NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 2 Nelson Mandela:Long Walk to Freedom; A Tiger in the Zoo

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 10th

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Class : 10th
Subject : English-1
Chapter : 2
Chapter Name : Nelson Mandela:Long Walk to Freedom

Q1 Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are
made of sandstone?

Answer. The ceremonies took place in the sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union
Buildings in Pretoria. The Parliament House in New Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New
Delhi, the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi and Madras High Court in Chennai are some
examples of Indian public buildings that are made of sandstone.

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Q2 Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Answer. 10 May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa because on this day there was the largest
gathering of international leaders on South African soil for the installation of South Africa's
rst democratic, non-racial government.

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Q3 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. The 'extraordinary human disaster' that Mandela mentioned at the beginning of his
speech refers to the inhuman practice of apartheid i.e., the racial discrimination suffered by
the blacks at the hands of whites in South Africa. At the end, the 'glorious human
achievement' that he spoke of refers to the establishment of South Africa's rst democratic,
non-racial government.

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Q4 What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Answer. Mandela felt privileged to be the host to the nations of the world because not too long
ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. He thus thanked all the international leaders
for having come to witness his investiture as President since this event could be considered as
a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.

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Q5 What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Answer. Mandela had high hopes for the future of South Africa. He pledged to liberate all
South Africans from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and
other discrimination. He also stressed that the beautiful land of South Africa would never ever
experience racial discrimination again.

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Q1 What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Answer. The highest military generals of the South African defence force and police saluted
Mandela and pledged their loyalty. When the military generals saluted Mandela, he was not
unmindful of the fact that not too many years ago, they would not have saluted him, but
arrested him. This change in attitude was due to the fact that a new, non-racial government
was elected and Mandela was then the President of South Africa.

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Q2 Why were two national anthems sung?

Answer. On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung, one by the whites,
and the other by the blacks. This symbolized the equality of blacks and whites.

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Q3 How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country
(i) in the rst decade, and (ii) in the nal decade, of the twentieth century?

Answer. (i) In the rst decade of the twentieth century, the white-skinned people of South
Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark-
skinned people of their own land, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest and most
inhumane societies the world had ever known.
(ii) In the last decade of the twentieth century, the previous system had been overturned
forever and replaced by one that recognized the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless
of the colour of their skin.

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Q4 What does courage mean to Mandela?

Answer. On seeing men stand up to attacks and torture without breaking and thus showing

strength and resilience that de ed the imagination, Mandela learnt that courage was not the
absence of fear, but the triumph over it.

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Q5 Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?

Answer. For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.

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Q1 What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?

Answer. Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The rst is to his family,
parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his
country.

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Q2 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. As a boy, Mandela did not have a hunger to be free as he thought that he was born
free. As long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his tribe, he was free in
every way he knew. As a student, he wanted certain "transitory freedoms" only for himself,
such as being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he chose. He then
talks about certain "basic honourable freedoms" such as achieving his potential of earning his
living and of marrying and having a family. He builds the contrast between these two
freedoms by stating that the transitory freedoms he wanted were limited to him, whereas the
honourable freedoms had to do more with his and his people's position in the society.

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Q3 Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?

Answer. Mandela does not feel that the oppressor is free because according to him an
oppressor is a prisoner of hatred, who is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-
mindedness. He feels that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity.

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Q1 Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it
signify the triumph of?

Answer. Before Nelson Mandela became the President, South Africa was in the grips of

apartheid and was thus declared an outlaw by other nations. When Mandela became the
President, he abolished apartheid and thus diplomatic relations were rebuilt with many
countries. The inauguration of a new, non-racial government was a historic moment in South
African as well as world history. Thus, several distinguished international leaders attended
this inauguration. It signi ed the triumph of justice, peace and human dignity.

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Q2 What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots”
who had gone before him?

Answer. When Mandela says that he was ‘simply the sum of all African patriots,’ he means
that he could identify with the unimaginable sacri ces of all those noble and courageous men
who fought for the collective freedom of the African people. He was pained that he could not
thank them and that they could not see what their sacri ces had wrought.

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Q3 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. Yes, I agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”. Mandela
thought that the decades of brutality and oppression had an unintended effect of creating
many African patriots with unimaginable heights of character. Thus, he felt that the greatest
wealth of South Africa is its people. In similar manner, Bhagat Singh remained courageous
while facing utmost cruelty at the hands of British.

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Q4 How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

Answer. As a boy, Mandela did not have a hunger for freedom because he thought that he was
born free. He believed that as long as he obeyed his father and abided by the customs of his
tribe, he was free in every possible manner. He had certain needs as a teenager and certain
needs as a young man. Gradually, he realized that he was sel sh during his boyhood. He slowly
understands that it is not just his freedom that is being curtailed, but the freedom of all
blacks. It is after attaining this understanding that he develops a hunger for the freedom of his
people.

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Q5 How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?

Answer. Mandela realized in his youth that it was not just his freedom that was being
curtailed, but the freedom of all blacks. The hunger for his own freedom became the hunger

for the freedom of his people. This desire of a non-racial society transformed him into a
virtuous and self-sacri cing man. Thus, he joined the African National Congress and this
changed him from a frightened young man into a bold man.

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Q1 There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from the
corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suf xing -(at)ion or ment. There may be a change in the
spelling of some verb – noun pairs: such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.
1. Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text.
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 con ned 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 de ed the System.
Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent ____________ (resist) to racial
injustice.

Answer. 1

2. Martin Luther King’s contribution (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader
began when he came to the assistance (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 con ned to
positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws
would mean subjugation (subjugate) and humiliation (humiliate) by the police and the legal
system. Beatings, imprisonment (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who de ed
the System. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance (resist) to
racial injustice.

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Q2 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 means that Mr Singh regularly invites famous personalities such as Amitabh
Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to his parties.
2. This means that Madhuri Dixit is compared to a landmark in acting in the form of legendary
actress Madhubala.
3. This means that history is not only the story of the great ghters and leaders such as
Alexander, Napoleon and Hitler, but also of ordinary people.

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Q3 Idiomatic Expressions
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.)

Answer.

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Q1 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.
(ii) I was born free.
(iii) but the triumph over it.
(iv) but he who conquers that fear.
(v) to create such heights of character.
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. To create such heights of character.
2. but the triumph over it.
3. but he who conquers that fear.
4. they can be taught to love.
5. I was born free.

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Q2 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 rst 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. 2. but arrested me.
3. know the words by heart.
4. but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people, ner and truer than the purest
diamonds.
5. but a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had
been freely and fairly elected.
6. frightened young man. a law-abiding attorney. a family-loving husband

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Q1 Read the poem again, and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the
wild. Arrange them in two columns.
(ii) Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.
Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two
situations.

Answer. DIY

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Q2 Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:
(i) On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.
(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?

Answer. DIY

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Q3 Read the following two poems — one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then
discuss:
Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they
useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?

Answer. DIY

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Q4 Take a point of view for or against zoos, or even consider both points of view and write a
couple of paragraphs or speak about this topic for a couple of minutes in class.

Answer. DIY

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