CBSE Class 12 English Last Lesson Worksheet Set D

Type I. Reference to Context
Read the extracts given below and attempt the questions that follow:

1. Poor man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.

Questions

Question. Why does the narrator refer to M. Hamel as ‘Poor man!’?
Answer: He felt sorry for M. Hamel as it was his last French lesson.

Question. Which of the following idioms might describe the villagers’ act of attending the last lesson most accurately?
(a) ‘Too good to miss’
(b) ‘Too little, too late’
(c) ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’
(d) ‘Too cool for school’
Answer: ‘Too little, too late’

Question. Choose the option that might raise a question about M. Hamel’s “faithful service”.
(a) When Franz came late, M. Hamel told him that he was about to begin class without him.
(b) Franz mentioned how cranky M. Hamel was and his “great ruler rapping on the table”.
(c) M. Hamel often sent students to water his flowers, and gave a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.
(d) M. Hamel permitted villagers to put their children “to work on a farm or at the mills” for some extra money.
Answer: M. Hamel often sent students to water his flowers, and gave a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.

Question. Choose the option that most appropriately fills in the blanks, for the following description of the given extract.

The villagers and their children sat in class, forging with their old master a (i) ............ togetherness. In that moment, the classroom stood (ii) ............ . It was France itself, and the last French lesson a desperate hope to (iii) ............ to the remnants of what they had known and taken for granted. Their own (iv) ............ .

(a) (i) graceful; (ii) still; (iii) hang on; (iv) country
(b) (i) bygone; (ii) up; (iii) keep on; (iv) education
(c) (i) beautiful; (ii) mesmerised; (iii) carry on; (iv) unity
(d) (i) forgotten; (ii) transformed; (iii) hold on; (iv) identity
Answer: (i) forgotten; (ii) transformed; (iii) hold on; (iv) identity

Question. What did M. Hamel try to demonstrate in the classroom?
Answer: M. Hamel tried to show his respect for the country in the classroom.

Question. What did his ‘fine Sunday clothes’ refer to?
(a) The clothes he wore to school.
(b) The clothes he wore for a party.
(c) The clothes he wore when he was happy.
(d) The clothes he wore on special occasions like school inspection days and to the church.
Answer: The clothes he wore on special occasions like school inspection days and to the church.

2. M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world — the clearest, the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison. Then he opened a grammar and read us our lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy!

Questions

Question. Which of the following can be attributed to M. Hamel’s declaration about the French language?
(a) Subject expertise
(b) Nostalgic pride
(c) Factual accuracy
(d) Patriotic magnification
Answer: Patriotic magnification

Question. Read the quotes given below. Choose the option that might best describe M. Hamel’s viewpoint.

(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4
Answer: Option 2

Question. “I was amazed to see how well I understood it.”
Select the option that does NOT explain why
Franz found the grammar lesson “easy”.
(a) Franz was paying careful attention in class this time.
(b) M. Hamel was being extremely patient and calm in his teaching.
(c) Franz was inspired and had found a new meaning and purpose to learning.
(d) Franz had realized that French was the clearest and the most logical language.
Answer: Franz had realized that French was the clearest and the most logical language.

Question. Franz was able to understand the grammar lesson easily because he was ............ .
(a) receptive
(b) appreciative
(c) introspective
(d) competitive
Answer: receptive

Question. How will you categorize M. Hamel as a teacher?
(a) Religious
(b) Patriotic
(c) Conservative
(d) Authoritative
Answer: Patriotic

Question. Which prison does the speaker refer to in this extract?
Answer: In this extract, the speaker refers ‘prison’ as to the enslavement of the people of Alsace.

3. But the thing that surprised me most was to see, on the back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like ourselves; old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others besides. Everybody looked sad; ............

Questions

Question. Why were the back benches of the class full, on that day?
Answer: Many villagers came to the school on that day as they knew it was their last French class.

Question. Who, of the following, was NOT part of the last French class?
(a) The blacksmith
(b) Old Hauser
(c) Franz
(d) The former Mayor
Answer: The blacksmith

Question. Why did everyone look sad in the French class?
(a) The school was being closed down.
(b) M. Hamel was going away to another town.
(c) It was the last French class.
(d) France was annexed by Prussia.
Answer: It was the last French class.

Question. Which of the following is NOT TRUE?
(a) The villagers were eager to learn German.
(b) The end of French classes made the villagers sad.
(c) M. Hamel was a dedicated teacher.
(d) Franz managed to attend the last French class.
Answer: The villagers were eager to learn German.

Question. Of the four meanings of ‘former’, select the option that matches in meaning with its usage in the extract.
(a) Still having the specified status.
(b) Likely to happen or exist.
(c) A person in a particular school year.
(d) Having previously been a particular thing.
Answer: Having previously been a particular thing.

Question. Why were the back benches generally empty?
Answer: The back benches were generally empty because a few students came to the class.

4. Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could — “Vive La France!”

Questions

Question. Who is being talked about in the above extract?
Answer: In this extract, M. Hamel is being talked about.

Question. What prompted the French teacher to write ‘Vive La France’, on the blackboard?
(a) His patriotism.
(b) His challenge to the Prussians.
(c) The happiness in him.
(d) His opposition to German.
Answer: His patriotism.

Question. Which of the following in NOT TRUE?
(a) M. Hamel greatly loved French.
(b) He was equally enthusiastic about German.
(c) He was dismayed with the coming of German.
(d) He was an able teacher.
Answer: He was dismayed with the coming of German.

Question. What was the mood of Hamel’s students during the last lesson?
(a) They were very happy.
(b) They had no care about the French class.
(c) They were eager to learn German.
(d) They were as sad as M. Hamel.
Answer: They were as sad as M. Hamel.

Question. Of the four meanings of ‘might’, select the option that matches in meaning with its usage in the extract.
(a) Expressing purpose
(b) Expressing annoyance
(c) Great and impressive power or strength
(d) Expressing a possibility based on an unfulfilled condition
Answer: Expressing a possibility based on an unfulfilled condition

Question. What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Vive La France’?
Answer: The phrase ‘Vive La France’ means Long live France.

5. Down there at the back of the room old Hauser had put on his spectacles and, holding his primer in both hands, spelled the letters with them. You could see that he, too, was crying; his voice trembled with emotion, and it was so funny to hear him that we all wanted to laugh and cry. Ah, how well I remember it, that last lesson! All at once the church-clock struck twelve. Then the Angelus. At the same moment the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from drill, sounded under our windows.

Questions

Question. Why was Hauser crying?
(a) Because M. Hamel had to leave the country forever.
(b) Because he could not read or write French properly.
(c) Because he had never taken his mother tongue seriously.
(d) All the of above.
Answer: Because he could not read or write French properly.

Question. What made all of them want to laugh?
(a) Seeing the way old Hauser was spelling the letters.
(b) Hearing the way old Hauser was spelling the letters.
(c) That it was twelve o’clock and school was over.
(d) The way the Prussian soldiers were marching.
Answer: Seeing the way old Hauser was spelling the letters.

Question. What is the Angelus?
Answer: Angelus is a prayer said by the Catholics.

Question. What made old Hauser come to school that day?
Answer: It was the last French class M. Hamel was taking.

Question. Why did Franz never forget the last lesson by M. Hamel?
(a) Because M. Hamel was choked with emotions.
(b) Because for the first time Franz was earnest about his lessons.
(c) Because M. Hamel was leaving the country for good.
(d) Because old Hauser was crying.
Answer: Because for the first time Franz was earnest about his lessons.

Question. What does the word ‘primer’ refer to?
(a) a book of alphabets
(b) a coat of paint
(c) a book of stories
(d) a book about words
Answer: a book of alphabets

6. I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scolding, especially because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the first word about them. For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.

Questions

Question. Why was Franz in great dread of a scolding by M. Hamel?
Answer: M. Hamel would question him on participles and Franz knew nothing about them.

Question. What temptation did Franz have on his way to school?
(a) To go for a long walk by the river side.
(b) To climb the trees and steal bird eggs.
(c) To run away and spend the day out of doors.
(d) To go and work in the mills.
Answer: To run away and spend the day out of doors.

Question. What were the things that helped intensify his temptations?
(a) The running of the sawmills.
(b) The marching of the Prussian soldiers.
(c) The chirping of the birds and the marching of the Prussian soldiers.
(d) The chirping of the birds and the running of the sawmills.
Answer: The chirping of the birds and the marching of the Prussian soldiers.

Question. What character of Franz is brought out when he says that he had the strength to resist it?
(a) A happy-go-lucky boy.
(b) A conscientious boy who fought temptation and defied it.
(c) A carefree boy who did not think it important to attend school.
(d) A careless boy who did not like lessons or his teacher.
Answer: A careless boy who did not like lessons or his teacher. 

Question. What type of a day was it?
(a) A cold, foggy day.
(b) A rainy, cloudy day.
(c) A dull, deary looking day.
(d) A beautiful warm bright day.
Answer: A beautiful warm bright day.

Question. What does the phrase ‘I started for school very late ...’ tell us about Franz?
Answer: The phrase tells us that Franz was a happy-golucky child.

7. The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.

Questions

Question. What was more tempting for little Franz, that beautiful morning?
Answer: Spending time outdoors was more tempting for Franz. 

Question. Franz hurried to school because ............ .
(a) he was very interested in studies
(b) his parents scolded him
(c) he was afraid of M. Hamel
(d) it was a hot day
Answer: he was afraid of M. Hamel 

Question. What language did M. Hamel teach to the villagers?
Answer: M. Hamel taught French to the villagers. 

Question. The story ‘The Last Lesson’ basically puts emphasis on ............ .
(a) learning our own language
(b) superiority of French
(c) the aggression of Prussia
(d) superiority of German
Answer: learning our own language

Question. Franz wanted to skip the class on the last day of school because ............ .
(a) he had to attend some extra class
(b) M. Hamel had instructed him to meet personally
(c) he had not prepared his lesson on participles
(d) None of the above.
Answer: he had not prepared his lesson on participles

Question. What does the statement–“Prussian soldiers were drilling” tell us?
Answer: It tells us that the Prussian were doing their military training or exercising.

8. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm.

Questions

Question. What was very quiet as a Sunday morning?
(a) The local market.
(b) The village school.
(c) The village streets.
(d) The village church.
Answer: The village school. 

Question. M. Hamel carried a terrible hand ruler under his arm. This shows he was ............ .
(a) a lenient man
(b) a strict man
(c) a bad teacher
(d) inconsiderate on dealing with his students
Answer: a strict man

Question. Why did Franz want to avoid being seen by M. Hamel?
Answer: He was afraid of being scolded by M. Hamel.

Question. What class was to be conducted by M. Hamel?
Answer: French class was to be conducted by M. Hamel.

Question. In the above extract, the line “But how it was all so still!” has a reference to ............
(a) the stillness of the classroom
(b) the absence of birds in the garden
(c) M. Hamel was fishing
(d) the school bell had gone
Answer: the stillness of the classroom

Question. ‘I had counted on the commotion’ means
(a) Franz loved the noise in the class.
(b) Franz had expected class to be noisy.
(c) Franz had hoped the noisy class would cover up his late arrival.
(d) Franz wanted to join in the merry making in the class.
Answer: Franz had hoped the noisy class would cover up his late arrival.

9. While I was wondering about it all, M. Hamel mounted his chair, and, in the same grave and gentle tone which he had used to me, said, “My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.” What a thunderclap these words were to me! Oh, the wretches; that was what they had put up at the town-hall!

Questions

Question. Who are ‘the wretches’ Franz refers to in this extract?
(a) the French
(b) the Prussians
(c) the village people
(d) the school children
Answer: the Prussians 

Question. Why does M. Hamel tell everyone to be ‘very attentive’?
Answer: He wants to teach them as much their language as possible in that class.

Question. What does the order from Berlin signify?
(a) the blending of two different cultures.
(b) the imposition of one culture over another
(c) the peaceful coexistence of multiple cultures
(d) the universal recognition of one culture as superior
Answer: the universal recognition of one culture as superior

Question. This line from the extract depicts Franz’s__________.
What a thunderclap these words were to me!
(a) confusion about the new language
(b) astonishment at a wasted opportunity
(c) disappointment in M. Hamel’s teaching
(d) anger towards the people of the village
Answer: astonishment at a wasted opportunity

Question. Select the option that uses ‘mounted’ as used in the extract.
(a) Salima mounted the bicycle and rode downhill.
(b) Peter mounted the platform to a rousing welcome.
(c) Satyajeet bit his nails as the tension mounted in the game.
(d) Kimpi mounted a protest by refusing to talk to her sister all day.
Answer: Salima mounted the bicycle and rode downhill.

Question. What does the phrase ‘grave and gentle’ signify?
Answer: an angry and serious tone of voice