Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

*On the day of my release, I returned to Soweto, where I had lived for more than twenty years. The streets were filled with thousands of people singing and dancing. They chanted my name and waved banners of the African National Congress. It was a day of joy and celebration, not only for me but for all those who had fought for freedom in South Africa. Although apartheid was not yet over, our long struggle for equality had reached a turning point.*

(Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom)

Nelson Mandela- Long Walk to Freedom - Extract Based Question - Teachoo.png

Question (i)

 What organization's banners were waved by the people on the streets?

  • a) The United Nations
  • b) The African National Congress
  • c) The South African Communist Party
  • d) The Pan Africanist Congress

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

b) The African National Congress

Step-by-step explanation:

  • 🔍 In the extract, we can see which organization's banners were waved by the people:
  • They chanted my name and waved banners of the African National Congress.
  • So, the correct answer is:
  • ✅ b) The African National Congress

Question (ii)

In around 40 words, describe the atmosphere and people's reactions on the day of Nelson Mandela's release, as mentioned in the extract.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

On the day of Mandela's release, the streets of Soweto were filled with thousands of people singing, dancing, and chanting his name. They waved banners of the African National Congress. The atmosphere was joyful and celebratory.

Step-by-step explanation:

  • 📖 Let's carefully read the extract to describe the atmosphere and people's reactions:
  • The streets were filled with thousands of people singing and dancing. They chanted my name and waved banners of the African National Congress.
  • ✍️ Based on the extract, the atmosphere and people's reactions on the day of Nelson Mandela's release include:

Thousands of people singing and dancing in the streets.

Chanting Mandela's name.

 Waving banners of the African National Congress.

 A joyful and celebratory atmosphere.

Question (iii)

Which word can correctly substitute 'turning point' in the given sentence from the extract:

Although apartheid was not yet over, our long struggle for equality had reached a turning point.

  • a) Culmination
  • b) Milestone
  • c) Stagnation
  • d) Commencement

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

b) Milestone

Step-by-step explanation:

  • 🔍 The term 'turning point' in the sentence suggests a significant change or progress in their struggle for equality. Among the given options:
  • a) Culmination - This implies an end or final achievement, which doesn't match the context.
  • b) Milestone - This conveys a significant stage or event in the struggle, similar to a turning point.
  • c) Stagnation - This implies a lack of progress, which doesn't match the context.
  • d) Commencement - This implies a beginning, which doesn't match the context.
  • So, the best substitution for 'turning point' is:
  • ✅ b) Milestone

Question (iv):

State TRUE or FALSE:

According to the extract, apartheid was completely abolished in South Africa on the day of Nelson Mandela's release.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 False

Step-by-step explanation:

  • 🔍 In the extract, we can see the status of apartheid at the time of Nelson Mandela's release:
  • Although apartheid was not yet over, our long struggle for equality had reached a turning point.
  • So, the statement is: ✅ b) False (Because apartheid was not yet over on the day of his release)
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Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo