelson Mandela.

10. How had the military generals’ attitude changed, and why?

Ans:       The military generals had witnessed the extraordinary courage and wisdom shown by Nelson Mandela in freeing South Africa from the bondage of the whites. The military generals, who would have arrested Mandela earlier, have now pledged their loyalty to him. This shows their change in attitude.

11. State the two national anthems. Why were they sung?

Ans:       The two national anthems were – ‘NkosiSikelel –iAfrika’ and ‘Die Stem’.

12. How was Mandela overwhelmed with a sense of history?

Ans:       In the first decade of the twentieth century and before Mandela’s birth, the whites in South Africa had erected a system of racial domination known as ‘apartheid’. In the last decade of the twentienth century, when Mandela was in his eighties, he saw that system crumbling. So, he was overwhelmed with a sense of history.

13. How did Mandela describe the system of government in his country in the final decade of the twentieth century?

Ans:       Mandela described the system of government in his country in the final decade of the twentieth century as one that recognises the rights and freedoms of all people, irrespective of the colour of their skin.

14. What did Mandela think of the patriots of Africa and of himself?

Ans:       Mandela thought that the freedom of South Africa had come through the sufferings and courage of the patriots. He said that he was simply the sum total of all those patriots. He regretted for having not been able to thank them.

15. How did the policy of apartheid affect his country?

Ans:       The policy of apartheid left a lasting wound on South Africa. It was one of the harshest and most inhumane policies the world had ever seen. The rights and freedoms of the South African natives had been taken away by this policy of the ruling whites.

16. What is the view of Mandela about the wealth of his country?

Ans:       Mandela was of the view that the greatest wealth of his country was its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.

17. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Ans:       According to Mandela, courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

18. What should people learn so that they can be taught to love?

Ans:       People should learn to hate so that they can be taught to love.

19. How does Mandela look at his own people?

Ans:       Mandela has seen his own people risking and giving their lives for an idea. He has seen men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking, showing a strength and resilience   that defies the imagination.

20. Describe the twin obligations as stated by the author?

Ans:       The twin obligations stated by Mandela are – (i) obligations to one’s family, to parents, to wife, and to children ; and (ii) obligations to one’s people, to the community, and to the country.

21. What problems hinder each man to fulfil these obligations in South Africa?

Ans:       Whenever a native South African tries to fulfil his duty to his people, he is ripped from his family and forced to live an isolated life. He is isolated even if he tries to live as a human being. So, it is very difficult in South Africa to fulfil these obligations.

22. What problems were faced by Mandela in the beginning in placing his people above his family?

Ans:       In the beginning, in attempting to serve his people, Mandela found that he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.

23. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student?

Ans:       As a boy, being free meant to Mandela the freedoms of running in the fields, swimming in the clear stream, roasting mealies in the open, and riding bulls. As a student, he understood freedom as the ability to stay out at night, read what he pleased, and go where he chose.

24. What did Mandela yearn for as a young man in Johannesburg?

Ans:       As a young man in Johannesburg, Mandela yearned for the freedoms of achieving his potential, of earning his keep, of marrying and having a family.

25. What did he perceive about his brothers and sisters?

Ans:       Mandela perceived that not only was he not free, but also his brothers and his sisters were not free.

26. What changed Mandela as a young man into a bold one?

Ans:       Mandela’s desire for the freedom of his people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect changed him into a bold one.

27. What is the viewpoint of Mandela about ‘freedom’?

Ans:       Mandela’s viewpoint on ‘freedom’ is that it is indivisible. The chains on anyone of his people were the chains on all of them.