Oral Comprehension Check :

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

Ans : The highest generals of the South African defense force and police saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty to him. Their attitude had changed significantly; only years before, they would have arrested him rather than saluting him. This change occurred because a new, non-racial government had been freely and fairly elected, replacing the old system of apartheid.

2. Why were two national anthems sung? 

Ans :Two national anthems were sung to symbolize the unity and equality of the new South Africa. The whites sang 'Nkosi Sikelel - iAfrika' and the blacks sang 'Die Stem'. Singing both anthems represented the "rainbow gathering" of different races coming together to form a democratic nation.

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?

Ans : First Decade: White-skinned peoples created a system of racial domination against dark-skinned peoples, known as apartheid. It was one of the harshest and most inhumane systems ever known.

Final Decade: That system was overturned forever and replaced by one that recognized the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of the color of their skin.

4. What does courage mean to Mandela? 

Ans : To Mandela, courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. He believes a brave man is not someone who doesn't feel afraid, but the one who conquers that fear.

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

Ans : Mandela believes that to love is more natural to the human heart than to hate. He notes that since people must learn to hate, they can also be taught to love.

Oral Comprehension Check :

1. What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention? 

Ans : Mandela mentions that every man has two main obligations: first, to his family, parents, wife, and children; and second, to his people, community, and country.

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”? 

Ans : As a boy, freedom meant running in the fields, swimming in streams, and riding bulls—essentially being free as long as he obeyed his father and tribe. As a student, he sought "transitory freedoms" like staying out at night or reading what he pleased. He contrasts these with "basic and honourable freedoms," which involve achieving one's potential, earning a living, marrying, and having a family without obstruction.

3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not? 

Ans : No, Mandela believes the oppressor is not free. He describes the oppressor as a "prisoner of hatred" who is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He argues that both the oppressed and the oppressor are robbed of their humanity.

Thinking about the Text

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

Ans :International leaders attended to show respect for the installation of South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government. Their presence signified a common victory for justice, peace, and human dignity after more than three centuries of white rule.

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

Ans : Mandela is acknowledging that the freedom of South Africa was not achieved by him alone, but through the "unimaginable sacrifices" of thousands of others. He feels he is carrying on the "long and noble line" of those who suffered and fought for equality before he did.

3. Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this?

Ans : Mandela illustrates this by pointing out that the brutal decades of apartheid produced great leaders like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and Chief Luthuli—men of "extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity". He suggests that such profound hurt and oppression are what force people to develop great strength and resilience.

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

Ans :As a boy, he thought he was born free. As a young man, he realized his boyhood freedom was an illusion because it had already been taken from him. Eventually, he realized that it wasn't just his freedom being curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked like him, leading him to join the struggle for the freedom of all his people.

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

Ans :The hunger for freedom transformed him from a "frightened young man into a bold one," turned a "law-abiding attorney into a criminal," and forced a "family-loving husband" to live like a homeless monk. It drove him to devote his entire life to the service of his people.

1. On which date did the inauguration ceremony take place?

Answer: The inauguration took place on 10 May 1994.

2. Where did the ceremonies take place?

Answer: The ceremonies took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria.

3. Who was sworn in as the second deputy president?

Answer: Mr. de Klerk was sworn in as the second deputy president.

4. What is 'Apartheid'?

Answer: 'Apartheid' is a political system that separates people according to their race.

5. Which party did Nelson Mandela join?

Answer: Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC).

6. How many seats did the ANC win in the first democratic elections?

Answer: The ANC won 252 of the 400 seats.

7. Who accompanied Mandela on the day of the inauguration?

Answer: Mandela was accompanied by his daughter, Zenani.

8. What does Mandela call "the greatest wealth" of his country?

Answer: Mandela says the greatest wealth of his country is its people.

9. What are the colors of the new South African flag mentioned in the text?

Answer: The colors are black, red, green, blue, and gold.

10. Who was sworn in as the first deputy president?

Answer: Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as the first deputy president.

2 Marks Questions :

1. Why does Mandela refer to 10 May as a "lovely autumn day"?

Answer: In the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa experiences autumn in May. Additionally, it was a "lovely" day because it marked the birth of a new, non-racial democratic government after centuries of white rule.

2. What does Mandela mean by "an extraordinary human disaster"?

Answer: He refers to the practice of apartheid, a system of racial discrimination where the white minority oppressed the black majority for decades. He calls it a disaster because it was inhumane and lasted far too long.

3. What "twin obligations" does every man have according to Mandela?

Answer: Every man has an obligation to his family, parents, wife, and children; and a second obligation to his people, his community, and his country.

4. Why were two national anthems sung on the day of the inauguration?

Answer: Singing both 'Nkosi Sikelel - iAfrika' (the white anthem) and 'Die Stem' (the black anthem) symbolized the unity of the new South Africa and the equality of all races.

5. How does Mandela define "courage"?

Answer: To Mandela, courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. He believes a brave man is not someone who does not feel afraid, but someone who conquers that fear.

6. What changed in the attitude of the military generals?

Answer: Previously, the generals would have arrested Mandela as an outlaw. On the day of the inauguration, they saluted him and pledged their loyalty to the new democratic government.

7. Why was Mandela "overwhelmed with a sense of history" on the day of the inauguration?

Answer: He remembered the bitter Anglo-Boer war and how the system of racial domination was created. He reflected on how that harsh system was now being replaced by one recognizing the rights of all people.

8. What did "being free" mean to Mandela as a student?

Answer: As a student, freedom meant "transitory freedoms" for himself, such as being able to stay out at night, read what he pleased, and go where he chose to go.

9. Why does Mandela say the oppressor is also not free?

Answer: Mandela believes an oppressor is a "prisoner of hatred," locked behind bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He says both the oppressed and the oppressor are robbed of their humanity.

10. How did the policy of apartheid affect the people of South Africa?

Answer: The policy created a "deep and lasting wound" in the country and its people. However, the oppression also produced great men of extraordinary courage and wisdom who fought for freedom.