PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION

Passage-1: (Page 17)

Tenth May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days, I had been pleasantly besieged by
dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the inauguration.
The inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African
soil.

Word-Meaning: Dawned—(here) presented itself, began, Pleasantly—in a pleasant way, Besieged—

(here) surrounded closely by, Dignitaries—persons of high ranks, high officials their respect—
express their honour/respect, Inauguration—(here) opening ceremony,

Questions:
(a) What was the special importance of 10 May?
(b) Why had the narrator been busy for the past few days?
(c) What was to be inaugurated on that day?
(d) How was the size of the gathering there?
Answers:
(a) The 10th of May was important because on that day the first democratically elected government of
South Africa was to be established.
(b) For the past few days the narrator was busy, in making; the arrangements of receiving world leaders
and dignitaries who were coming there.
(c) The first democratic, non-racial government of South Africa was to be installed on that day.
(d) It was the largest ever gathering of international leaders on South African soil.

Passage-2: (Page 17)

The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre frowned by the Union Buildings
in Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of wilier supremacy, and now it was the site of a
rainbow gathering of different colours and nations for the Installation of South Africa’s first
democratic, non-racial government.

Word-Meaning: Ceremonies—rituals, ceremonial activities Amphitheatre—around unroofed

building, Decades—a period of ten years, troika—capital of South Africa, Seat—place, White—
white people, Supremacy—superiority, Rainbow gathering—gathering of people of different colours,
Installation—putting in a new position of authority Non-racial government—government that did not
believe in any racial discrimination

Questions:
(a) Where did the ceremonies take place?
(b) What had the place been so far?
(c) What change was brought now?
(d) How was this government different from the previous one?
Answers:
(a) The ceremonies took place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
(b) For decades the place had been the seat of white supremacy.
(c) Now a democratic government headed by a black, Nelson Mandela, was going to be sworn in.
(d) The previous government was run only by the white people following the apartheid policy of racial
segregation. The new government was a democratically elected non-racial government.

Passage-3: (Page 18)

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.

Word-Meaning: Confer—give, Glory—dignity, greatness, Liberty-freedom,

Questions:
(a) What were the people present in the amphitheatre doing?
(b) What was an extraordinary human disaster?
(c) What was the nature of the new society that was taking its birth that day?
(d) Who are the speaker and the writer of these lines?
Answers:
(a) All of those who were present there were conferring glory and hope to newborn liberty.
(b) The apartheid regime based on racial discrimination and segregation was an extraordinary human
disaster.
(c) A new democratic and non-racial society was going to take its birth that day.
(d) Nelson Mandela is the speaker as well as the writer of these lines.

Passage-4: (Page 18)

We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the
nations of the world on our own soil. We thank all of our distinguished international guests for
having come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common
victory for justice, for peace, for human dignity.

Word-Meaning: Outlaws-bandits, Privilege—special rights, Host—an innkeeper, Distinguished—

(here) honoured, wain Possession—ownership, Dignity—grace, glory,

Questions:
(a) Who were outlaws not so long ago?
(b) What privilege have they been given?
(c) Whom does the speaker thank?
(d) What is a common victory for all?
Answers:
(a) The blacks in South Africa were considered as outlaws not so long ago.
(b) Now, the same blacks have been given the privilege of hosting the nations of the world on their
soil.
(c) Nelson Mandela thanks all the international leaders and dignitaries who have come to this
inauguration ceremony.
(d) Getting rid of a racial government and the establishment of a democratically elected non-racial
government is a common victory for all the people of the world.

Passage-5: (Page 18)

We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our
people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other
discrimination. Never, never, and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again
experience the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human
achievement. Let freedom reign. God bless Africa!

Word-Meaning: Achieved—got, Emancipation—freedom, fetal Pledge—vow, Liberate–free,

Bondage–binding, Deprivation—not getting a thing, Gender—sex, Oppression—cruelty,
exploitation Glorious—grand,

Questions:
(a) What have the blacks of South Africa achieve at last?
(b) What do they pledge themselves?
(c) What will this beautiful land never experience again?
(d) What is a remarkable achievement for the people of South Africa?
Answers:
(a) At last, the blacks of South Africa achieved their political freedom.
(b) They have pledged themselves to liberate the people from poverty, sufferings and other
discriminations.
(c) South Africa will never have a racial government again.
(d) The installation of a democratic non-racial government in South Africa is a glorious human
achievement.

Passage-6: (Page 19)

On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history. In the first decade of
the twentieth century, a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer war and before my own birth, the
white-skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial
domination against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land. The structure they created
formed the basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane, societies the world has ever known.

Word-Meaning: Overwhelmed—(here) filled with emotions, Bitter—sour, White skinned—people

of white race, Patched-up—repaired, Erect—built, System—way, Racial domination—domination
of one race over the other, Structure—formation, Basis—base, Harshest—most unpleasant,
Inhumane—anti-human,

Questions:
(a) Why was Mandela overwhelmed?
(b) What did the white-skinned peoples of South Africa patch up?
(c) What was the structure that they created?
(d) Could Mandela and his people succeed in breaking that structure?
Answers:
(a) Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed as he achieved success in installing a democratic non-racial
government in South Africa.
(b) The white skinned people of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of
racial domination against the blacks of their own land.
(c) The system of apartheid or racial segregation was the harshest and most inhumane system in the
world.
(d) Yes, the blacks were able to demolish the apartheid regime and succeeded in installing a democratic
non-racial government headed by Nelson Mandela.

Passage-7: (Page 20)

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. That
long and the noble line ended and now began again with me. I was pained that I was not able to
thank them and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought.

Word-Meaning: Unimaginable—beyond imagination, Sacrifices—voluntarily laying down of life,

Counted—to count numbers, Repaid—to pay the debt, Patriots—loyal to the nation, Noble—a very
good person, Wrought—resulted,

Questions:
(a) How did that glorious day come about?
(b) Can their sufferings be repaid?
(c) Why does Mandela consider himself to be the sum of all African patriots?
(d) Could they see the fruit of their sacrifices?
Answers:
(a) The glorious day of the installation of a non-racial government in South Africa come about through
the struggles and sacrifices of thousands of people. – – –
(b) No, their struggles, sacrifices and sufferings can never be counted or repaid.
(c) Mandela acknowledges the struggles and sacrifices of thousands of black patriots against the
apartheid. He himself only carried forward the batons.
(d) No, many of those great patriots who struggled and sacrificed died before seeing the fruit of their
sacrifices.

Passage-8: (Pages 20 & 21)

The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. All of us
will spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But the decades of
oppression and brutality had another, unintended effect, and that was that it produced the Oliver
Tambos, the Walter Sisulu, the Chief Luthuli’s, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fishers, the Robert
Sobukwes of our time — men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their
like may never be known again.

Word-Meaning: Apartheid—the policy of segregation based on race and colour, Generations—

people of the same period, Recovering—(here) healing, Profound—deep, Hurt—wound, Brutality—
cruelty, Unintended—not contemplated, Generosity—kindness,

Questions:
(a) What did the policy of apartheid create?
(b) What was the effect of decades of oppression and brutality?
(c) What kind of men were they?
(d) What do these lines show about Mandela’s character?
Answers:
(a) The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in the blacks of South Africa.
(b) The decades of oppression and brutality produced many brave and fearless patriots like Tambos,
Sisulus, Dadoos, Fishers and Sobukwes of their time.
(c) They were men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity.
(d) These lines show that Mandela was grateful to those patriots and heroes who fought against the
apartheid in the past.

Passage-9: (Page 21)

Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is
rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest
wealth is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.

Word-Meaning: Minerals—elements dug from the earth,

Questions:
(a) What does it require to produce men of such high characters?
(b) What is South Africa rich in?
(c) What has Mandela always known?
(d) What trait of Mandela’s character is reflected here?

Answers:
(a) Only great depths of oppression and torture can create patriots of such high characters.
(b) South Africa is rich in minerals and gems.
(c) Mandela has always known that the greatest wealth of a nation is its people and not its diamonds.
(d) Mandela values patriotism and love for its people higher even than the diamonds.

Passage-10: (Page 21)

It is from these comrades in the struggle that I learned the meaning of courage. Time and again, I
have seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea. I have seen men stand up to
attacks and torture without breaking, showing strength and resilience that defies the
imagination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumphs over it. The
brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Word-Meaning: Comrades—friends/associates, Risk—put to danger, Stand up—face, Torture—
bodily pain, Resilience—ability to recover, Defies—disobeys, Triumphs—victory, Conquer—to win,

Questions:
(a) Who does ‘these comrades’ refer to here?
(b) What defines the imagination?
(c) Is courage the absence of fear?
(d) Who is a real brave man?

Answers:
(a) ‘These comrades’ refers to the men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity like Oliver
Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dodoo and so on.
(b) It defies the imagination of how those patriots could withstand so much oppression and brutality
without being broken.
(c) No, courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
(d) A real brave man is he who conquers his fear.

Passage-11: (Page 21)

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his
religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for
love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. 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.

Word-Meaning: Background—(here) life-history, Grimmest—(here) darkest, cruellest Pushed to

our limits—forced to face limitless tortures, Glimmer—a faint light, Reassure—to give assurance,
Flame—a blaze of fire, Extinguished—blown out,

Questions:
(a) Is hating another person because of his colour, background or religion instinctive nature of humans?
(b) What can people learn if they can learn to hate?
(c) What comes naturally to the human heart: love or hate?
(d) How does the guard show a sign of humanity to Mandela when he was in prison?

Answers:
(a) No, no one is born hating another person because of his colour, background or religion.
(b) If people can learn to hate, they can also learn to love one another.
(c) Love comes naturally to the human heart than hatred.
(d) When Mandela was in prison, one of the guards encouraged him to keep on his struggle and one
day he would achieve success.
Passage-12: (Pages 21 & 22)

In life, every man has twin obligations — obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and
children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and
humane society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and
abilities. But in a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and
colour to fulfil both of those obligations. In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live
as a human being was punished and isolated.

Word-Meaning: Twin—two Obligations—duty, Community—society (local), Inclinations—liking,

Attempted—tried,

Questions:
(a) What are the twin obligations of every man?
(b) Is it possible in South Africa for a man of Nelson Mandela’s colour and birth to fulfil both the
obligations?
(c) Why do you think Mandela was not living in a humane society?
(d) Why were the blacks treated so badly in South Africa?

Answers:
(a) Every man has to fulfil two obligations. He has to do his duty to his family and children and he has
a duty to his people and country.
(b) No, it is not possible for a man of Nelson Mandela’s birth and colour to live as a human being.
(c) Mandela was living in a society where the Blacks were treated badly.
(d) The blacks were treated so badly in South Africa because it was ruled by the apartheid regime based
on racial discrimination.

Passage-13: (Page 22)

I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free — free in every way that I could know.
Free to run in the fields near my mother’s hut, free to swim in the clear stream that ran through
my village, free to roast mealiest under the stars and ride the broad backs of slow-moving bulls.
As long as I obeyed my father and abided by the customs of my tribe, I was not troubled by the
laws of man or God.

Word-Meaning: Roast—roast on fire, Mealiest—maze corn, Abide by—obeyed, Customs—rituals,

Questions:
(a) Was Mandela indeed ‘free in every way’ in his childhood?
(b) How was he free in his childhood?
(c) Was he troubled by the laws of man or God when he was a child?
(d) Did his concept of freedom remain the same when he grew up?

Answers:
(a) No, Nelson Mandela was not free in every way even in his childhood. He had to abide by the
custom of his tribe.
(b) He was free to run in the fields, free to swim and free to ride on the backs of slow-moving bulls.
(c) No, as a child he was not troubled by the laws of man or God as long as he obeyed his father and
followed the customs of his tribe.
(d) No, Nelson Mandela’s concept of personal freedom was broadened into the freedom of his people
and race.

Passage-14: (Page 22)

It was only when I began to learn that my boyhood freedom was an illusion when I discovered as
a young man that my freedom had already been taken from me, that I began to hunger for it. At
first, as a student, I wanted freedom only for myself, the transitory freedoms of being able to stay
out at night, read what I pleased and go where I chose. Later, as a young man in Johannesburg, I
yearned for the basic and honourable freedoms of achieving my potential, of earning my keep, of
marrying and having a family — the freedom not to be obstructed in a lawful life.

Word-Meaning: Illusion—false idea or belief, Transitory—(here) temporary, Potential—capacity,

Obstructed—restricted,

Questions:
(a) How was his childhood freedom only an illusion?
(b) When did Mandela begin to hunger for freedom?
(c) What were transitory freedoms?
(d) What did he yearn for as a young man in Johannesburg?

Answers:
(a) In his childhood he could move in the fields near his huts, free to swim in the clear stream, etc. but
all their activities were restricted ones by his parents as per the existing law and order.
(b) Only when he realised that his freedom had already been taken from him, he began to hunger for
freedom.
(c) Transitory freedoms consisted of being able to stay out at night, read as pleased or go anywhere.
(d) As a young man in Johannesburg, he yearned for freedom of achieving his freedom, earning,
marrying and having a family.

Passage-15: (Pages 22 & 23)

But then I slowly saw that not only was I not free, but my brothers and sisters were also not free.
I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone who looked
like I did. That is when I joined the African National Congress, and that is when the hunger for
my own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of my people. 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.
Word-Meaning: Curtailed—limited, cut shot Animated—(here) inspired, Transformed—changed,
Frightened—full of fear, Bold—brave, fearless, Drove—took, Attorney—a lawyer, Criminal—one
who commits crimes, Monk—one who lives like a saint,

Questions:
(a) What were the Blacks discriminated against?
(b) When did Mandela’s hunger for freedom become the greater hunger for the freedom of his people?
(c) What transformed the life of a frightened young lawyer to become a bold criminal?
(d) Did Mandela want to live like a monk?

Answers:
(a) The Blacks were discriminated against in political and economic freedom.
(b) When he joined the African National Congress then Mandela’s hunger for freedom became the
greater hunger for the freedom of his people.
(c) The strong desire for the freedom of his people to live their lives with dignity and self -respect
transformed a frightened young lawyer to become a bold criminal.
(d) No, Mandela wanted to be a family loving husband.

Passage-16: (Page 23)

I am no more virtuous or self-sacrificing than the next man, but I found that I could not even
enjoy the poor and limited freedoms I was allowed when I knew my people were not free.
Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on all of them, the
chains on all of my people were the chains on me.

Word-Meaning: Virtuous – a sacred person, Indivisible—which can’t be divided, Chains- bondage,

Questions:
(a) Does Mandela think of himself more virtuous than others?
(b) Why couldn’t he enjoy even the limited freedoms he was allowed?
(c) Is freedom divisible?
(d) What did the chains on all of his people mean to Mandela?
Answers:
(a) No, Mandela didn’t think himself more virtuous or self-sacrificing than any of his people.
(b) He couldn’t enjoy the limited freedoms he was allowed because he felt that his people were not
free.
(c) No, freedom is not divisible.
(d) The chains on all of his people meant chains on himself for Nelson Mandela.

Passage-17: (Page 23)

I knew that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes
away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice
and narrow-mindedness. I am not truly free I am taking away someone else’s freedom, just as
surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and the oppressor
alike are robbed of their humanity.

Word-Meaning: Oppressor-one who oppresses, Liberated—freed from, Bars—(here) prison bars,

Prejudice—ill-feeling Robbed—stolen,
Questions:
(a) Should the oppressor be liberated?
(b) Who is a prisoner of hatred?
(c) When are we not truly free?
(d) How are the oppressed and the oppressor robbed alike?
Answers:
(a) Yes, even the oppressor should be liberated like the oppressed.
(b) A person who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred.
(c) We are not truly free if we are taking away someone else’s freedom.
(d) The oppressed and the oppressor both are robbed of their humanity alike.