NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Activity
Question: In Column A are some expressions you will find in the text. Make a guess and match each expression with an appropriate meaning from Column B.
| A | B |
| (i) A rainbow gathering of different colours and nations | – A great ability (almost unimaginable) to remain unchanged by suffering (not losing hope, goodness or courage) |
| (ii) The seat of white supremacy | – A half-secret life, like a life lived in the fading light between sunset and darkness |
| (iii) Be overwhelmed with a sense of history | – A sign of human feeling (goodness, kindness, pity, justice, etc.) |
| (iv) Resilience that defies the imagination | – A beautiful coming together of various peoples, like the colours in a rainbow |
| (v) A glimmer of humanity | – The centre of racial superiority |
| (vi) A twilight existence | – Feel deeply emotional, remembering and understanding all the past events that have led up to the moment |
Answer:
| A | B |
| (i) A rainbow gathering of different colours and nations | – A lovely blending of different peoples, similar to the hues of a rainbow |
| (ii) The seat of white supremacy | – the focal point of racial supremacy |
| (iii) Be overwhelmed with a sense of history | – Feel extremely sentimental, recalling and comprehending every previous incident that has before this one. |
| (iv) Resilience that defies the imagination | – An incredible (almost unfathomable) capacity to endure hardship without losing bravery, kindness, or hope |
| (v) A glimmer of humanity | – A manifestation of compassion, kindness, sympathy, fairness, etc. |
| (vi) A twilight existence | – A life spent in semi-secret, akin to a life in the last hours of daylight before nightfall |
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Oral Comprehension Check
Question 1: Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Answer: World leaders and dignitaries from many countries attended the celebrations, which were held in the beautiful sandstone amphitheater created by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Red sandstone is used to construct the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort, two major structures in India.
Question 2: Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Answer: Situated beneath the equator, in the Southern Hemisphere, is South Africa. The seasons in the Northern Hemisphere, in Europe and Asia, are timed differently than in the Southern Hemisphere. Autumn in Southern Africa occurs in March and April, and winter occurs in June and September. That’s how May 10th in South Africa turns into a “lovely autumn day.”
Question 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?
Answer:
Mandela intended to convey his deep views about the South African practice of apartheid in his speech “an extraordinary human disaster.” People were separated based on race under Apartheid, with black people suffering the most from prejudice from the rest of the population. Their right to freedom could not be exercised. Mandela was abused by the police while serving an 18-year prison sentence on the notorious “Robben Island.” As the first Black President of South Africa, when black people were denied basic necessities, subjected to many forms of discrimination, and received harsh treatment, he saw his election as a “great glorious human achievement.”
Question 4: What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Answer: Mandela was deeply honored to have the honor of welcoming dignitaries and world leaders to the swearing-in event, as not so long ago, South Africans were regarded as outlaws. Consequently, he expressed his gratitude to everyone for traveling great distances to attend the historic oath-taking ceremony of South Africa’s first Black president. This was a beautiful way for a freshly formed free democratic country to be recognized internationally. One may view this incident as a shared victory for human dignity, justice, and peace.
Question 5: What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Answer: The principles of releasing South Africans from the enduring shackles of poverty, hardship, suffering, gender, and other forms of prejudice were established by Nelson Mandela. He wished for everyone in the nation to be free from discrimination and all types of slavery.
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Oral Comprehension Check
Question 1: What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed and why?
Answer: Mandela received a salute and a loyalty vow from the top military generals of South Africa’s police and defense forces. This had tremendous importance as he would have been arrested and imprisoned during the Apartheid era. Because of the hardships and sacrifices made by numerous South African heroes, their perspective on Black people has changed. Along with fighting Apartheid, this liberation movement drastically altered the perspectives of a great number of individuals. Humans are inherently more oriented toward love than hatred, according to Mandela, and love is something that can be taught.
Question 2: Why were two national anthems sung?
Answer: On the momentous occasion of the inauguration ceremony, two national songs were performed: the Blacks sang “Die Stem,” the old Republic hymn, while the Whites sang “Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika.” The equal rights of Whites and Blacks were represented by the singing of both anthems.
Question 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?
Answer:
- The pale South Africans put aside their differences to establish a system of racial dominance over the country’s darker-skinned inhabitants during the first ten years of the 1900s. This established the framework for one of the cruelest and most inhumane civilizations the world has ever seen or experienced.
- The former political system had been permanently overthrown and replaced in the last ten years of the 20th century with one that acknowledged the freedoms and rights of all peoples, regardless of the color of their skin.
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Question 4: What does courage mean to Mandela?
Answer: Mandela defined bravery as overcoming fear rather than being fearless. A brave guy is not one who never feels fear; rather, he overcomes fear.
Question 5: Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Answer: Mandela believed that rather than hatred, love is more innate in human nature.
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Oral Comprehension Check
Question 1: What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
Answer: According to Mandela, a man has two responsibilities in life: (i) he has duties to his parents, spouse, and children; and (ii) he has duties to his people, his community, and his nation.
Question 2: What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?
Answer: Mandela believed that freedom means, like every other child, living a happy, joyous, and wonderful childhood. But when a young man grows up, his youthful mischievousness seems fleeting since, to an adult, all of those immature pursuits seem pointless. A person learns how to support himself as an adult and make his own bread and butter. He is aware of the fundamental and respectable freedoms in his family and the community in which he lives in such a situation.
Question 3: Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Answer: Mandela does not believe that the oppressor is free since, in his view, an oppressor is like a hate crime victim who is imprisoned by bigotry and narrow-mindedness. He believes that the humanity and mental tranquility of both the oppressor and the afflicted are taken away.
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Thinking about the Text
Question 1: Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
Answer: Participating in the inauguration event, the world leaders demonstrated their support for the international community’s decision to abolish apartheid. This represented the triumph of virtue over vice and the establishment of a civilized society free from caste, color, and creed discrimination.
Question 2: What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Answer: Nelson Mandela pays gratitude to all those who have given their lives for the cause of liberation by stating that he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots.” According to him, he would always be appreciative of and grateful to those who came before him since they cleared the road for him to follow in terms of collaboration and togetherness. Mandela therefore believed that with the help and participation of his people, he could establish equality among them once he came to power.
Question 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?
Answer: Indeed, “depths of oppression” do produce “heights of character,” and I agree with that assertion. In order to demonstrate this, Nelson Mandela lists notable South African heroes who inspired others by giving their lives in the protracted fight for liberation, including Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthulis, Yusuf Dadoos, Bram Fischers, and Robert Sobukwes.
A host of notable figures, including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chandra Shekhar Ajad, Bhagat Singh, and many more, stood up to British persecution during India’s pre-Independence era. When comparing them to the caliber of political leaders that followed, Nelson Mandela appears to be completely correct. Great leaders appear to be forged in the furnace of injustice and pain.
Question 4: How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
Answer: Having lived a long and full life, Nelson Mandela recognized the importance of freedom in everyone’s existence. He had always believed, even as a small child, that he was born free and could accomplish anything. He firmly felt that he was free in every sense as long as he followed his father’s instructions and adhered to his tribe’s traditions. But as he got older, freedom became more and more important to him since he felt it was necessary to have a family and make a living.
This began to dominate his ideas. He eventually realized that during his childhood, he had been living an illusionary and selfish existence. He gradually came to realize that all Black people’s freedom was being restricted, not just his own. Mandela’s thirst for his people’s independence began when he realized how unfairly and oppressively his people were treated.
Question 5: How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
Answer: When Mandela was young, he saw that all Black people’s freedoms were being restricted, not just his own. His desire for personal independence transformed into a desire for the liberation of all his siblings. This, in turn, transformed the timid man into a fearless rebel. In order to struggle for his countrymen’s independence, Mandela gave up the conveniences of a stable family life. His transformation from a scared young man into a bold individual who battled against racial prejudice and color discrimination came about as a result of his membership in the African National Congress.
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Thinking about Language
I. There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing -(at)ion or ment. There may be a change in the spelling of some verb – noun pairs: such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.
Question 1: Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text.
| Noun | Verb |
| rebellion | rebel |
| constitution | constitute |
Answer:
| Noun | Verb |
| rebellion | rebel |
| constitution | constitute |
| formation | form |
| government | govern |
| obligation | oblige |
| transformation | transform |
| discrimination | discriminate |
| deprivation | deprive |
| demonstration | demonstrate |
| oppression | oppress |
| imagination | imagine |
Question 2: 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. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent ___________________ (resist) to racial injustice.
Answer:
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. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance to racial injustice.
II. Using the Definite Article with Names
Question 1: Here are some more examples of ‘the’ used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for ‘the’.)
1. Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.
2. Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.
3. History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.
Answer:
1. This suggests that Mr. Singh frequently invites well-known individuals of distinction to his gatherings, including Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Shah Rukh Khan.
2. This suggests that Madhuri Dixit is likened to Madhubala, the legendary actress, in the modern day.
3. This implies that the tale of history includes the everyday people as well as the famous figures like Alexander, Napoleon, and Hitler.
III. Idiomatic Expressions
Question 1: Match the italicised phrases in Column A with the phrase nearest in meaning in Column B. (Hint: First look for the sentence in the text in which the phrase in Column A occurs.)
| A | B |
| 1. I was not unmindful of the fact | (i) had not forgotten; was aware of the fact
(ii) was not careful about the fact (iii) forgot or was not aware of the fact |
| 2. when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits | (i) pushed by the guards to the wall
(ii) took more than our share of beatings (iii) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer |
| 3. to reassure me and keep me going | (i) make me go on walking
(ii) help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation (iii) make me remain without complaining |
| 4. the basic and honourable freedoms of…earning my keep,… | (i) earning enough money to live on
(ii) keeping what I earned (iii) getting a good salary |
Answer:
| A | B |
| 1. I was not unmindful of the fact | (i) had not forgotten; was aware of the fact |
| 2. when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits | (iii) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer |
| 3. to reassure me and keep me going | (ii) help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation |
| 4. the basic and honourable freedoms of…earning my keep,… | (i) earning enough money to live on |
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Speaking (Page 26)
Question: In groups, discuss the issues suggested in the box below. Then prepare a speech of about two minutes on the following topic. (First make notes for your speech in writing.)
True liberty is freedom from poverty, deprivation and all forms of discrimination.
|
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.
Writing
Question I: Looking at Contrasts
Nelson Mandela’s writing is marked by balance: many sentences have two parts in balance.
Use the following phrases to complete the sentences given below.
| (i) they can be taught to love. | (iv) but he who conquers that fear. |
| (ii) I was born free. | (v) to create such heights of character. |
| (iii) but the triumph over it. |
1. It requires such depths of oppression _________________________________________
2. Courage was not the absence of fear __________________________________________
3. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid __________________________________
4. If people can learn to hate _________________________________________________
5. I was not born with a hunger to be free. ______________________________________
Answer:
1. It requires such depths of oppression (v) to create such heights of character.
2. Courage was not the absence of fear (iii) but the triumph over it.
3. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid (iv) but he who conquers that fear.
4. If people can learn to hate (i) they can be taught to love.
5. I was not born with a hunger to be free. (ii) I was born free.
NCERT Solution For Class 10 English Chapter 2
Question II:
This text repeatedly contrasts the past with the present or the future. We can use coordinated clauses to contrast two views, for emphasis or effect. Given below are sentences carrying one part of the contrast. Find in the text the second part of the contrast, and complete each item. Identify the words which signal the contrast. This has been done for you in the first item.
1. For decades the Union Buildings had been the seat of white supremacy, and now …
2. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police … saluted me and pledged their loyalty. … not so many years before they would not have saluted _______________
3. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem …, they would soon ______________
4. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, _______________________
5. The Air Show was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but _______________
6. It was this desire for the freedom of my people … that transformed _______________ into a bold one, that drove _______________ to become a criminal, that turned ________________into a man without a home.
Answer:
1. For decades the Union Buildings had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.
2. Only moments before, the highest generals of the South African defence force and police … saluted me and pledged their loyalty. … not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me.
3. Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem …, they would soon know the words by heart.
4. My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
5. The Air Show was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected.
6. It was this desire for the freedom of my people … that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home.
Question III: Expressing Your Opinion
Do you think there is colour prejudice in our own country? Discuss this with your friend and write a paragraph of about 100 to 150 words about this. You have the option of making your paragraph a humorous one. (Read the short verse given below.)
When you were born you were pink
When you grew up you became white
When you are in the sun you are red
When you are sick you are yellow
When you are angry you are purple
When you are shocked you are grey
And you have the cheek to call me ‘coloured’.
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.