CBSE Class 10 English Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom VBQs

CBSE Class X English Value Based Questions. Based on CBSE and NCERT guidelines. Value based questions are now being given in Class X English  exams to promote morals and values in students, Students should read and understand the following VBQs to get better understanding and score good marks in exams. Learn the VBQs and get good marks in exams.

SUMMARY

A Long Walk to Freedom”, by Nelson Mandela is all about the struggle of freedom of South-Africa. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela has taken the vow as the first black president of South Africa. And therefore it was becoming a new-born democratic country. Nelson Mandela took the oath as the first black president. Many dignitaries from different countries had come to be part of the most significant day. In his speech, Mandela thanked all those dignitaries. Mandela assured his countrymen that his country would never ever experience the same suppression of one by another. Democracy had been established in South Africa and as a result, a government of no discrimination was established. The people of South Africa sang two National Anthems as a symbol of that day. Mandela recalled that the reason for this movement was that Black-skinned people were exploited by the White people. He said that this type of suppression of people of South Africa is the origin of many stars. People must learn to hate first, because if they hate then they can be taught to love, as love comes from the opposite circumstances. He also says that a brave man is not that who does not feel afraid but who conquers it. In life, a man has two major obligations. First towards his family, to his parents, to his wife and to his children and second on the other hand obligation towards his country, people and the community. Everyone fulfils his duty as per his inclination and interest. But it was very tough to fulfil in a country like South Africa. When Mandela became an adult then he understood that his freedom was only an illusion. In fact, he was the slave of exploitation. He also understood that not only he was a slave but his other family members were also.According to him, Freedom is also mandatory for them who were suppressing others in the past. They also have the right to have it because snatcher of other’s freedom is a prisoner of the same. Thus, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. The oppressor too is not free.
Conclusion --The brave man is not the one who does not feel afraid, but he is the one who conquers that fear. Mandela said that every man has his duties towards his country and community too.

LEARN AND WRITE THE GIVEN QUESTION ANSWERS IN YOUR COPY.

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1) 10th May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days 1 had been pleasantly besieged by dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration. The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil. The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheater formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. 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 for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government.

Question. Who were coming and for what before the inauguration?
Answer. Dignitaries and world leaders were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration.

Question. What happened on the inauguration?
Answer. On the inauguration the first ever democracy, a non-racial government was installed as a victory of good or evil.

Question. Find out the word that means the same ‘commencement’ from the passage.
Answer. The word is ‘inauguration’.

Question. Find the word from the passage which means ‘an open space surround by sloping land’.
Answer. The word is ‘ampitheater’.

2) On that lovely autumn day I was accompanied by my daughter Zenani. On the podium, Mr de Klerk was first sworn in as second Deputy President. Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first Deputy President. When it was my turn, I pledged to obey and uphold the Constitution and to devote myself to the well-being of the republic and its people.

Question. Who accompanied Nelson Mandela on the inauguration?
Answer. Zenani, the daughter of Nelson Mandela accompanied him on the inauguration.

Question. Who took the oath before Mandela? For what?
Answer. Mr Deklerk and Mr Thabo Mbeki took oath before Nelson Mandela as the second and first deputy president respectively.

Question. Find out the word from the passage that has the same meaning as ‘maintain’.
Answer. The word is ‘uphold’.

Question. ……. means a small platform that a person stands on when giving a speech etc.
Answer. The word is ‘podium’.

3.) We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations of the world on our own soil.
We thank all of our distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is after all a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.

Question. What does ‘we’ refer in the first line of the passage?
Answer.  ‘We’ refers to the people of South Africa in the first line of the jpassage.

Question. What did the people of South Africa achieve at last?
Answer. The people of South Africa achieved their political emancipation at last.

Question. The word ‘bondage’ means …… in the passage.
Answer.  The word bondage means slavery in the passage.

Question. Give a synonym of ’emancipation’.
Answer. ‘Freedom/liberation’ is a synonym of emancipation.

4. A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets,helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of military’s loyalty to democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected. Only moments before, the highest generals of South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty. I was not unmindful of the fact that not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me. Finally a chevron of Impala jets left a smoke Trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.

Question. What did the highest generals do in the event?

Question. What did the smoke trail of Impala symbolise?

Question. Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as adorned.

Extract-Based Questions

Q. 1. "We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the nations if the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished international guests for having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity."

Question. 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

Question. Pick the option that showcases the 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

Question. 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 : C

Question. The guests at the spectacular ceremony are being called distinguished because they
(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

Question. 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

Q. 2. "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. At first as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms..." 

Question. 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

Question. 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

Question. 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

Question. 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

Question. 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

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Based on your reading of the lesson, what can you infer about Mandela as a father and as a leader?
Answer. Nelson Mandela was a great leader and a loving father. If we compare him as a father and a leader, he was greater as a leader.

Question. Mandela feels that courage is triumph over fear. How would you define courage in this context?
Answer. According to Mandela, courage was not the absence of fear. For him, courage meant the ability to win over the sense of fear. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Question. Mandela says that his country's greatest wealth is its people and not the purest diamonds. Justify his statement.
Answer. Mandela feels that the people of his nation are the greatest wealth compared to any other from of wealth. He lays great emphasis on people and their power to change the system and bring a new change in the society.

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question. What promise does Mandela make in the beginning of opening of his oath-taking speech?
Answer. Mandela thanks all the international leaders and guests as he calls it an occasion of joy and victory for Justice. He promises that the country shall not again experience the oppression of one by another.

Question. What freedom meant to Mandela in childhood?
Answer. During childhood the meaning of freedom for Mandela was quite limited he considered it to be free to run in the fields, to swim in the clear stream, free to roast mealies and ride the board backs of slow moving bulls.

Question. Your teacher organised a mini-debate competition in class on the topic: Courage, Wisdom and Generosity
are the ONLY attributes of a remarkable leader. Write the debate script with two points to supplement your stand, either as a proposition speaker or as an
opposition one.
Answer. As a proposition speaker: It is rightly said that Courage, Wisdom and Generosity are the only attributes of a remarkable leader. A leader
should be ready to face any problem. It may be internal or external. To solve the matter, he should analyses before passing the judgment where he has to use his wisdom. He should not be partial in his decision, here he needs
courage when necessary. He should be generous in helping others without hesitation.

Question. What are the ideals which Mandela set for the future of South Africa in his swearing- in ceremony?
Answer. Mandela emphasised to liberate all the people from poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations in his swearing-in ceremony.

Question. You recently read a blog by your teen friend, on 'Freedom-My Perception'. You feel that your perception of
freedom has seen a transformation after having read 'The Long walk to Freedom'. Complete the dialogue in 50 words, with your friend, explaining your new understanding of freedom. You
may begin like this: Friend: I think the freedom to watch T.V. for extended hours or choose the kind of programmes I'd like to view is important.
You: (a) ____________________________________________________________________. Friend: Hmmm. I still feel that the restrictions are not required. I want my freedom. I'm human too, am I not? You: (b) ____________________________________________________________________ .
Answer. (a) I believe that freedom isn’t selfish individually. It is the generosity of self with the world. (b) My friend, true freedom isn’t realized by the lack of physical boundaries but is born through the revelations of the society people around us, our understanding of others and the outward expression of our heart and soul.

Question. Why did inauguration ceremony take place in the amphiteatre formed by the Union Building in Pretoria?
Answer. It was the first democratic, non-racial government taking oath in South Africa. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world and thousands of the people of South Africa of all the races to make the day memorable. So, it took place in, the amphiteatre formed by the Union Building in Pretoria.

Question. What did Mandela think for oppressor and oppressed?
Answer. Mandela always thought that both oppressor and oppressed are deprived of their humanity.Oppressor is a prisoner of hatred while oppressed has no confidence in humanity so both of them need to be liberated.

Question. Create a questionnaire of two most important questions that you would have liked to ask Nelson Mandela
during an interview. Give your reasons for choosing those questions.
Answer. I would like to ask the following two questions to Nelson Mandela during an interview: (i) How did your education help you in contributing to the removal of Apartheid?
(ii) At which age, did you decide to study law? Because it is said that Education is key to Freedom.

Question. What do you understand by Apartheid’?
Answer. Apartheid’ is a political system that divides people according to their race. In this system blackcoloured people in South Africa were not free even to discharge their personal and social obligations of being parents, sons and husbands, etc.

Question. Describe the effect of the policy of apartheid on the people of South Africa.
Answer. The policy of apartheid could not be considered fortunate for the people of South Africa. It created distance and a deep wound in the country and the people. Many great men like Oliver Tambo,Walttr Sisulu, Yusuf Dadoo, Bram Fischer, etc were produced due to the brutality and oppression. They were men of great character.

Question. How is courage related to the brave man according to the author of the lesson?
Answer. The author believes that courage is not the absence of fear, but it is the triumph over it. The brave man is not the one who does not feel fear of any kind but he is the one who has the courage to conquer it.

Question. Could everyone fulfil the obligations personal or social in South Africa?
Answer. No, everyone was not free to fulfil their obligations because of colour of the s.

Question. What did Mandela realise about his brothers and sisters?
Answer. Mandela realised that his brothers and sisters were not free in their own country due to their colour. The freedom of everyone in his society was curtailed. He joined the African National Congress and fought for the freedom.

Long Answer Type Questions: 

Question. What does Nelson Mandela refer to as “an extraordinary human disaster”?
Answer. Nelson Mandela refers to the apartheid policy of the white race against the black people as “an extraordinary human disaster”. White people snatched freedom from the coloured people of South Africa to whom the country belonged. The black people were subjected to oppression for long. They were not even allowed to discharge their obligations to their own families, community and their country. White people had no compassion for them and oppressed their own people and put them in prison. If they had some freedom, it was curtailed. The black people lived the life of a slave.

Question. Describe the views of Mandela for the black people who fought and sacrificed their likes for the country’s political independence?
Answer. Mandela always said that the political freedom was the result of sacrifices of thousands of the black people who fought for that. He said that it could not be repaid. He thought himself as the sum of all of those African patriots. He regretted that he could not thank them. He cursed the policy of apartheid that wounded the people of his country, which would take centuries to heal.
He also said that the oppression and brutality of the white people produced great freedom fighters like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Luthuli, Dadoo, Fischer, Sobukwe and many more. They were the men of courage, wisdom and large heartedness. They really suffered a lot for the political freedom of the country.

Question. After having read the lesson on the oppression that communities faced in South Africa, you were deeply hurt. You could also relate to the struggles and hardships of millions of Indians who fought against the oppressive British rule.
Write a diary entry expressing your feelings about oppression faced by people in their homeland. You may begin like this:
24 August 20XX, Monday 9:00 pm
My heart is filled with sadness as I think of the oppressed who had to tolerate the inhuman attitude of the oppressors in their own land...............................
Answer. 28 February, 20XX,
Saturday 10:00 pm
My heart is filled with sadness as I think of the oppressed who had to tolerate the inhuman attitude of the
oppressors in their own land. The oppression that the communities faced in South Africa under the apartheid regime reminds me the struggles and hardships of millions of Indians who fought against the oppressive British rule. The white regime in South Africa was based on racial discrimination. It symbolised explioitation and extraordinary human disaster. The blacks were deprived of their rights equality and human dignity. In the same way, the Indians were exploited by the British. They worked in the lands like animals who were only supposed to obey. Their lands, resources and approaches were captured by the British. The struggle of Indian under British rule resembles with the struggles of the people of South Africa under the apartheid regime. The struggle created a deep and lasting wound on them. But they never gave up their cause, ultimately, their sacrifices led to their victory- common victory of humanity for peace, for justice and for human dignity.

Question. Describe the value of freedom for the human beings and how it is important for the growth of civilisation and humanism as described in the lesson ‘Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom’.
Answer. Everybody whether human or other creatures wants to live free as freedom is natural to all living beings. The value of freedom is better known to that human being who has not tasted it till he gets it. A person who is chained with the limits and not allowed to perform his duties freely, values freedom more than anyone else. For instance the value of freedom is known better to Mandela who remained behind the bars most of his life. Think about a bird or animal which is caged as they have the habit of living with full freedom but in the cage they are not free and their conditions are very pitiable. Similarly, life becomes a hell if we are deprived of freedom. There is no growth of civilisation as it grows only when one has freedom. Similarly, humanism grows in the atmosphere of freedom.

Question. Freedom is inconsequential if it is behind bars of prejudice and narrow mindedness. How would you explain this statement? Support your answer with suitable examples from the real world.
Answer. Nelson Mandela believed that freedom is indivisible. His hunger for his own freedom became the greater hunger for the people. He couldn’t live his life with dignity and self-respect if his own people were bound in chains. The chains on any one of his people were the chains on all of them. Mandelarealised that the oppressor must be liberated as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred prejudice and narrow mindedness. He is not truly free if he is taking away someone else freedom. Surely, he is not free when his freedom is taken away from him. A person’s freedom is of no use if he doesn’t expand the horizons of his thoughts and think like a narrow minded person. A person’s freedom is insignificant if he takes the freedom of another man, thus, the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.

Question. What does Mandela mean to say that the oppressor and the oppressed alike are robbed of their humanity?
Answer. Mandela is right in saying that the oppressor and the oppressed alike are robbed of their humanity. Both of them are actually the victim of hatred. Everyone is obliged to discharge their duties whether personal or social but without freedom a man cannot do so. The person who snatches this freedom of a man is really an oppressor and a prisoner of hatred. He has lack of humanity. But this is the same with a person who is oppressed by other.

Question. Prejudice based on race and colour or any other reason causes profound hurt.
Write about any one character from the chapters in First Flight who was subjected to such prejudice?
Discuss the consequence of this prejudice for the character.
Answer. Prejudging a person on the basis of race, colour or his & appearance or any other reason is wrong if so we treat the person the same as we think of them in our mind without knowing the right intensions of that person.
The character subjected to this prejudice in ‘First Flight’ was Wanda Petronski from the chapter. 'The Hundred Dresses'. She belonged to a very poor family. She was a polish girl. She came to school in a same faded blue dress daily. It was clean but not properly ironed. Her classmates made fun of her as they found her name funny. They would ask her how many dresses she had in her closet. The girls would suppress their laugh when Wanda replied that she had a hundred dresses and sixty pairs of shoes. Although her claim was not justified. But it is not at all right to judge people on the basis of their social status. Later on, Wanda proud herself by submitting a hundred drawings of dresses. People who judge other with their social economic background need to understand chat such attitude is not the parameter to judge a person’s capabilities.
When people are undervalued by others, their self-esteem suffers and they stop trying to improve themselves. Prejudice can often lead to bullying and other forms of discrimination.

Question. Describe the obligations which the author is talking about and also describe his feelings for them?
Answer. In the chapter the author has talked about two obligation for every man. The first obligation is towards his family, parents, his wife and children. The second is towards his community and his country.
Being a social person one has to fulfil these obligations.But being a black coloured person in South Africa, a man was not free to perform his obligations and got punished if he tried to do that.Being a child the author never thought of such obligations but after he did so, he fought for the people and the country to be free and enjoy their freedom of performing their duties personal and social.

1. “Dear Michael, it said. Thank you! I am not sure how it happened, but thanks. You saved my life.”
Even though Michael did not know Shultz personally, he made every attempt to save him.
What values did Michael display?

Value Points
♦ Compassion
♦ Empathy
♦ Never give up attitude
♦ Concern for the other
♦ Responsible citizen, helping a fellow citizen.

2. Answering a reporter’s question as to what the family was going to do next, Mr. Shultz said that they were off to stock up on some games.
Computers, especially computer games, are a rage with children as well as adults. They play an important role in our lives but they are also a major distraction and have their hazards. In about 150 words, write an article on the hazards of addiction and how to overcome it.

Value Points
♦ Technology here to stay – move with times
♦ Advantages – education, entertainment, stress buster
♦ Disadvantages – addiction, distraction, one becomes anti-social, affects health, games inculcate violence
♦ Need to exercise self-control – strike a balance
♦ Time management

SHADY PLOT

3. The foundation of any long-lasting relationship is trust. Comment on this statement with reference to the character of Lavinia from the story A Shady Plot.

Value Points
♦ Mutual trust key to a healthy relationship
♦ Helps prevent suspicion and discord
♦ Improves understanding
♦ Strengthens the bond

4. Traitor, traitor. “Why she says it’s you, Mr. Hallock. What does she mean? ….. Lavinia stopped and began to look at me through narrowed lids.
Do you think Lavinia is justified in basing her suspicions on the Ouija Board? Give reasons for your answer.

Value Points
♦ Superstitions are irrational and misleading
♦ No concrete evidence
♦ Relationships based on trust and faith - need to be developed and nurtured
♦ Talk things out face to face to clarify matters
♦ Ghost not referring to John and Lavinia, but to his using the Ouija Board when he had promised to dissuade others from using them PATOL BABU, FILM STAR

5. ‘Remember one thing Patol; however small a part you’re offered, never consider it beneath your dignity to accept it. As an artist your aim should be to make the most of your opportunity, and squeeze the last drop of meaning out of your lines. A play involves the work of many and it is the combined effort of many that makes a success of the play.’
Some time back you had received a letter from your friend from Bangalore in which he had mentioned how upset he was when he was not given any role to perform in the Annual function but given a back stage duty. After reading the above lines you decide to write a reply to his letter advising him to change his attitude as no work is mean.

Value Points
♦ Dignity of labour
♦ Make the most of the opportunity that comes your way
♦ Team work – giving due credit to individuals
♦ Shouldering responsibility
♦ Respect / acknowledgement / appreciation of others
♦ A man is judged not by his position / status / the work assigned, but his performance

6. Patol Babu glanced at the paper and found a single word had been scrawled on it – ‘Oh’. ….. Sosanko said, “What’s the matter Grandpa? You don’t seem too pleased.”
Inspite of his initial disappointment, Patol Babu came to terms with what was offered to him and finally achieved satisfaction and happiness.
Write an article for your school magazine entitled – Take challenges in your stride.

Value Points
♦ Accept challenges life throws at you - will be able to overcome even toughest obstacle
♦ Enables you to realize your potential
♦ Challenges expose your weaknesses and strengths
♦ Work on weaknesses to overcome them
♦ Knowledge of your strengths give confidence