CBSE Class 10 English Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Important Questions Set 01

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

(a). In the extract above Mandela talks about world leaders coming to ‘pay their respects’. Which of the following sentences best captures the meaning of this expression?
(a) VIPs came to appreciate the performance of the new government.
(b) The dignitaries visited Mandela to express their good wishes to the new government.
(c) The world leaders read speeches to honour the first Black president of South Africa.
(d) Heads of 140 nations came together to applaud after the speech made by Mandela.
Answer: (b) The dignitaries visited Mandela to express their good wishes to the new government.

(b). The passage mentions the Tenth of May as if it was a significant date for Nelson Mandela. Which of the following events did not take place on this date?
(a) The installation of the newly elected government.
(b) The oath-taking ceremony Of Mandela.
(c) The largest gathering of the world leaders.
(d) The completion of the amphitheatre made of sandstone.
Answer: (d) The completion of the amphitheatre made of sandstone.

(c). ‘For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations.’ What does Nelson Mandela mean by ‘the seat of white supremacy?
Answer: By ‘the seat of white supremacy’ Mandela means the center of racial superiority or the government of the white people in South Africa for decades. Now it was the venue for the oath- taking ceremony day for South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

(d). ‘I had been pleasantly besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration.’ Substitute the words ‘pleasantly besieged’ so that the meaning of the given statement does not change.
Answer: ‘I had been pleasingly overwhelmed or surrounded by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration.’

Extract 2

(a). What does Mandela mean by the reference to taking possession of a ‘common victory’ in the passage given above?
(a) He refers to the common cherished ideals of all humanity.
(b) He emphasizes that the whole world had fought for South Africa’s victory.
(c) He means that world leaders were assembled together for this great occasion.
(d) He is pointing at the lone struggle of the blacks of South Africa.
Answer: (a) He refers to the common cherished ideals of all humanity.

(b). In Mandela’s speech, ‘We, who were outlaws not so long ago…’ what is meant by outlaws?
Answer: The Blacks were considered outlaws or criminals who were assaulted or imprisoned for asking for their rights.

(c). The speaker, Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of ______.
(a) achievement and pride
(b) happiness and vanity
(c) gratitude and self-importance
(d) charity and appreciation
Answer: (a) achievement and pride

(d). ‘Today, all of us do, by our presence here... confer glory and hope to new born liberty.’ What is meant by ‘an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long’ and ‘new born liberty?
Answer: ‘an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long’ refer to the long oppressive years of Apartheid, exploitation, and slave-like existence of Blacks at the hands of Whites. The people were oppressed by their own government. It took them immense suffering and sacrifices to achieve their ‘new born liberty.’

Extract 3

(a). The military express their loyalty to the newly-elected government in varied ways. Which of the following should not be on the list because it is incorrect?
(a) By displaying a spectacular array of South African jets.
(b) Troop carriers roaring in perfect formation over the Union Buildings
(c) The generals saluting and pledging their loyalty to the new President.
(d) The generals wearing new uniforms bedecked with ribbons and medals.
Answer: (d) The generals wearing new uniforms bedecked with ribbons and medals.

(b). What was Mandela acutely mindful of?
Answer: He knew it quite well that the generals would not have saluted but arrested him in previous times.

(c). The meaning of ‘chevron’ is ______.
(a) V-shaped formation
(b) the five colours in the South African flag
(c) a line of Impala jets
(d) the military helicopters and troop carriers
Answer: (a) V-shaped formation

(d). What was the universal reaction of the world leaders, the common people and the officials of the new government on seeing the spectacular array in the skies?
Answer: Everyone was overwhelmed with the awesome display and the military might that now bowed before the legitimacy of the new government.

(e). What made everyone look up?
Answer: A magnificent array of South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roaring in perfect formation over the Union Buildings made everyone look up.

(f). “It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force...” What does Mr. Mandela mean by this?
Answer: By the given line Mr. Mandela means to say that it was more than just a spectacular air show. It was a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to democracy and to a new government which had been freely and fairly elected.

(g). What had changed about the defence personnel and police that day?
Answer: The same people who would have arrested Mr. Mandela a few years back were saluting and pledging their loyalty to him that day.

(h). Which word in the given extract means the same as ‘embellished’?
Answer: Bedecked

Extract 4

(a). The speaker’s attitude towards his freedom when he was in his boyhood can be summed up as ______.
(a) being self-centred.
(b) being naïve.
(c) being foolish.
(d) being indifferent to others.
Answer: (b) being naïve.

(b). How does Nelson Mandela understand the concept of “transitory freedoms”?
Answer: Transitory freedoms for him meant staying out at night, reading what he liked and going where he chose.

(c). The basic and honourable freedoms that the speaker talks about refer to ______.
Answer: the “basic and honourable freedoms” necessary for the common people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect.

(d). In the statement, ‘I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it.’ what was Mandela hungering after?
(a) The desire to lead a normal respectful life as a citizen.
(b) The desire to fulfil all his professional dreams.
(c) The breaking of the chains that bound his fellow citizens.
(d) The wish to join the African National Congress.
Answer: (a) The desire to lead a normal respectful life as a citizen.

(e). Why is it fair to say that the author’s tone, when he says “my boyhood freedom was an illusion”, is sad? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: When the author was recalling his boyhood days, he was disheartened and his tone was sad, because his boyhood freedom was an ‘illusion’ as it was not real. He discovered as a young man that his freedom had already been taken from him.

(f). The extract uses the phrase ‘the boyhood freedom’. Which of the following terms is NOT correct with respect to the given phrase?
(a) illusion
(b) reality
(c) mirage
(d) fantasy
Answer: (b) reality

(g). Nelson Mandela’s understanding of freedom developed with age. Analyse this statement based on your reading of the extract.
Answer: Nelson Mandela’s idea of freedom developed as he grew up. As a boy, he believed freedom was being able to go out at night, read and do what he liked. But on growing up, freedom meant the opportunity to lead a happy life that included success, a job and a family.

(h). Read the following descriptions given below and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract.
(a) A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, usually with two or more people presenting different viewpoints and arguments.
(b) An aside is a brief comment or remark made by a character directly to the audience, which is not intended to be heard by other characters on stage.
(c) A speech is a formal address or discourse delivered to an audience.
Answer: (c) A speech is a formal address or discourse delivered to an audience.

(i). Who is ‘I’ in the given extract?
Answer: ‘I’ refers to Mr. Nelson Mandela.

(j). As a young man in Johannesburg, what did ‘I’ crave for?
Answer: As a young man in Johannesburg, ‘I’ craved basic and honourable freedoms: to achieve his potential, to earn money to fulfil his fundamental needs, and to marry and have his own family.

(k). Which word in the extract means the same as ‘temporary’?
Answer: Transitory

(l). What does ‘earning my keep’ mean?
Answer: It means to earn enough money to take care of one’s fundamental needs.

(m). The title that best suits this extract is:
(a) Freedom for everything
(b) Knowledge about Freedom
(c) Significance of Freedom
(d) Realisation of Freedom
Answer: (c) Significance of Freedom

(n). Why do you think the speaker mentions some freedoms as ‘transitory’?
(a) The freedoms are momentary and keep changing with time.
(b) The definition of freedom is constant but perspectives differ.
(c) Freedom means different things to different people.
(d) Freedom is not that important after a certain age.
Answer: (a) The freedoms are momentary and keep changing with time.

(o). Choose the option that best fits the usage of the word ‘illusion’ as used in the extract.
(a) He was never able to get past the illusion.
(b) The illusion I experienced was quite intriguing.
(c) A large mirror in the room creates an illusion.
(d) I was living under the illusion that this is possible.
Answer: (d) I was living under the illusion that this is possible.

(p). The speaker says, ‘at first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself.’ Why do you think he only thought about himself?
(a) He didn’t want to think about the freedom denied to others.
(b) He was being selfish and was only bothered about himself.
(c) He didn’t think that freedom denied to him was important for others.
(d) He was too young to realise that freedom was denied to others as well.
Answer: (d) He was too young to realise that freedom was denied to others as well.

(q). A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the most appropriate solution to the blanks in the given paraphrase of the extract. The speaker’s belief about freedom, since childhood proved false. It was not until the speaker grew up to be a young man when it (i) ________ on him that he was (ii) _________ of freedom. Then he began (iii) __________ it.
(a) (i) desired, ( ii) dawned, (iii) depriving
(b) (i) dawned , (ii) deprived, (iii) desiring
(c) (i) dawned, ( ii) arrived, (iii) desiring
(d) (i) arrived, ( ii) deprived, (iii) dawned
Answer: (b) (i) dawned , (ii) deprived, (iii) desiring

Extract 5

(a). What does the expression ‘not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were not free’ mean?
(a) Both the whites and the blacks were slaves.
(b) Both Mandela and the other blacks were slaves.
(c) Both the whites and Mandela were slaves.
(d) Both Mandela and his siblings were slaves.
Answer: (b) Both Mandela and the other blacks were slaves.

(b). Which of the options given below is the best to complete this statement? The extract shows that Nelson Mandela ______.
(a) changed overnight from a selfish individual to a leader.
(b) transformed slowly into a thinking man wishing to fight for the greater good
(c) gradually decided to join the African National Congress.
(d) quickly realised that his people were not free.
Answer: (b) transformed slowly into a thinking man wishing to fight for the greater good

(c). How did Mandela slowly transform into a leader and acquired a wider perspective about freedom?
Answer: Mandela transformed slowly into a thinking man wishing to fight for the greater good when he joined ANC — from a frightened young lawyer, he became a bold ‘criminal’ working against the government. He could not enjoy freedom until his own people were in chains.

(d). What does the author mean by ‘the hunger for my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people’?
Answer: The author began to prioritise the need for the freedom of his people over and above his personal freedom.

(e). ‘I’ here refers to:
(a) Mbeki
(b) Zenani
(c) Kierk
(d) Nelson Mandela
Answer: (d) Nelson Mandela

(f). The freedom of the author, who was a black was:
(a) curtailed
(b) sanctioned
(c) opposed
(d) supported
Answer: (a) curtailed

(g). The author felt the greater hunger for:
(a) the freedom of his parents
(b) the freedom of his people
(c) the freedom of his friends
(d) the freedom of neighbours
Answer: (b) the freedom of his people

(h). The word ‘curtailed’ means:
(a) increased
(b) opposed
(c) reduced
(d) enlarged
Answer: (c) reduced

(i). The desire for freedom of the people transformed:
(a) an animal into a man
(b) a frightened leader into a minister
(c) a frightened young man into a bold one
(d) a man into a woman
Answer: (c) a frightened young man into a bold one

Extract 6

(a). Why could Mandela not enjoy the little freedom he was granted?
Answer: He could not enjoy his limited freedom thinking of the bondage of others, since he believed that the chains of his people were his own.

(b). Identify the figure of speech used in the expression ‘to live like a monk’.
(a) metaphor
(b) enjambment
(c) simile
(d) assonance
Answer: (c) simile

(c). ‘I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man’ can also be expressed like this.
(a) I am as virtuous or as self-sacrificing as any other man.
(b) I am not only virtuous but also self-sacrificing like the next man.
(c) I am more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man.
(d) I am less virtuous but more self-sacrificing than the next man.
Answer: (a) I am as virtuous or as self-sacrificing as any other man.

(d). Use the word ‘animated’ in a sentence using the same meaning as in the extract?
Answer: An animated discussion was going on in the living room, when I reached home.

Extract 7

(a). What factors colour the vision of the oppressor, according to the writer?
Answer: According to the writer, the attitude of the oppressor is bogged down by the influence on him, of narrow mindedness and prejudice.

(b). Identify the figure of speech in ‘he is locked behind the bars of prejudice’.
(a) metaphor
(b) imagery
(c) consonance
(d) personification
Answer: (a) metaphor

(c). Which of the following options is the correct antonymic pair of the word ‘narrow-mindedness’?
(a) petty-mindedness
(b) non-vindictiveness
(c) small-mindedness
(d) open-mindedness
Answer: (d) open-mindedness

(d). Complete the blank with the option that you may find suitable. According to Mandela’s beliefs, not just the man ______ but also his oppressor, who was equally in need of freedom from the vice grip of hatred.
(a) who was given his freedom wanted it
(b) who didn’t have his freedom acquired it
(c) who was denied his freedom needed it
(d) who desired his freedom got it
Answer: (c) who was denied his freedom needed it

Extract 8

(a). State any one inference about Nelson Mandela from the given context:
“We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation.”
Answer: Nelson Mandela was a leader dedicated to bringing political freedom and liberation to all South Africans. He was known for his strength of spirit, integrity, honour and leadership.

(b). State True or False:
When Mandela says, “God bless Africa”, he intends to mean the well-being and welfare of only black people in South Africa.
Answer: False. Mandela does not mean only the welfare of South Africa’s black population; he wishes prosperity, harmony and peace for the whole country.

(c). “Nelson Mandela’s speech is full of optimism.” Elaborate in about 40 words with reference to the extract.
Answer: In his speech, Nelson Mandela promises to free everyone from discrimination and poverty while celebrating South Africa’s political emancipation. His proclamation that “The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement” conveys a great sense of pride and assurance in the advances made towards a society that is just and free.

(d). Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘so glorious’ in the given sentence from the extract?
“The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.” (CBSE 2024)
Answer: such magnificent

Extract 9

(a). Read the following descriptions and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract.
(a) Sacrifice is the act of giving up something valuable or important for the sake of a higher cause or principle.
(b) Perseverance is the steadfast pursuit of a goal or belief, despite challenges and obstacles.
(c) Bravery is a fearless behaviour in protecting one’s life.
Answer: (a) Sacrifice is the act of giving up something valuable or important for the sake of a higher cause or principle.

(b). Why is it appropriate to say that Nelson Mandela’s tone, when he says, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it”, is reflective and insightful? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: Mandela looks back on what he witnessed in the struggle and draws a deep lesson from it. Instead of defining courage as fearlessness, he realises that brave people feel fear but conquer it. This thoughtful conclusion drawn from experience makes his tone reflective and insightful.

(c). Which of the following sentences DOES NOT use the word ‘break’ in the same sense as used in the extract?
(a) Despite the hardships, she never allowed her spirit to break.
(b) She refused to break the news to her parents, fearing their reaction.
(c) He maintained his resolve, never succumbing to a break in his determination.
(d) Constant criticism and failure can break a person’s confidence and diminish his motivation.
Answer: (b) She refused to break the news to her parents, fearing their reaction.

(d). If an actor were to enact this extract, what would he be required to focus on, while modulating his voice?
Answer: He would need a firm, dignified and reverent tone, expressing admiration for the comrades and deep conviction while stating the lesson about courage.

Extract 10

(a). State TRUE or FALSE:
None of the terms (1)-(4) below can be applied to the statement, “It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion, when I discovered as a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it.”
(1) The statement can be classified as a realisation or awakening.
(2) The statement can be classified as an assumption.
(3) The statement is a rhetorical fact.
(4) The statement can be classified as a personal opinion.
Answer: False

(b). State one inference about the speaker from the given context:
‘At first as a student I wanted freedom only for myself.’
Answer: As a young student, the speaker was unaware of the larger injustice around him and thought of freedom only in personal terms.

(c). Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘illusion’ in the given sentence from the extract?
It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion.
Answer: a false belief / not real

(d). The speaker mentions some freedoms as ‘transitory’. Comment in about 40 words.
Answer: The freedoms of staying out at night, reading what he pleased and going where he chose were short-lived pleasures of student life. They did not touch the basic rights of a dignified life, so the speaker calls them transitory, unlike the lasting freedom of a lawful, unobstructed life.

Extract 11

(a). Who taught the real meaning of courage to Mr. Mandela?
Answer: The comrades in the struggle against apartheid taught Mr. Mandela the real meaning of courage.

(b). What according to Mr. Mandela defies the imagination?
Answer: People risking and giving their lives for an idea, braving torture without breaking, and showing strength and resilience when faced with atrocities, simply defies one’s imagination.

(c). What is the real meaning of courage?
Answer: Courage is not merely the absence of fear but the triumph over it. One who conquers his/her fear is truly a brave person.

(d). Which word in the given extract means the same as ‘toughness’?
Answer: Resilience

Extract 12

(a). Why is it easy to teach someone to love?
Answer: It is easy to teach someone to love because love comes naturally to everybody.

(b). What are Mr. Mandela’s views on man’s goodness?
Answer: Mr. Mandela believes that ‘man’s goodness’ is like a flame, which may be easy to hide, but which is never extinguished.

(c). Which word in the extract means the same as ‘most severe’?
Answer: Grimmest

(d). What kept Mr. Mandela going even in the grimmest times in prison?
Answer: Even in the most difficult times in prison, when Mr. Mandela saw a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, it gave him hope and helped him to keep going.

Extract 13

(a). Which occasion is the speaker talking about?
Answer: The speaker is talking about the inauguration of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government, when he was sworn in as President, which marked the people’s freedom from apartheid.

(b). What did the people of South Africa suffer from?
Answer: The people of South Africa suffered apartheid.

(c). Which word in the given extract means the same as ‘bravery’?
Answer: Courage

(d). What does ‘gone before me’ in the extract mean?
Answer: ‘Gone before me’ means died.

Extract 14

(a). The guests at the spectacular ceremony are being called distinguished because :
(a) they have been invited as guests to attend it.
(b) they are eminent world leaders witnessing it.
(c) they are visiting the country for this purpose.
(d) they have resumed diplomatic relations with the country.
Answer: (b) they are eminent world leaders witnessing it.

(b). It is a victory for ‘human dignity’. Pick the option that lists the correct answer for what ‘human dignity’ would include.
(a) (i) equality, (ii) liberty, (iii) indecency
(b) (i) liberty, (ii) indecency, (iii) self-respect
(c) (i) immorality, (ii) self-respect, (iii) equality
(d) (i) equality, (ii) liberty, (iii) self-respect
Answer: (d) (i) equality, (ii) liberty, (iii) self-respect

(c). Why does the speaker say that it is a ‘rare privilege’? He says this as they have:
(a) been deprived of this honour.
(b) seldom been given this honour.
(c) experienced it for the first time.
(d) been chosen over other countries, for this honour.
Answer: (b) seldom been given this honour.

(d). How do you think the speaker feels? Choose the option that best fits his state of mind.
(a) (i) emotional, ( ii) elated, (iii) unmindful
(b) (i) elated, ( ii) unmindful, (iii) overwhelmed
(c) (i) overwhelmed, (ii) elated, (iii) honoured
(d) (i) elated, ( ii) honoured, (iii) unmindful
Answer: (c) (i) overwhelmed, (ii) elated, (iii) honoured

(e). Pick the option that showcases the correct usage of ‘host’ as in the extract.
(a) He was praised for his hospitality as the host of the party.
(b) She was able to host the event without any hindrance.
(c) She met the host and apologised for her friend’s misbehaviour.
(d) He is the best host that one can ever come across.
Answer: (b) She was able to host the event without any hindrance.

Extract 15

(a). ‘I’ in the given line refers to:
(a) Nelson Mandela
(b) Oliver Tambo
(c) Walter Sisulu
(d) Chief Luthuli
Answer: (a) Nelson Mandela

(b). Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are TRUE according to the given extract.
1. The narrator was mindful of what he was saying.
2. The narrator spoke about unrelated things.
3. The narrator believed that he could have been arrested.
4. The narrator got a salute from the people.
5. A jet never left a smoke trail behind.
6. The colours were of the Nigerian flag.
7. The colours were of the South African flag.
(a) 2, 7, 4
(b) 5, 6, 7
(c) 3, 4, 5
(d) 1, 3, 7
Answer: (d) 1, 3, 7

(c). Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.
1. The narrator was arrested previously.
2. The narrator was happy to see the colours of the South African flag.
3. The narrator could get salutes from everyone.
4. The narrator was able to correlate while talking.
(a) F – 1, 4 and O – 2, 3
(b) F – 1 and O – 3
(c) F – 2, 4 and O – 1, 3
(d) F – 1 and O – 2
Answer: (a) F – 1, 4 and O – 2, 3

(d). The fact that ‘I’ was not unmindful to ‘their’ arresting him instead of saluting him shows that:
(a) the behaviour of Whites was bad.
(b) the behaviour of Whites was good.
(c) the Whites respected the Blacks.
(d) the Whites were nice.
Answer: (a) the behaviour of Whites was bad.

(e). Where are the above lines taken from?
(a) Freedom Struggle
(b) Nelson Mandela
(c) Democracy
(d) A Letter to God
Answer: (b) Nelson Mandela