DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, GOMTINAGAR EXTN.

, LUCKNOW
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
GRADE XII
WORKSHEET: L 1: THE LAST LESSON (FLAMINGO)
Teacher: Ms. Anjali Dwivedi
A. Answer the questions briefly:
1. How was the scene in the school, on the day of the last lesson, different from that
on other days?
2. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” Which words were a thunderclap to
little Franz?
3. What does M Hamel mean when he says, “We’ve all a great deal to reproach
ourselves with”?
4. Why had the bulletin board become a centre of attraction during the last two years?
5. What had the narrator counted on to enter the classroom unnoticed?
6. Why does the teacher feel the need to safeguard their language?

B. Answer the question in detail: (60-70 words)

What is ‘linguistic chauvinism’? Analyse the order from Berlin in this light.

C. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions:

1. How it must have broken his heart to leave it all, poor man; to hear his sister
moving about in the room above, packing their trunks! For they must leave the
country next day.
(a) Who is the ‘poor man’ referred to here?
(b) Why is his heart broken?
(c) Why do they have to leave the country?
(d) What does ‘it’ in line1refer to?

2. All at once the church-clock struck twelve. Then the Angelus. At the same
moment the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from drill, sounded under
our windows. M. Hamel stood up, very pale, in his chair. I never saw him look
so tall.
(a) Why were the Prussians there?
(b) How did the people inside know that the Prussians were returning from drill?
(c) What does ‘Angelus’ mean?
(d) What does the expression ‘look so tall’ mean?
D. Choose the correct option to answer the questions:
1. Concluding his last lesson by writing ‘Vive la France!’ on the blackboard
shows that M. Hamel:

a. was overwhelmed with emotions.

b. wanted to distract all attending class that day.
 c. was keen on not leaving the country.
d. wanted to teach French participles through it.
2. The author urges the readers to respect their mother tongue:
(a) It keeps their identity alive
(b) It serves as the key to freedom.
(c) It unites them against the invaders.
(d) All of the above

3. The story ‘The Last Lesson’ highlights the human tendency of:
(a) Linguistic chauvinism
(b) Procrastination
(c) love for language
(d) Cowardice

4. Why had the villagers occupied the back benches in the class that day?
(a) to learn their lesson
(b) to show their respect to their country
(c) to show gratitude to their teacher
(d) both 2 and 3

5. How had little Franz been enjoying himself rather than going to school?
(a) sliding on the Saar
(b) go fishing
(c) watering M Hamel’s plants
(d) seeking birds’ eggs
1. Only a.
2. Both b and c
3. a and d
4. Only d
6. What did Franz count on to enter the class as he was late?
(a) M. Hamel’s teaching on the black-board
(b) commotion in the class
(c) his fried helping him sneak in
(d) to quietly walk in when everyone was preoccupied with participles