Goa Board Class 10 Solutions for English First Flight – Long Walk to Freedom
Page No. 18:
Question 1:
Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Solution :
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.
Question 2:
Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?
Solution :
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 first democratic, non-racial government.
Besides South Africa is in the southern hemisphere and so has autumn till almost mid- May.
Page No. 19:
Question 3:
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?
Solution :
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 first democratic, non-racial government.
Question 4:
What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Solution :
Mandela felt privileged to be the host to the nations of the world because not too long ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. Because of their policy of apartheid many countries had earlier broken off diplomatic relations with South Africa. 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.
Question 5:
What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Solution :
Mandela had high hopes for the future of South Africa. Once they had achieved political emancipation he pledged to liberate all South Africans from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. He also vowed that the beautiful land of South Africa would never ever experience racial discrimination again.
Page No. 21:
Question 1:
What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Solution :
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 made the President of South Africa after three centuries of White rule.
Question 2:
Why were two national anthems sung?
Solution :
On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems Nkosi Sukelel –iAfrika and the old anthem of the Republic ‘Die Stem were sung, by both the whites, and the blacks together. This symbolized the equality that now existed between the blacks and whites. They were no longer divided on the basis of the colour of their skin.It also symbolised the end of the oppression of one by another.
Question 3:
How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country
- in the first decade, and
- in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
Solution :
- In the first 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.
- 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.
Question 4:
What does courage mean to Mandela?
Solution :
Mandela had seen his comrades in the struggle risk and give their lives for an idea. On seeing these men and women stand up to attacks and torture without breaking, showing strength and resilience that defied the imagination, Mandela learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Question 5:
Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Solution :
For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate. No one is born hating another because of the colour of his skin,or his background or religion. People have to learn to hate. If they can learn to hate then they can also be taught to love as love comes naturally.