MP Board Class 10 English First Flight Nelson Mandela Text Book Question Answer

Oral Comprehension Check (First Set)

1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
   The ceremonies took place in the sandstone amphitheatre of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. In India, public buildings made of sandstone include the Red Fort in Delhi and the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
   In South Africa, 10 May is an autumn day because it is in the Southern Hemisphere, where seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. May falls in autumn (March to May), when the weather is cool and pleasant.
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?
   The “extraordinary human disaster” refers to apartheid, a system that caused suffering and discrimination against black people for many years. The “glorious human achievement” is the establishment of a democratic, non-racial government in South Africa, where all people have equal rights.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
   Mandela thanks the international leaders for attending the inauguration and supporting South Africa’s fight against apartheid. Their presence shows a shared victory for justice, peace, and human dignity.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
   Mandela’s ideals for South Africa’s future include freedom from poverty, suffering, and discrimination based on race or gender. He wants a society where everyone is equal and lives with dignity, and oppression never happens again.

Oral Comprehension Check (Second Set)

1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
   The military generals saluted Mandela and pledged loyalty to the new democratic government. Earlier, they would have arrested him because they supported apartheid. Their attitude changed because the new government was elected fairly, and they now respect democracy.
2. Why were two national anthems sung?
   Two national anthems, ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ (popular among black South Africans) and ‘Die Stem’ (the old anthem of white South Africans), were sung to show unity between all races in the new South Africa. It symbolized equality and togetherness.
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?
   • First decade (1900s): After the Anglo-Boer War, white people created a system of racial domination (apartheid) that oppressed black people and gave whites power.
   • Final decade (1990s): The apartheid system was ended, and a democratic government was established that gave equal rights to all people, regardless of race.
4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
   To Mandela, courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to overcome it. A brave person feels fear but still fights for what is right, like his comrades who faced torture and risked their lives for freedom.
5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
   Mandela thinks love is natural. He says no one is born hating others based on skin color or background. Hate is taught, but people can also be taught to love, as love is stronger and more natural in the human heart.

Oral Comprehension Check (Third Set)

1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
   Mandela mentions two obligations:
   • Duty to family, including parents, wife, and children.
   • Duty to people, community, and country. In apartheid South Africa, it was hard for black people like Mandela to fulfill both because fighting for the country often meant sacrificing family life.
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”?
   • As a boy: Freedom meant simple things like running in fields, swimming in streams, or roasting mealies under the stars, as long as he followed his tribe’s customs.
   • As a student: Freedom meant temporary things like staying out late, reading what he wanted, or going where he chose.
   • Contrast with basic and honourable freedoms: These “transitory freedoms” were small and personal, while “basic and honourable freedoms” meant bigger things like achieving his potential, earning a living, marrying, and having a family without discrimination or obstruction.
3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
   Mandela does not think the oppressor is free. He says a person who takes away another’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice, and narrow-mindedness. Both the oppressor and the oppressed lose their humanity, so neither is truly free.

Thinking About the Text

Answers to Thinking About the Text

1. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
   Many international leaders attended the inauguration because it was a historic moment when South Africa became a democratic, non-racial country after years of apartheid. It signified the triumph of justice, peace, human dignity and equality over racial oppression.
2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
   Mandela means he is not alone in his achievements. He is the result of the sacrifices and courage of many African patriots who fought against apartheid before him. Their struggles and bravery made his success possible and he feels he represents their collective efforts.
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?
   Yes, I agree that great oppression can create strong character. Mandela illustrates this by mentioning people like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Chief Luthuli, who showed extraordinary courage, wisdom, and kindness despite apartheid’s cruelty. Their strength came from facing hardship.
   Example: In India, freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi faced British oppression but showed great courage and leadership, which inspired millions.
4. How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
   As a boy, Mandela thought freedom was simple, like playing or swimming freely. As a student, he wanted personal freedoms, like staying out late or reading what he liked. As he grew older and saw apartheid’s injustice he understood freedom meant equality and dignity for all people not just himself. This led him to fight for the freedom of his entire country.
5. How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
   Mandela’s hunger for freedom changed him from a normal young man into a bold leader. He joined the African National Congress to fight for his people’s freedom, which made him give up his personal life. He became a criminal in the eyes of the law, left his family and lived in hiding. His desire for freedom for all South Africans transformed him into a dedicated fighter who sacrificed his own comforts for his country.