THE LAST LESSON IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR CBSE 2018/CBSE CLASS 12 ENGLISH IMPORTANT QUESTION
14 Feb 2018
THE LAST
LESSON
IMPORTANT
QUESTION FOR CBSE 2018
Short Answer
Type Questions [3 Marks]
1. Who occupied the back benches in the classroom on the day
of the last lesson? Why?
or Delhi 2015
Who
were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel's last lesson? Why?
Compartment 2014
Ans The old men of the village
were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel's last lesson because they were
sorry that they had not attended school more often.
They also wanted to thank
their teacher for his forty years of faithful service and to show their respect
for the country that was theirs no longer.
2. Why did M Hamel write 'Vive La France' on the blackboard?
(The Last Lesson) Delhi 2015
or
What
words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class?
What did they mean? Compartment 2014
Ans M Hamel
wrote the words 'Vive La France!' in big letters on the blackboard before
dismissing the last class. These words meant, 'Long Live France!' This shows
his patriotic nature.
3. "We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves
with", said M Hamel. Comment.
Delhi 2015
or
Why
does M Hamel reproach himself for his students' unsatisfactory progress in
studies?
Compartment 2014
Ans M Hamel reproaches himself for his students'
unsatisfactory progress in studies because he has given them his own personal
work to do during school time. Besides, he also gave them a holiday when he
wanted to go fishing. He also tells the villagers that they should reproach
themselves for not having learnt their language.
4. "When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast
to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison."
or
Can you think of examples in
history where a conquered people had their language taken away from them or had
a language imposed on them?
Ans Some
examples of the native language taken away from conquered people or had a
language imposed on them are:
(i)
Portuguese became the
language Angola when it was colonised by Portugal.
(ii)
English was imposed
on the Celtic people in Northern Ireland when it was conquered by Britain.
(iii)
Spanish was imposed
on the Basques and the Catalans when their lands were taken over by Spain.
5. What tempted Franz to stay away from
school? Delhi 2014 (Modified.
Ans Franz feared a scolding at school as he had no: prepared
his lesson on participles, on which his French teacher M Hamel was to question
the class that day. Besides, the warm and brigh: weather, the chirping of birds
and the sight of the marching of Prussian soldiers also tempted Franz to stay
away from school.
6. Why were the elders of the village sitting in
the
classroom? All India 2014 (Modified
Ans As per an order from Berlin, French was no more to be
taught in the schools of Alsace. Therefore, M Hamel, the French teacher, had to
leave after forty years of long and faithful service. The elders of the village
felt sorry for not learning their language and were present in the classroom to
express their respect and gratitude towards him.
7. What shows M Hamel's love for the French
language? Foreign 2014
Ans M Hamel had taught the French language in the school for
forty years and was overcome with emotion when he realised that the villagers
would not be able to learn it any more. He wanted them to preserve the language
with them, thus showing his love for the language.
8. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last leSSOn? Compartment 2014
Ans M Hamel cried towards the
end of his last lesson because he loved the French language and felt pity for
the villagers, as they would not be able to learn their mother tongue any
longer.
9. What was unusual about M Hamel's dress on his last day in
the school? Compartment 2014
Ans M Hamel's dress on his last day in the school consisted
of his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap, all
embroidered, that he never wore except on inspection and prize days.
10.
Why is the order
from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz? Compartment
2014
or
"What a thunderclap
these words were to me!" What were the words that shocked and surprised
the narrator? Delhi 2013
or
"What a
thunderclap these words were to me!" Which were the words that shocked and
surprised little Franz? All India 2011; Delhi 2010
Ans The announcement made by M Hamel that
there was an order from Berlin to stop teaching French, and that this was their
last French lesson, seemed to be a thunderclap to Franz. He would no longer be
able to learn French, his mother tongue.
11.
What was the order
from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?
or Compartment 2014
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that
day?
Ans
The order from Berlin stated that only German will be taught in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. This meant that French would no longer be taught in the
school.
M Hamel,
the French teacher, would have to leave. This also caused the elder villagers
to attend the school for the last lesson in French.
12.
What did M Hamel
tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?
Delhi 2013
Ans
M Hamel praised the French language, calling it the most beautiful, the
clearest, and the most logical language in the world. He asked them to guard or
preserve their language among themselves and never forget or lose it.
13.
What did Franz
notice that was unusual about
the school that day? ncert; Delhi 2012
Ans
Franz noticed many unusual things about school that day. Usually, when the
school began, there was a much commotion, which was missing that day. His
teacher, M Hamel had on his ceremonial clothes. But the most unusual thing was
that the village people were sitting quietly on the back benches, which were usually empty.
14.
How did M Hamel
say farewell to his students and the people of the town? All India 2012
Ans
Towards the end of his 'Last Lesson', M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his
students and the people of the town. He then turned to the blackboard and
wrote, ‘Vive La
France'. Then
he dismissed the class with a gesture of his hand.
15.
What changes came
over little Franz after he heard M Hamel's announcement?
All India 2010
Ans After hearing the announcement, Franz was very sad and he
regretted not learning his lessons, and being deprived of the opportunity to
learn his own mother tongue. His books suddenly became his 'old friends' whom
he could not abandon.
16.
What had been put
up on the bulletIN board? NCERT; Delhi 2011
Ans An order that had come from Berlin had been put up on the
bulletin board. The order was that from the next day only German would be
taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would join the
school from the following day.
17.
Who did M Hamel
blame for not giving due attention to their language? Delhi 2011
Ans M Hamel blamed the people of Alsace for not giving due
attention to their language. He also blamed himself. Often, he had sent the
students to water his plants, and when he wanted to go fishing, he just gave
them a holiday.
18.
Who did M Hamel
blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
Delhi 2011
Ans M Hamel blamed himself for the neglect of learning on the
part of boys like Franz. He was a little irregular, and took leave whenever he
needed it, which reflected on the behaviour and studies of the students. He
also blamed their parents for not taking interest in their education.
19.
What announcement
did M Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz?
All India 2011
or
"This is
your last French lesson." How did Franz react to this declaration of M
Hamel?
Delhi 2010
Ans M Hamel announced that he would be giving them the last
French lesson because the orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in
the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Franz was shocked to hear this declaration.
20.
What changes came
over little Franz after he heard M Hamel's announcement?
All India 2010
Ans After hearing the announcement, Franz was very sad and he
regretted not learning his lessons, and being deprived of the opportunity to
learn his own mother tongue. His books suddenly became his 'old friends' whom
he could not abandon.
Value Based
Questions [6
Marks]
1.
Franz thinks,"Will they make them
sing in German, even the pigeons?" What could this mean? or
After
reading the chapter, you realise that man has an intense desire to subjugate
others. You feel that in the modern world, there is a strong need for
brotherhood. Write an article in about 120-150 words for a national magazine on
this. What will You Conquer?
Ans:- During the Franco-Prussian war, as related in the story
'The Last Lesson' France lost two of its districts to Germany. The Germans
passed the order that from now on, only German will be taught in the schools.
The imposition of German over French was humiliating. It filled the people with
great patriotic feelings. Suddenly, on the roof when the pigeons coo in a low
tone, Franz asks himself whether they will make the pigeons also sing in
German.
This remark is a Frenchman's typical reaction to the
imposition of learning German. The attitude of the French is full of hate and
desperation. This also shows the extent the Germans would go in their attempts
at linguistic chauvinism.
The
instance in question makes it clear that man has a strong desire to impose his
will upon others, to subdue others. This very instinct of man is responsible
for tension, turmoil and conflicts in the world. In today's world, only the
feeling of compassion, tolerance and brotherhood towards our fellow beings can
lead us towards peace and prosperity.
Miscellaneous
Questions
2. "Then he turned to the blackboard, took piece of
chalk and bearing on it with ali his might, he wrote as large as he could 'Vive
La France'!"
After reading the lesson
you begin to feel that the Indian youth lack the spirit of patriotism. Write an
article in about 120-150 words on the need of a patriotic spirit amongst the
youth in India.
Ans Love your Motherland!
India is the land of people like Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat
Singh, people who devoted their whole lives in serving their motherland. But in
modern India, their thoughts have become a shadow of their previous self. The
word 'patriotism' has faded away from the hearts of the youth. The youth remain
so much immersed in their superficial world that they have no interest in or
intention of reflecting upon the idea of patriotism.
However, if they can channelise their energy into
something positive, India will surely become a superpower, as there is a lot of
potential in the youth of our nation. The youth need to tap their limitless
energy in the service of the nation and make an effort for the better and
bright future of India, our motherland.
More question
1.
was Franz expected
to be prepared with for school that day? NCERT; Delhi 2011
Ans Franz was expected to be prepared with his lesson on
participles. M Hamel, his French teacher, had announced that he would question
the class on participles. But poor Franz didn't know even the first word about
them.
2.
What had been put
up on the bulletin
board? NCERT; Delhi 2011
Ans An order that had come from Berlin had been put up on the
bulletin board. The order was that from the next day only German would be
taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would join the
school from the following day.
3.
Who did M Hamel
blame for not giving due attention to their language? Delhi 2011
Ans M Hamel blamed the people of Alsace for not giving due
attention to their language. He also blamed himself. Often, he had sent the
students to water his plants, and when he wanted to go fishing, he just gave
them a holiday.
4.
Who did M Hamel
blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
Delhi 2011
Ans M Hamel blamed himself for the neglect of learning on the
part of boys like Franz. He was a little irregular, and took leave whenever he
needed it, which reflected on the behaviour and studies of the students. He
also blamed their parents for not taking interest in their education.
5.
What announcement
did M Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz?
All India 2011
or
"This is
your last French lesson." How did Franz react to this declaration of M
Hamel?
Delhi 2010
Ans M Hamel announced that he would be giving them the last
French lesson because the orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in
the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Franz was shocked to hear this declaration.
6. What changes came
over little Franz after he heard M Hamel's announcement?
All India 2010
Ans After hearing the announcement, Franz was very sad and he
regretted not learning his lessons, and being deprived of the opportunity to
learn his own mother tongue. His books suddenly became his 'old friends' whom
he could not abandon.