Nelson Mandela Chapter’s extract-based questions of MCQ types are given here. Answers are also provided after each question set ends. Click here for more such study materials.
I. Read the extract and answer the questions given below.
“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. To the assembled guests and the watching world, I said: Today, all of us do, by our presence here…confer glory and hope to newborn liberty. Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud…”
1. What was the earlier significance of the site of Mandela’s inauguration?
(A) It was a site of white supremacy.
(B) It staged the beginning of Mandela’s revolution.
(C) It was Mandela’s previous home.
(D) It housed the new South African government.
2. What new significance would this site achieve?
(A) It would be turned into a memorial.
(B) It would be the site of gathering of different races.
(C) It would become the seat of white supremacy.
(D) It would house world leaders.
3. What did Mandela refer to as ‘extraordinary human disaster’?
(A) Slavery
(B) Fascism
(C) Apartheid
(D)Colonialism
4. Mandela’s speech was full of hope and promise. Identify two things Mandela promised in his speech.
(A) Build more trade relations with other countries.
(B) Free all people from all kinds of bondages.
(C) Punish apartheid agents.
(D) Ensure that no one endures exploitation ever again.
5. Which of these sentences uses the word ‘newborn’ incorrectly?
(A) The newborn star was captured by the telescope.
(B) The newborn baby was the apple of her parents’ eyes.
(C) The newborn republic gave hopes of freedom and glory.
(D) She was newborn on this day.
Answers:
1. (A) It was a site of white supremacy.
The site previously housed the government which was responsible for creating and implementing apartheid in South Africa.
2. (B) It would be the site of gathering of different races.
On the day of inauguration, the Union Building of Pretoria – which was previously a seat of white supremacy – would see a gathering a people of different colours. It would also see the formation of South Africa’s first democratic and non-racial government.
3. (C) apartheid
Apartheid was a system of discrimination based on race. For more than three centuries, black South Africans were discriminated against by white rulers. Mandela refers to the system as ‘extraordinary human disaster’ in his inaugural speech.
4. (B) Free all people from all kinds of bondages.
In his speech, Mandela pledged to liberate all his people from the continuing bondage of poverty, suffering, gender and other kinds of discrimination.
(D) Ensure that no one endures exploitation ever again.
Another promise made by Mandela in his speech was that South Africa would never again experience the oppression of one by another.
5. (D) She was newborn on this day.
The word ‘newborn’ is used to denote something that has just been born. It is either used as an adjective or a noun.
II. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
“It was this desire for the freedom of my people to live their lives with dignity and self-respect that animated my life, that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home, that forced a life-loving man to live like a monk.”
1. What did Mandela learn about freedom as a young man?
(A) Freedom was a fundamental right.
(B) Freedom was a birthright.
(C) Freedom was God-given.
(D) Freedom was an illusion.
2. What realisation did this lead to?
(A) He had to free his oppressors as well.
(B) He had to join the African National Congress.
(C) He could not be free while his people were in chains.
(D) He did not want the government to imprison more people.
3. Choose one word for the phrase ‘without a home’.
(A) Homesick
(B) Homeless
(C) Homebound
(D) Homely
4. What was Mandela’s view on freedom? Select two correct answers.
(A) Even the oppressors deserve freedom.
(B) One cannot be free while one’s people live in chains.
(C) No one in the government deserves freedom.
(D) Freedom was an illusion.
5. Which literary device has been explored in this passage?
(A) Symbolism
(B) The Use of Contrasts
(C) Paradox
(D) Irony
Answers:
1. (D) Freedom was an illusion.
As a young man Mandela realised that the freedom he knew as a boy was an illusion. Then, as a young man he realised that freedom was given to certain people because of their race in his country.
2. (C) He could not be free while his people were in chains.
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Mandela could not lead his life comfortably knowing that his people weren’t free because of their race.
3. (B) Homeless
The word ‘homeless’ means without a home.
4. (A) Even the oppressors deserve freedom.
Mandela had an all-inclusive view on freedom. Despite being imprisoned and tortured by his oppressors, Mandela believed that even the oppressors need to be free. Only then can true freedom be achieved for everyone.
(B) One cannot be free while one’s people live in chains.
As a young man, he realised that his people were subjugated by white men on the basis of their race. This made him realise that he cannot lead a comfortable life while his people were suffering under apartheid.
5. (B) The Use of Contrasts
Some of the examples of the use of contrasts given in this passage are ‘a law-abiding attorney vs a criminal; a frightened young man vs a bold one, and a family-loving man vs a man without a home’.
III. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
“That day had come about through the unimaginable sacrifices of thousands of my people, people whose suffering and courage can never be counted or repaid. I felt that day, as I have on so many other days, that I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before me.”
1. How does Mandela feel on this day?
(A) Unaffected
(B) Honoured
(C) Heartbroken
(D) Overwhelmed
2. What does Mandela mean by the line ‘I was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before me?
(A) Mandela believes they helped him understand the importance of freedom.
(B) Mandela’s success was a result of the sacrifices made by the African patriots.
(C) Mandela hopes he has done the African patriots proud.
(D) Mandela has learned many things from them.
3. What does Mandela say he learned from these patriots?
(A) The meaning of courage
(B) The meaning of hate
(C) The meaning of freedom
(D) The meaning of love
4. Mandela refers to ‘that day’ twice in this extract. Which day is he referring to here?
(A) The day Mandela left his family
(B) The day Mandela joined ANC
(C) The day Mandela was captured
(D) The day of Mandela’s inauguration
5. Which of the following ideas has been best expressed in this extract?
(A) Sacrifice
(B) Disillusionment
(C) Freedom
(D) Fear
Answers:
1. (D) Overwhelmed
The word ‘overwhelmed’ means having a strong emotional reaction to something. On this day, Mandela feels overwhelmed as he remembers the events which led up to this moment.
2. (B) Mandela’s success was a result of the sacrifices made by the African patriots.
Mandela remembers the sacrifices made by the patriots. He has only been successful because of the sacrifices made by brave African patriots who came before him. On this day, he remembers their legacy which has led to the creation of the free state of South Africa.
3. (A) The meaning of courage
Mandela learned the meaning of courage from these patriots. He learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather having the strength to overcome it.
4. (D) The day of Mandela’s inauguration
‘That day’ refers to the day of Mandela’s inauguration. It is on this day that the first democratic government of South Africa was formed.
5. (A) sacrifice
Mandela recounts the ‘unimaginable sacrifices’ made by African patriots before him. These sacrifices were necessary to overthrow apartheid and inspire others to join the fight against oppression.
IV. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
‘Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.’
1. Which of these words is a synonym of ‘glimmer’?
(A) Hint
(B) Faith
(C) Belief
(D) Denial
2. Choose a quote that is best suited to the ideas explored in this extract.
(A) A great obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness. – Bernard De Fontenelle
(B) There is some kind of sweet innocence in being human. – C.Joybell C
(C) Never look down on somebody unless you’re helping them up. – Jesse Jackson
(D) Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. – Desmond Tutu
3. What does this extract say about Mandela’s belief in humanity?
(A) Mandela is very angry at humanity in general.
(B) Mandela is unconcerned with humanity.
(C) Mandela has the utmost faith in humanity.
(D) Mandela has a cynical attitude towards humanity.
4. How would you say Mandela feels in this extract?
(A) Hopeless
(B) Hopeful
(C) Courageous
(D) Despairing
5. Which of these sentences uses the phrase ‘pushed to our limits’ correctly?
(A) Sitting and watching TV really pushed us to our limits.
(B) Picking up the few scraps of paper on the floor truly pushed us to our limits.
(C) We were pushed to our limits when we climbed Mount Everest.
(D) Meeting our friends yesterday pushed us to our limits, and we promised to meet again soon!
Answers:
1. (A) Hint
The word ‘hint’ means providing a faint suggestion of something. Here, Mandela could see a hint of humanity or decency in his prison guards while he was imprisoned.
2. (D) Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. – Desmond Tutu
This extract underscores Mandela’s hope in ‘man’s goodness’ and humanity. It shows that even though he suffered at the hands of the prison guards, he saw enough of their kindness to have faith and hope in their redemption.
3. (C) Mandela has the utmost faith in humanity.
Mandela found instances of decency in prison guards even though they inflicted a lot of pain on him and his comrades. This shows that Mandela believed in humanity.
4. (B) Hopeful
Mandela states that even in the darkest times in prison, he would see some humanity in his guards. This gave him hope in humanity’s goodness and gave him strength to keep on fighting.
5. (C) We were pushed to our limits when we climbed Mount Everest.
The phrase ‘pushed to our limits’ means to go far beyond one’s abilities both in terms of physical and mental strength.
