Question 2 - Chapter 1 - The Last Lesson - Flamingo - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 12

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was.

(The last lesson)

Question (i)

 What tempted the narrator to run away from school?

1.     The warm and bright weather
2.     The birds chirping at the edge of the woods
3.      The Prussian soldiers drilling in the field
4.     All of the above

    Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(d) All of the above

 Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•           🌞To answer this question, we need to recall what the narrator said in the extract. He said that for a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill the Prussian soldiers were drilling.
•           🤔Let's look at the other options and see why they are all correct.
•              A) The warm and bright weather. This is one of the things that tempted the narrator to run away from school . It made him feel happy and relaxed, and it contrasted with his fear and boredom of school.
•              B) The birds chirping at the edge of the woods. This is another thing that tempted the narrator to run away from school. It made him think of nature and freedom, and it appealed to his senses and emotions.
•              C) The Prussian soldiers drilling in the field. This is another thing that tempted the narrator to run away from school . It made him curious and excited, and it aroused his interest and imagination.
•           ✅Therefore, the correct answer is D) All of the above.

Question (ii)

 What did the narrator do instead of running away from school?

1.     He hid behind the sawmill
2.      He hurried off to school
3.     He joined the Prussian soldiers
4.      He went back home

    Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(b) He hurried off to school

  Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•         🏃‍♂️To answer this question, we need to recall what the narrator said in the extract. He said that it was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.
•           🤔Let's look at the other options and see why they are wrong.
•              A) He hid behind the sawmill. This is not what he did instead of running away from school. He did not hide anywhere, but he went straight to school.
•              C) He joined the Prussian soldiers. This is also not what he did instead of running away from school. He did not join the enemies of his country, but he went to learn his language and culture.
•              D) He went back home. This is also not what he did instead of running away from school. He did not go back to his comfort zone, but he went to face his challenge and responsibility.
•           ✅Therefore, the correct answer is B) He hurried off to school.

Question (iii)

Why was there no commotion or noise in the classroom when school began?

    Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 There was no commotion or noise in the classroom when school began because it was M. Hamel's last lesson in French, and everyone was quiet and respectful.

 Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•           😶To answer this question, we need to explain why there was a difference between the usual and the current sound of school. We can use words like because, since, or as to show the cause and effect relationship.
•           🙋‍♂️We can say that there was no commotion or noise in the classroom when school began because it was M. Hamel's last lesson in French, and everyone was quiet and respectful. These words show that the reason for the silence was the importance and the solemnity of the occasion, and that the students and the villagers who came to attend the lesson were aware and attentive of it.

Question (iv)

What does the extract reveal about the situation of the narrator and his country?

       Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The extract reveals that the situation of the narrator and his country was sad and hopeless. They were under the Prussian occupation, and they were losing their language and culture.

   Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•           📖To answer this question, we need to analyze how the extract reflected the historical and political context of the story. We can use adjectives and nouns to show the mood and the theme of the story.
•           😢We can say that the extract reveals that the situation of the narrator and his country was sad and hopeless. These words show that they were unhappy and desperate, and that they had no control over their fate.
•          We can also say that they were under the Prussian occupation, and they were losing their

Question (v) 

List any two sensory details present in this extract.

    Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

Two sensory details present in this extract are:

•         The birds chirping at the edge of the woods (sound)
•        The warm and bright weather (sight and touch)

    Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:

•        🌱To answer this question, we need to identify two details in the extract that appeal to one or more of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. We can use nouns and adjectives to describe them.
•        🐦We can say that one sensory detail present in this extract is the birds chirping at the edge of the woods. This detail appeals to the sense of sound, and it creates a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
•        ☀️We can also say that another sensory detail present in this extract is the warm and bright weather. This detail appeals to the senses of sight and touch, and it makes the narrator feel happy and relaxed.

Question (vi)

Complete the sentence appropriately.

It was all much more tempting than _____________.

    Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles.

       StepbyStep explanation of the answer:

•           📚To answer this question, we need to recall what the narrator said in the extract. He said that it was all much more tempting than the rule for participles.
•           ✅Therefore, the sentence can be completed appropriately with the rule for participles.