Long Walk to Freedom Common Question for 1st Unit Test 2025

Long Walk to Freedom Common Question for 1st Unit Test 2025: Long Walk to Freedom is the lesson 2, class 10 English NCERT Textbook. Here you can avail Long Walk to Freedom Common Question for 1st Unit Test 2025.

Long Walk to Freedom Important Question for 1st Unit Test 2025

1. Why did inauguration ceremony take place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Building in Pretoria ?

Ans: 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 amphitheatre formed by the Union Building in Pretoria.

2. Where did the ‘ceremonies’ take place ? Why were the ceremonies so important ?

Ans: The ‘ceremonies’ took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre in Pretoria in south Africa. The ceremonies were so important because these were meant for the celebration of victory of the south African Black people over the ruling whites and for the installation of south Africa’s first ever democracy.

3. What promise did mandela make in the beginning of his oath taking speech ?

Ans: In the beginning of his oath-taking speech, Nelson Mandela promised to uphold the Constitution of his country and devote him to liberate his people from the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. There would be freedom and justice for all.

4. What did Mandela mean when he mentioned 'an extraordinary human disaster' ?

Ans: By 'an extra ordinary human disaster' Mandela meant the policy of apartheid. A Political system in which black people of South Africa were dominated by the white people on their own land. It was the most harshest and inhumane system that world has ever known.

5. How did Mandela describe the systems of government in his country in the final decade of the twentieth century ?

Ans: Mandela described the systems of government in his country in the final decade of the twentieth century that the policy of apartheid has been overturned forever. It was replaced by another. It recognized the equal rights and freedoms of all people regardless of their skin colour.

6. What ideals does Mandela set out for the future of South Africa ?

Ans: Mandela had big hope for the bright future of South Africa. He sets out the ideals to liberate all the people of South Africa from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering gender, discrimination. He wanted the people of the country to enjoy the right to freedom from all forms of bondage and prejudice.

Nelson Mandela Class 10 important Questions and Answers PDF

7. What did Mandela think of the patriots of Africa and of himself ?

Ans: Nelson Mandela gratefully acknowledges the sacrifices of thousands of his people who fought against the apartheid regime. Their suffering and courage can never be repaid. Mandela humbly believes that he was simply the sum of all those African patriots who had gone before him.

8. What spectacular show was displayed by the South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers on this important ceremony ?

Ans: The spectacular show displayed by the South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers in a perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy and to the new government that had been freely and fairly elected.

9. What problem was faced by Mandela in the beginning in placing his people above his family ?

Ans: In the beginning Mandela did not choose to place his people above his family. But when he tried to serve his people he found that he was prevented from fulfilling his obligation as a son, brother, husband and father.

10. What problems hinder each man to fulfil these obligations in South Africa ?

Ans: Whenever a black South African tries to fulfil his obligations to his people and family, he was ripped from his family and forced to live an isolated life. He was punished and isolated even if he tries to live as a human being. So, it was very difficult in South Africa to fulfil these obligations.

11. What did Mandela yearn for as a young man in Johannesburg ?

Ans: In Johannesburg as a young man, Mandela yearned for the basic and honourable freedom of achieving his potential, freedom of earning income and freedom of marriage and having a family. He didn't want any obstruction in his life that abided law.

12. What is the viewpoint of Mandela about freedom ?

Ans: According to Mandela, freedom is kind of liberty which is absolutely indivisible. If there is a chain of bondage on a human being, directly or indirectly, it will affect other human beings of the society, and that is why freedom should be earned by all.

13. How was Mandela overwhelmed with a sense of history ?

Ans: In the first decade of the twentieth century and before Mandela’s birth, the whites in South Africa had erected a system of racial domination known as ‘apartheid’. In the last decade of the twentieth century, when Mandela was in his eighties, he saw that system was replaced by one that has equal rights and freedom. So, he was overwhelmed with a sense of history.

Long Walk to Freedom Class 10 Question Bank Solutions 2025-26

14. What was born out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster ? Why should humanity be proud of it ?

Ans: The apartheid policy was an extraordinary human disaster for the black people of South Africa. The end of the apartheid laid down the foundation of a non racial democratic government in South Africa. This government based on human equality and dignity would be an ideal one of which all humanity will be proud.

15. How does Mandela define courage and from where did he learn the meaning of courage ?

Ans: Nelson Mandela learnt the meaning of courage from great patriots and comrades in the struggle. They risked their lives and stood up to attacks and tortures of the apartheid regime. He learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who doesn’t feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

16. What did Mandela realise about his brothers and sisters ?

Ans: Nelson Mandela realised the freedom, that he felt in childhood was only an illusion. He realised that his brothers and sisters were not free. Their freedom had been curtailed. Then he became hunger for freedom of dignity and respect.

17. What freedom meant to Mandela in Childhood ?

Ans: In his childhood freedom for Mandela quite limited and it was a transitory freedom. He meant it to be free to run in the fields, to swim in the clear stream, free to ride on back of slow moving bulls, stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he wants.

18. How does Mandela look at his own people ?

Ans: Mandela had seen his own people risking and giving their lives for an idea. He had seen the men stand up to attacks and tortures without breaking, showing a strength and resilience that defies the imagination.

19. How was that site a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations ?

Ans: The end of the apartheid regime was a common victory for peace, justice and human dignity. Leaders and dignitaries of all nations irrespective of their colour, race and religion had gathered there to celebrate that victory. So, the site presented a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations.

20. Why was the apartheid regime in South Africa was one of the harshest and most inhuman systems in the world ?

Ans: The apartheid regime was based on the racial discrimination and exploitation of blacks in South Africa. The basic or fundamental rights were only for the whites and the blacks were deprived of these freedoms. Oppression, torture and exploitation of the blacks were common features of the apartheid regime.