THIVENI ACADEMY

SUBJECT: ENGLISH
Topic: The Last Lesson Ln:1
Question 1.

Franz looked for opportunities to skip school to do what?

(a) work on mills

(b) go fishing
(c) water the plants
(d) collect birds eggs
Answer
Answer: (d) collect birds eggs

Question 2.

What was Franz banking on to enter the class as he was late?

(a) M.Hamel’s teaching on the blackboard

(b) commotion in the class
(c) Hauser helping him sneak in
(d) to quietly walk in when everyone was preoccupied with participles
Answer
Answer: (b) commotion in the class

Question 3.

M. Hamel is introduced as a ruler-wielding teacher. This demonstrates that: (a) he is

concerned.

(b) he is adamant.
(c) he is unfeeling.
(d) he is a hard taskmaster. Answer
Answer: (d) he is a hard taskmaster.

Question 4.

Franz thinks- will they make them sing in German- even the pigeons? What could this mean?

(a) German would use brutal force over everyone

(b) harsh orders will be passed
(c) when people are deprived of their essence even the surroundings are affected. (d) the
Germans will rob France of its language.
Answer
Answer: (c) when people are deprived of their essence even the surroundings are affected.

Question 5.

What does M. Hamel’s motionless posture reflect?

(a) the school is dismissed

(b) sense of finality
(c) changing order of life
(d) feeling of nostalgia
Answer
Answer: (b) sense of finality

Question 6.

What is the moral that the Alphonse Daudet wants to bring out?

(a) not to put off things that one can do that day
(b) old order changed to new
(c) one should accept everything that happens
(d) teachers should be respected
Answer
Answer: (a) not to put off things that one can do that day

Question 7.

Why did Hamel blame himself?

(a) not having taught them enough French

(b) not being strict
(c) giving students a holiday at times
(d) not being responsible
Answer
Answer: (c) giving students a holiday at times

Question 8.

Who sat on the back bench on the last lesson?

(a) Franz
(b) Prussians
(c) the village people
(d) The new teacher
Answer
Answer: (c) the village people

Question 9.

What was M. Hamel going to question Franz about?

(a) participles
(b) adjectives
(c) old primer
(d) Ba be bi bo bu
Answer
Answer: (a) participles

Question 10.

For the last two years, where did all the bad news come from?

(a) the Bulletin Board

(b) Town Hall
(c) school (d) M. Hamel’s House
Answer
Answer: (a) the Bulletin Board

Question 11.

Don’t go so fast, you will get to your school in plenty of time means ___

(a) getting late

(b) very early
(c) not early
(d) early enough
Answer
Answer: (d) early enough

Question 12.

What did Mr. Hamel bring for his class on his last day in the school?
(a) new pens
(b) new notebooks
(c) sweets
(d) story books
Answer
Answer: (b) new notebooks

Question 13.

What was Franz expected to be prepared for at school that day?

(a) song
(b) dance
(c) essay writing
(d) Participles
Answer
Answer: (d) Participles

Question 14.

Why did the villagers come to meet M. Hamel in the school?

(a) to complain
(b) to say goodbye
(c) to gossip
(d) to show gratitude
Answer
Answer: (d) to show gratitude

Question 15.

Why was Franz surprised?

(a) Because of village elders

(b) Because of police patrolling
(c) because of students’ behavior
(d) because of M.Hamel’s kind and polite behaviour
Answer
Answer: (d) because of M.Hamel’s kind and polite behaviour

Question 16.
What did Franz find on reaching the school?

(a) People were dancing

(b) school was closed
(c) Police patrolling
(d) strange quietness
Answer
Answer: (d) strange quietness

Question 17.

The story ‘The Last Lesson’ highlights which human tendency?

(a) Male Chauvinism

(b) Procrastination
(c) Courage
(d) Cowardice
Answer
Answer: (b) Procrastination

Question 18.

`Who is the author of The Last Lesson?

(a) Jane Austen

(b) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(c) None
(d) Alphonse Daudet
Answer
Answer: (d) Alphonse Daudet

Question 1. ‘Viva la France’ became emotional evidence of M.

Hamel’s? (a) sadness and patriotism.

(b) finality and depression.

(c) nostalgia and emotional outburst.
(d) love for the school and teaching as a profession.
Answer
Answer: (a) sadness and patriotism.
Question 2.

Which district came under the Prussian rule?

(a) Alsace and Berlin

(b) Berlin and Lorraine
(c) Alsace and Lorraine
(d) the southern districts of France
Answer
Answer: (c) Alsace and Lorraine

Question 3.

M. Hamel emerges as a when he teaches his last lesson.

(a) meek person

(b) true patriot
(c) repentant man
(d) defeated the man
Answer
Answer: (b) true patriot

Question 4.

Why does the author urge the reader to respect his language?

(a) It is what makes you respect your countrymen.

(b) It is the key to freedom.
(c) You can express yourself.
(d) It is unique and reflects literature and art. Answer
Answer: (b) It is the key to freedom.

Question 5.

Why does Hamel blame the parents?

(a) they preferred children to work in farms

(b) they were not strict
(c) they did not come to M. Hamel’s class
(d) they did not love the French language
Answer
Answer: (a) they preferred children to work in farms
Question 6.

What does the marching of soldiers under the windows represent?

(a) the departure of Hamel

(b) dawn of Prussia in France
(c) freedom for Franz
(d) sorrow of the villagers
Answer
Answer: (b) dawn of Prussia in France

Question 7.

What does the last lesson taught by Hamel symbolize?

(a) no more teaching of French

(b) domination of Prussia
(c) learning of German
(d) loss of language and loss of freedom
Answer
Answer: (d) loss of language and loss of freedom

Question 8.

What order had come from Berlin?

(a) to close the school

(b) teach German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine
(c) to open a new school in Alsace and Lorraine
(d) that Hamel would have to leave
Answer
Answer: (b) teach German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine

Question 9.

What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress?

(a) wore clean clothes

(b) wore a brand new outfit
(c) wore clothes he wore on prize days
(d) wore traditional French clothes
Answer
Answer: (c) wore clothes he wore on prize days

Question 10.

Who asked Franz not to hurry to school?

(a) Old Hauser

(b) former Mayor
(c) former Postmaster
(d) blacksmith Watcher
Answer
Answer: (d) blacksmith Watcher

Question 11.

“The Last Lesson” story was written in which year?

(a) 1869 – 1870

(b) 1870 – 1871
(c) 1872- 1873
(d) 1870 – 1872
Answer
Answer: (b) 1870 – 1871

Question 12.

Why did Mr. M. Hamel call the French language the most beautiful?

(a) Because it was the clearest and logical

(b) Because it was his native language
(c) Because people were from France
(d) None of these
Answer
Answer: (a) Because it was the clearest and logical

Question 13.

Who occupied the back benches in the class?

(a) weak students

(b) teachers
(c) monitors of the class
(d) village elders
Answer
Answer: (d) village elders

Question 14.

What were the things being taken for granted by the people of Alsace?

(a) Teachers of the school

(b) Time and school
(c) People around
(d) Money and power
Answer
Answer: (b) Time and school

Question 15.

Alphonse Daudet was from which country?

(a) India
(b) France
(c) England
(d) New Zealand
Answer
Answer: (b) France

Few More
Q1 - Who is the author of The Last Lesson?
A) Jane Austen
B) Rabindra Nath Tagore
C) None
D) Alphonse Daudet

Q2- Alphonse Daudet was from which country?

A) India
B) France
C) England
D) New Zealand
Q3- The story ‘The Last Lesson’ highlights which human tendency?
A) Male Chauvinism
B) Procrastination
C) Courage
D) Cowardice

Q4 - What were the things being taken for granted by the people of Alsace? A) Teachers of
the school
B) Time and school
C) People around
D) Money and power

Q5 - What does The Last Lesson symbolize?

A) Loss
B) Loss of freedom
C) Loss of language
D) Loss of language and freedom

Q6 - What does The Last Lesson signify?

A) Change of power
B) change of Government
C) change in life
D) Change of teachers

Q7- What do the marching soldiers under the windows represent?

A) The Dawn of Prussia in the defeat of French people
B) The defeat of Prussia
C) The victory of French
D) None of these
Q 8-From where did the orders come to teach only German in the districts of Alsace and
Lorraine?
A) France
B) Lorraine
C)Berlin
D) Germany

Q9- What does this story speak about?

A) Power
B) Money
C) Transition
D) people

Q10- Why was Franz reluctant to go to school?

A) wanted to enjoy warm Sunlight
B) wanted to see soldiers drill
C) wanted to enjoy outdoor
D) lesson on participles was not prepared

Q11- What did Franz find on reaching the school?

A) People were dancing
B) school was closed
C) Police patrolling
D) strange quietness

Q12- Who occupied the back benches in the class?

A) weak students
B) teachers
C) monitors of the class
D) village elders
Q13- Why was Franz surprised?
A) Because of village elders
B) Because of police patrolling
C) because of students' behavior
D) because of M.Hamel's kind and polite behaviour

Q14- Why was Franz feeling regretful and sad?

A) for reaching late
B) for not learning participles
C) for change of the Government
D) for not learning his mother tongue

Q19- Where did the parents send their children?

A) school
B) coaching
C) farms and mills
D) movies

Q20- Why were the parents sending their children to the farms and mills? A) to play
B) to meet friends
C) to meet relatives
D) to earn money

Q21-Why did the villagers come to meet M. Hamel in the school?

A) to complain
B) to say goodbye
C) to gossip
D) to show gratitude
Q22- Why did Mr. M. Hamel call the French language the most beautiful?
A) Because it was the clearest and logical
B) Because it was his native language
C) Because people were from France
D) None of these

Q23- What was Franz expected to be prepared for at school that day?
A) song
B) dance
C) essay writing
D) Participles

Q24- When people are enslaved, what key do they have to the prison, according to M.Hamel?
A) their behaviour
B) power
C) aggressiveness
D) mother tongue

Q25- What did Franz notice that was unusual that day?
A) strange quietness in the school
B) soldiers in the school
C) crowd in school
D) all of these

Q26- What had been put up on the Bulletin Board that day?
A) Teach only French
B) Speak only English
C) Teach only German
D) Teach all these
Q27- What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
A) hustle-bustle
B) people were happy
C) teachers were sad
D) strange quietness and sadness

Q28- What changed Franz's feelings about M.Hamel and school?

A) Police Patrolling
B) Orders from Berlin
C) Strict words from M. Hamel
D) old Primer

Q29- What made Franz and the people realize about the preciousness of their mother
tongue? A) M. Hamel's words
B) School orders
C) Sudden orders from Berlin
D) School Principal

Q30- Expression 'Thunder Clap" in the lesson means _______.

A) loud but not clear
B) loud and clear
C) startling and unexpected
D) unpleasant

Q31- What did Mr. Hamel bring for his class on his last day in the school?
A) new pens
B) new notebooks
C) sweets
D) story books
Q32 "The Last Lesson" story was written in which year?
A) 1869 - 1870
B) 1870 - 1871
C) 1872- 1873
D) 1870 - 1872

Q33- Don't go so fast, you will get to your school in plenty of time means ___
A) getting late
B) very early
C) not early
D) early enough

Q34- What was there in front of the Bulletin Board?

A) children
B) police
C) hawkers
D) a crowd

Q35- What bad news used to come from the Bulletin Board? A) lost
battles
B) the draft
C) orders of commanding officers
D) All of these

Q36- Which language would the students study from the next day? A) English
B) German
C) Dutch
D) Spanish
Q37- What does the expression "in great dread of scolding" mean?
A) to be happy about it
B) very badly scared of scolding
C) To be indifferent
D) None of these

Q38- Why was Franz shocked to see M. Hamel?

A) Because of his formal dress
B) because he gave sweets
C) because he had a flower in his hand
D) all of these

Q 39- What attitude of M.Hamel surprised Franz?

A) soft and kind
B) rude
C) firm and strict
D) none of these

Q40- Who was M.Hamel?

A) a spy
B) language teacher
C) soldier
D) School Principal
Question 1.
What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson?
(Delhi 2009)
Answer:
When M.Hamel was giving his last French ; lesson, the mood in the classroom was
solemn and somber. When he announced that this was their last French lesson
everyone present in the classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native
language and genuinely regretted ignoring their mother tongue.

Question 2.
What had the narrator counted on to enter the school, unnoticed? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
The narrator (Franz) had counted on the hustle and bustle that was usual when the
school began in order to enter there unnoticed. He had thought he could depend on the
commotion to get to his desk without anybody noticing that he was late for the class.

Question 3.
“This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of M.Hamel?
(Delhi 2010)
Answer:
When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned
on Franz that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time
and skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had
earlier considered a nuisance? He was also deeply pained at the thought that M.Hamel
was leaving.

Question 4.
“What a thunder clap these words were to me!” Which were the words that shocked and
surprised little Franz? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last
French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for
deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange
fascination for his language and his school.

Question 5.
What changes came over little Franz after he heard M.Hamel’s announcement? (All
India 2010)
Answer:
When M.Hamel announced that this was to be their last French class a grim realization
dawned on Franz that he could hardly write his language and now he was being
deprived of the opportunity to learn it. He felt very guilty of neglecting his classes and
escaping school. The thought of losing his teacher, M. Hamel, also pained him.

Question 6.
What was tempting Franz to keep away from school That morning’? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Franz was very late for school ‘that morning’. M. Hamel was to question the students on
participles and Franz knew nothing and feared a scolding. The bright weather, woods,
fields and chirping of birds tempted him to spend the day outdoors.

Question 7.
What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress and behavior on the day of his last French
lesson? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
On the day of his last French lesson M. Hamel was expectantly kind. He had put on his
beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered black silk cap that he normally
wore only on inspection and prize days. In his last lesson he explains everything with
unusual patience as if he wants to teach them everything he has ever learned in their
last French class.

Question 8.
Why had the bulletin-board become a centre of attention during the last two years?
(Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
The bulletin-board had become a centre of attention because for the last two years all
the bad news had come from there. It was the source of all bad news-the lost battles,
the draft and the orders of the commanding officers.

Question 9.
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Franz had started very late for school that morning. He feared facing his class-teacher,
M. Hamel. Because he was expected to be prepared with his grammar lesson on
participles and he did not know even the first word about them. So he feared a scolding.

Question 10.
What had been put up on the bulletin board? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
A notice had been put up on the bulletin board informing the people about the order
from Berlin which declared that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine. They had also been informed that the new German teacher was coming
on the following day.

Question 11.
Who did M.Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
(Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Mr. Hamel blamed various people for different reasons for neglect of learning on the
part of boys like Franz. First he blamed the parents for not being anxious to have their
children learn and rather engaging them into household work. He blamed the boys
themselves for preferring to work on mills and farms. He also blamed himself for
sending boys on errands for his convenience.

Question 12.
Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does this
tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen? (All India 2011)
Answer:
During his last French class Franz hears the pigeons cooing and wonders if the
Prussians would make them sing in German too. His thought reveals the Frenchmen’s
fear of complete domination by the Germans whereby they would try to enslave even
their minds

(Para 1)
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.
Questions:
(a) What was the great bustle when school began usually?
(b) What do you understand by ‘Counted on the commotion?
(c) What was the scene of the classroom that day?
(d) Name the chapter and the writer.
Answers:
(a) When school began usually, 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 and
teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table.

(b) Counted on the commotion’ means getting an advantage of hubbub, various heavy
noises: disturbances spread out there.

(c) That day, there was no noise in the classroom; everything had to be as quiet as
Sunday morning.

(d) The chapter is ‘The Last Lesson’ written by ‘Alphonse Daudet’.

(Para 2)

My last French lesson! Why, I hardly knew how to write ! I should never learn
anymore! I must stop there, then! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my
lessons, for seeking birds’ eggs, or going sliding on the Saar! My books, that had
seemed such a nuisance while ago, so heavy to carry, my grammar and my
history of the saints, were old friends now that I couldn’t give up. And M. Hamel,
too; the idea that he was going away, that I should never see him again, made me
forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was. \
Questions :
(a) How did Franz come to know that it was his last French lesson?
(b) What did Franz usually do in place of learning his lessons?
(c) Whom did Franz not give up then?
(d) What feelings were appeared in Franz’s heart about M. Hamel?
Answers:
(a) M. Hamel himself announced, “My Children, this is the last lesson I shall give you.
The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and
Lorraine.” In this way, Franz came to know that it was his last French lesson.

(b) Franz usually went for seeking birds’ eggs or going sliding on the Saar! Thus, he
used to waste his time in place of learning his lessons.

(c) Franz couldn’t give up then his books, his grammar and his history of the saints.
These were his old friends then after the announcement.

(d) Franz became very sad thinking that he should never see him again, he was going
away. This made him forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was.

(Para 3)

Then, from one thing to another,’ M. Hamel went on to talk of the French
language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world the clearest,
the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because
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. Then he opened a grammar and read us our
lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy,
so easy!

Questions:
(a) What did M. Hamel say about the French language ?
(b) What advice did M. Hamel give about the language?
(c) ‘Key to their prison’, explain the phrase.
(d) Why Franz was amazed to see how well he understood.it?
Answers:
(a) M. Hamel told about the French language that it was the most beautiful language in
the world—the clearest, the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never
forget it.

(b) M. Hamel advised to guard the language among us and never forget it, because
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.

(c) ‘Key to their prison’ means ‘an escape from the slavery/foundation’. This was
referred by M. Hamel to the villagers.

(d) Franz was amazed to see how well he understood it because before that day, he
was unable to understand anything regarding studies, actually he was careless then.
(Para 4)
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. Mi Hamel stood up, very pale, in his chair. I never saw him look so tall.
“My friends”, said he, “I—I—” But something choked him. He could not go on.

Questions :
(a) What is an ‘Angelus’ ?
(b) What did Franz listen under their windows ?
(c) ‘I never saw him look so tall’. What does this mean ?
(d) Why M. Hamel couldn’t speak ? What choked him ?
Answers :
(a) An ‘Angelus’ is a Catholic devotion/prayers memorializing the incarnation. (Prayer
for the honour of the God).

(b) Franz noticed the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from the drill, sounded under
their windows.

(c) ‘I never saw him look so tall’ means that Franz never saw M. Hamel so tired,
depressed and disappointed. He (M. Hamel) was looking very pale and apathetic and
lifeless.

(d) M. Hamel couldn’t speak due to extensive sorrow and the wheeze (cough) choked
his throat as he was internally agonized.